Daily Readings - Wed Mar 11 2020
Jeremiah
18Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.19Give heed to me, O LORD, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me.20Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them.
Matthew
17And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,18Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,19And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.20Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.21And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.22But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.23And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.24And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.25But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.26But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;27And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:28Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Sermon
The readings today present us with powerful reflections on trust, service, and the true nature of leadership. In the first reading from Jeremiah, the prophet faces opposition and betrayal from his own people, who conspire against him because of his unwavering commitment to God’s message. Jeremiah’s trust in the Lord is evident, even in the face of evil intentions. He knows that God sees all and will judge justly. This passage reminds us that standing up for what is right can sometimes lead to persecution, but our ultimate hope and trust must remain in God, who is always faithful.
In the Gospel, Jesus once again predicts His passion and death, revealing the depth of His self-giving love. When the mother of James and John asks for places of honor for her sons, Jesus uses the opportunity to teach His disciples about the true meaning of greatness. He explains that in the Kingdom of God, leadership is not about power or prestige but about serving others. This is a radical departure from the way the world operates, where authority often means domination. Jesus’ words challenge us to re-examine our motivations and ambitions, inviting us to embrace humility and selflessness in our relationships and actions.
Both readings call us to reflect on how we live out our faith in daily life. Jeremiah’s trust in God’s justice encourages us to remain steadfast, even when faced with adversity. Jesus’ teaching on servant leadership reminds us that true greatness lies in serving others. As we go about our lives, let us ask ourselves: Am I trusting in God’s plan, even when things seem unfair? Am I seeking to serve others rather than seeking my own interests? May we learn to surrender our ambitions to God’s will and follow Jesus’ example of humble service. In doing so, we will find true fulfillment and live as authentic disciples of Christ.