HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 2ND WEEK OF LENT

Homily for Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Lent. 

Jeremiah 18:18-20. Psalm 31:5-6,14,15-16. Matthew 20:17-28.

In the first reading, prophet Jeremiah prayed to God to rescue him from those who plot evil against him with a simple but powerful prayer.

Like Jeremiah, let us learn not to be selfish with our prayers, and we can be rest assured that God, in the words of our Responsorial Psalm, "Save me, O Lord, in your merciful love," will indeed rescue us from the hands of our enemies.

Today's Gospel can be compared to a father gathering his children to inform them of his death, which is fast approaching. The children, instead of showing empathy, were asking if his wealth would come to them.

The Apostles had a wrong notion of the Messiah. Their idea of God's kingdom was a material kingdom full of wealth and might. Hence, with Jesus' announcement of his death, James and John were interested in becoming his lieutenants.

Instead of Jesus being disappointed in the request of the mother of James and John, he seized the opportunity to teach his twelve apostles what it entails to be in his kingdom. 

Jesus' kingdom has to do with service and humility. Greatness with Jesus has nothing to do with success, reputation, or wealth. It has to do with being like a slave. It is a call to love in imitation of our Lord Jesus Christ, "who came not to be served, but to serve and to to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matt.20:28).

May God grant us the virtue of humility to be of service to others and grant us eternal salvation through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Have a blessed day