HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 2ND WEEK OF LENT. (2)

HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 2ND WEEK OF LENT.

THEME: You do not know what you are asking’ Jesus answered. ‘Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?

BY: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA

*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Jeremiah 18:18-20
Psalm 30:5-6,14-16
Matthew 20:17-28

*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
PURPLE

*ABOUT OUR FIRST READING*
The question of Jeremiah in today’s first reading is one that resonates in every age, ‘Should evil be returned for good?’ Jeremiah expected the answer ‘no’ to his question, as would we. However, Jeremiah’s own experience did not bear out that answer. He was trying to do good by proclaiming God’s word to the people and, yet, all he got in response was ‘evil’, people’s deadly hostility.

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*ABOUT OUR GOSPEL READING*
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus warns the Twelve that this is the fate that awaits him in Jerusalem. They seem incapable of hearing what he is saying. ‘Should evil be returned for good?’ Instead of the grim future that Jesus announces, the Twelve are envisaging a glorious kingdom, and James and John are pre-booking the best seats in it, through their mother. The other ten are indignant that James and John are getting in ahead of them. Jesus has to bring all of them back down to earth.

*CONCLUSION*
Jesus continues to proclaim the coming of God’s kingdom but it is not a kingdom of this world. He will not be like the ‘rulers’ and ‘great men’ ‘among the pagans’. Jesus’ kingdom is the kingdom of God’s all-embracing love of humanity, and powerful people have been experiencing such a kingdom as a threat to their own little fiefdoms. The disciples need to learn that following this kind of king will mean becoming the loving servant of others, after the example of Jesus, and this will entail drinking the cup that has to drink. Jesus calls all of his disciples, all of us, to share in his self-emptying service of all, without discrimination. This is what constitutes greatness in the kingdom that Jesus is seeking to establish.

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