Reflection for Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent
The words of the entrance antiphon for this day, “Forsake me not, O Lord! My God, be not far from me! Make haste and come to my help, O Lord, my strong salvation!” (Ps. 38:22-23), are aptly applied to the prophet Jeremiah. In today’s first reading, we hear that the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem are contriving a plot to trap Jeremiah: “Let us destroy him by his own tongue; let us carefully note his every word.” Jeremiah prays, “Heed me, O Lord, and listen to what my adversaries say.”
We hear Jeremiah’s prayer of entreaty echoed in the responsorial psalm (Ps. 32): “Save, me O Lord, in your kindness… as they consult together against me, plotting to take my life.” These psalm passages take on even deeper significance when they are placed on the lips of Jesus as he reveals to his disciples the path he must follow: “…the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and hand him over to… be mocked and scourged and crucified” (Mt 20:18-19). “My God, be not far from me! Make haste and come to my help.” This is Jesus’ prayer for the strength to accept the chalice that he must drink in order to fulfill his Father’s will. He further explains that it is also the chalice that his disciples must drink if they are to be his followers. And thus, it will be their prayer as well.
Today’s communion antiphon, taken from the closing line of the gospel, underlines Jesus’ terms of discipleship and leaves us with a message to reflect upon throughout this day: “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mt. 20:28). Whoever wishes to be a disciple of Jesus must follow in his example of service. Those who would be his followers must pour out their lives in selfless love for their brothers and sisters.
Reflection: Do we look for “perks” in our ministry to the Church? Do we expect to be served for having served? How well do we model Jesus’ example of self-giving?
Reflection by Br. Michael Marcotte, OSB
Posted in Daily Reflections, Lenten Resources