Febuary
23,
2005 -
Wednesday
- 2nd Week of Lent
Suffering
of the Prophet
Introduction
A
prophet is always an annoying person. His mission is to call attention
to the signs of the times – to denounce what no one dares denounce,
to prod into action when all stand still and like to take it easy.
His task is unpleasant and he carries it out reluctantly. For he is
a scared man. He pleads to be excused. For he always gets into trouble.
He may even be killed. That was the lot of the prophets before him
and then Jesus’ lot – but through his death he won glory and brought
life. Those who follow him, however timid they may be as prophets,
have to share in this suffering-toward-life. They must at least learn
to serve; even dedicated service brings often suffering.
Opening
Prayer
Lord
our God,
your prophets remind us
in season and out of season
of our responsibilities toward you
and toward the world of people.
When they disturb and upset us,
let it be a holy disturbance
that makes us restless, eager to do your will
and to bring justice and love around us.
We ask you this through Christ our Lord.
Liturgy
of the Word
First
Reading: Jer 18:18 - 20
The people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem said, “Come,
let us contrive a plot against Jeremiah. It will not mean the
loss of instruction from the priests, nor of counsel from the
wise, nor of messages from the prophets. And so, let us destroy
him by his own tongue; let us carefully note his every word.”
Heed
me, O LORD,
and listen to what my adversaries say.
Must good be repaid with evil
that they should dig a pit to take my life?
Remember that I stood before you
to speak in their behalf,
to turn away your wrath from them.
Responsorial
Psalm: Psalm 31:5-6, 14, 15-16
R.\
Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
You
will free me from the snare they set for me,
for you are my refuge.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
R.\ Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
I hear the whispers of the crowd, that frighten me from every side,
as they consult together against me, plotting to take my life.
R.\ Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
But my trust is in you, O LORD;
I say, “You are my God.”
In your hands is my destiny; rescue me
from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.
R.\ Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
Gospel
Reading: Mt 20:17 - 28
When Jesus was
going to Jerusalem, he took the Twelve aside and said to them on the
way, "See, we are going to Jerusalem. There the Son of Man will
be given over to the chief priests and the teachers of the Law who
will condemn him to death. They will hand him over to the foreigners
who will mock him, scourge him and crucify him. But he will be raised
to life on the third day."
Then the mother
of James and John came to Jesus with her sons, and she knelt down
to ask a favor. Jesus said to her, "What do you want?" And
she answered, "Here you have my two sons. Grant that they may
sit, one at your right and one at your left, when you are in your
kingdom."
Jesus said to
the brothers, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink
the cup that I am about to drink?" They answered, "We can."
Jesus replied, "You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my
right or at my left is not for me to grant. That will be for those
for whom the Father has prepared it."
The other ten
heard all this and were angry with the two brothers. Then Jesus called
them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the nations
act as tyrants, and the powerful oppress them. It shall not be so
among you; whoever wants to be more important in your group shall
make himself your servant. And if you want to be first, make yourself
the servant of all. Be like the Son of Man who has come, not to be
served but to serve and to give his life to redeem many."
Commentary
THEY
plot against Jeremiah, the religious people who have no intention
of listening to and obeying the Word of God in his mouth. And
Jeremiah cries out both for justice and remembrance that he stood
before God and spoke on their behalf-he cries out for a hearing
now! And Jesus tries to tell his disciples that he will be executed,
rejected, tortured and they not only ignore him, but James and
John send their mother in to ask for the best seats in the kingdom
to come. Jesus asks them if they can drink from his cup of suffering
and know the baptism of death and resurrection. They will, but
they miss entirely Jesus' invitation to share in his sufferings
and death, so as to share in his glory and he reminds them to
be like him (not the world) and to serve and give their lives
in ransom for many. Lord, you invite us daily to take up our crosses
and to follow you. You ask us to share in your sufferings, to
serve one another and to give our lives as ransom, help us to
share your pain, your way of the cross and your closeness to God
and care for others instead of always thinking of ourselves first.
Amen.
General
Intercessions
–
For the Church, that it may imitate the Lord Jesus and be a serving
Church, we pray:
–
For prophets who remind us that we have to live up to our faith, that
we may listen to them, we pray:
–
For all of us, that as followers of a suffering Lord, we may grow
as Christians and as human beings by the way we carry our crosses,
we pray:
Prayer
over the Gifts
Lord
God,
your Son comes among us and asks us:
“Can you drink my cup with me?”
Give us the strength
to accept any suffering with him
for the sake of your kingdom,
for we know it is the signature
on the life of the true disciple.
May it be a suffering that brings life
to us and to our brothers and sisters.
This is the offering we make to you
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer
after Communion
Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
your Son went his journey to the cross
knowing what awaited him,
but also knowing that his suffering and death
would mean life and joy for many.
Give us a bit of his courage, Lord,
that we may not be escapists in life,
but that we may speak out and act
when your kingdom is at stake
or when we are asked to serve.
Let your Son be with us,
now and for ever.
Blessing
“The
Son of man came not to be served but to serve.” How do we follow our
Lord as people who know how to serve? May almighty God give you insight
and strength, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
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