Wednesday of the Second Week
The Word proclaimed today is quite ominous. We learn of a conspiracy against both Jeremiah and the Psalmist. We also witness Jesus making the last of three passion predictions in Matthew’s Gospel. The theme of suffering is present throughout and alerts us to the risks of speaking and living God’s Word.
Jesus followed a lengthy line of Jewish prophets who were rejected and put to death. In three years of public ministry Jesus’ intuition was informing him of the likelihood of his own suffering and death. Jesus knew he was pushing the envelope in calling out the current day religious leaders who seemed to replace the authentic intentions of God with manmade rules and traditions.
Such teachings were originally designed to emphasize God’s intentions in a sincere way, but over time, as is the challenge with any human organization, the emphasis was gradually misplaced. Religious leaders drifted into putting a distorted focus on regulations forgetting the merciful nature of God. In his ministry, Jesus emphasized God’s mercy.
I often think of how our own Church has evolved over the centuries and wonder if we drifted in a comparable way. I recall the comment Pope Francis made in an America magazine interview (9/30/2013) as he began his pontificate ten years ago: “The church sometimes has locked itself up in small things, in small-minded rules.” As reformers in the prophetic tradition, Jeremiah, Jesus, and Pope Francis share a common reaction from some powerful people: rejection.
Perhaps our prayer today can focus on the way Jesus continually reveals himself to his followers. Each passion prediction Jesus makes is followed by some form of misunderstanding. Today James and John, through their mother, attempt to covet seats of power entirely missing the message of impending suffering. This creates the opportunity for Jesus to teach about his true mission and what authentic discipleship really means. Understanding Jesus is a gradual process, and we are all at different levels of learning about Jesus and his mission.
Prayer
Merciful God, may our Lenten journey aid us as we grow in knowledge of Jesus and the importance of serving others as followers. Amen.
Fr. Brian Cummings, S.S.E.,
Edmundite Campus Ministry
Psalm 31:5-6, 14-16
Gospel: Matthew 20:17-28
Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website
