Daily Catholic Mass Readings for March 3, 2021
First Reading: Jeremiah 18.18-20
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.
Psalm 31
1In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.2Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.3For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.4Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.5Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.6I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.7I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;8And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.9Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.10For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.11I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.12I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.13For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.14But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.15My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.16Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.17Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.18Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.19Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!20Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.21Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.22For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.23O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.24Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
Gospel: Matthew 20.17-28
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
In today’s readings, we encounter profound lessons on trust and humility. Jeremiah, facing opposition and plots against him, trusts in God’s justice and deliverance, despite the adversity. Similarly, in Matthew, Jesus foretells his passion and resurrection, teaching his disciples about true greatness through service. The mother of James and John seeks positions of honor, but Jesus redirects the disciples to a path of humility and servant-leadership.
Jeremiah’s context is one of persecution, common for prophets, while Jesus’s context is preparing his disciples for his death and redefining leadership. Both readings highlight trust in God and the value of humility. Jeremiah’s trust in God’s justice and Jesus’s emphasis on service illustrate that true strength lies not in power but in faith and serving others.
In our daily lives, these readings remind us to trust God during hardships and embrace humility. The moral lesson is clear: our faith should lead us to serve others selflessly, reflecting the heart of Christ. Let us strive to trust God and live with humility, finding greatness in serving others.