Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: February 28, 2024

Date:  Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent

Scripture Text:  Matthew 20:17-28

As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and 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 the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day."

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, "What do you wish?" She answered him, "Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom." Jesus said in reply, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?" They said to him, "We can." He replied, "My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."

When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel text for today comes from the Gospel of Matthew and gives us the account of Jesus’ third and final prediction of this crucifixion, death, and resurrection to the disciples as they approached Jerusalem.

Following that, the mother of James and John asked Jesus for the favor of her two sons sitting to the right and left of Jesus “in your kingdom.” Jesus immediately asks the two disciples if they are aware of what such an honor will cost them. Jesus’ prediction of what He will have to endure is still very much on His mind. But the disciples, unaware of what that will be and concerned about the honor, are quick to assure Jesus that they will do what it takes Then Jesus assures them, knowing what will come to pass in the spread of Christianity explains that it is not Him who will decide the places of honor but rather the Father.

Finally, the other disciples, upset by the request of the brothers and their mother, were called together by Jesus who warned them that their journey ultimately was not about power or prestige any more than His had been. Rather, the journey ahead of them would be about service to the LORD and one another. He ends by telling them that He, the Son of God, had not come “to be served but to serve.” And then he returns to where He started – pointed to His death “as a ransom for many.”

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior? Am I truly willing to follow, as His disciple, in his footsteps, knowing it will not be easy and that it will involve suffering for the sake of loving kindness and Christ’s mission? Am I prepared to be a servant, or do I actually want to be served, to be a person of “prestige”?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, You sent your only begotten and beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to dwell among us, and from among us to give His own life in order to ransom ours from sin and death. Send your Spirit to fortify our minds and hearts for the journey in His footsteps to life in, with and through You. Grant that we may put on the aprons of humility and serve You and our sisters and brothers with authentic love in this life. Help us to recognize one another as your daughters and sons and for love of You and love of Christ, be always and everywhere people of loving service. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.