The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today exhort us to be servants to those in need even as our leadership action confronts the power and privilege that tends to persecute opposition.
The reading from the Prophet Jeremiah describes a plot against Jeremiah.
Psalm 31 is a prayer and praise for deliverance from enemies.
* [Psalm 31] A lament (Ps 31:2–19) with a strong emphasis on trust (Ps 31:4, 6, 15–16), ending with an anticipatory thanksgiving (Ps 31:20–24). As is usual in laments, the affliction is couched in general terms. The psalmist feels overwhelmed by evil people but trusts in the “God of truth” (Ps 31:6). (Psalms, PSALM 31, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus foretells His Death and Resurrection and deals with the request of the mother of James and John.
* [20:20–28] Cf. Mk 10:35–45. The request of the sons of Zebedee, made through their mother, for the highest places of honor in the kingdom, and the indignation of the other ten disciples at this request, show that neither the two brothers nor the others have understood that what makes for greatness in the kingdom is not lordly power but humble service. Jesus gives the example, and his ministry of service will reach its highest point when he gives his life for the deliverance of the human race from sin.
* [20:20–21] The reason for Matthew’s making the mother the petitioner (cf. Mk 10:35) is not clear. Possibly he intends an allusion to Bathsheba’s seeking the kingdom for Solomon; see 1 Kgs 1:11–21. Your kingdom: see note on Mt 16:28.
* [20:22] You do not know what you are asking: the Greek verbs are plural and, with the rest of the verse, indicate that the answer is addressed not to the woman but to her sons. Drink the cup: see note on Mk 10:38–40. Matthew omits the Marcan “or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized” (Mk 10:38).
* [20:28] Ransom: this noun, which occurs in the New Testament only here and in the Marcan parallel (Mk 10:45), does not necessarily express the idea of liberation by payment of some price. The cognate verb is used frequently in the LXX of God’s liberating Israel from Egypt or from Babylonia after the Exile; see Ex 6:6; 15:13; Ps 77:16 (76 LXX); Is 43:1; 44:22. The liberation brought by Jesus’ death will be for many; cf. Is 53:12. Many does not mean that some are excluded, but is a Semitism designating the collectivity who benefit from the service of the one, and is equivalent to “all.” While there are few verbal contacts between this saying and the fourth Servant Song (Is 52:13–53:12), the ideas of that passage are reflected here. (Matthew, CHAPTER 20, n.d.)
George Butterfield comments that James and John think that Jesus’ chalice is what the king drinks from at a banquet. The other ten apostles are indignant: they want the best seats in the kingdom. The baptism liturgy states that the newly baptized is now a prophet, a priest, and a king. Jesus shows us what it looks like to be a king. He serves, he gives his life as a ransom for the lost.
We don’t need to go around striving to blow everything up. However, if you live and speak the truth, there will be those who plot against you. Jeremiah’s own family wanted him dead. Jesus came to serve his people and was killed for it. During Lent we embrace the call to follow Jesus to the cross. We cry out, “Save me, O Lord, in your kindness” and we do so with the confidence that “God himself will set me free from the hunter’s snare.” (Butterfield, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “Do you wish to be great?” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Do you wish to be great? Then begin from what is slightest. Do you plan to construct a high and mighty building? Then think first about the foundation of humility. When people plan to erect a lofty and large building, they make the foundations all the deeper. But those who lay the foundation are forced to descend into the depths." (excerpt from Sermon 69, 2) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 20:17-28 comments that we like to have things our own way. We like to be recognized. But we can turn things around if we practice letting go of control and letting go of our own plans. We can become more humble if we practice trusting and accepting God’s plan. We can imitate Jesus as we find opportunities to serve and not look for recognition.
We all want to become more like Jesus and to learn to follow his plan for our lives. And that’s a lifelong quest! But we can trust God to help us surrender control. We can trust that his plan for us really is what’s best for us.
“Lord, help me to do your will in all things.” (Meditation on Matthew 20:17-28, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler discusses the rejection of Jeremiah by the people who did not accept the change he called for them to be freed from their trouble. The Mother of James and John desired for her sons to have the leader's role after Jesus' death. Friar Jude reminds us that Jesus uses the descriptions in Daniel 7 and Isaiah’s Songs of the Suffering Servant to refer to himself.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares some “disciplines” or practices that he believes are essential for making a pilgrimage a Spirit-filled journey.
Let us practice the discipline of silence. Secondly, let us take some solitude. Thirdly, we practice the discipline of speech…. I encourage you to take some silent time and write about your experience.… Write about what’s happening inside of you. As regrets and mistakes come forward in our consciousness—and they’re inside all of us—just keep handing them over to God: “God, I’m being judgmental again. I’m being angry again. I’m being impatient again.” Then when you go to your journal, try as best you can to write down your interior experiences: “How am I feeling? What’s God saying to me in prayer? What am I hearing?” These are all disciplines to deepen the quality of our listening.
Finally, I ask all of us to pray for the freedom to be released from cynicism and judgment. (Rohr, 2023)
Our baptismal anointing as priest, prophet and leader is developed in our relationship with Christ to live as a servant for the good of others.
References
Butterfield, G. (2023, March 8). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved March 8, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/030823.html
Jeremiah, CHAPTER 18. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 8, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/18?18
Matthew, CHAPTER 20. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 8, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/20?17
Meditation on Matthew 20:17-28. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved March 8, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/03/08/627554/
Psalms, PSALM 31. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 8, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/31?5
Rohr, R. (2023, March 8). Spiritual Disciplines of Pilgrimage — Center for Action and Contemplation. Cac.org. Retrieved March 8, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/spiritual-disciplines-of-pilgrimage-2023-03-08/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture ... Retrieved March 8, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=mar8
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