Lenten Reflection for 2/28
Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent
Daily Prayer
Almighty Ever-Living God, You sent Your beloved Son to redeem us. His will was always Your will. Grant that we may always conform our will to Yours and serve with sincerity of heart so that we may be worthy to possess the heavenly Kingdom. Send Your Spirit to help us know what is right and be eager to do Your will so that one day we will see You face to face. Amen
Scripture Readings
Jeremiah 18:18-20, Matthew 20:17-28
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Scripture Quote
Matthew 20:22
Jesus said in reply,
“You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”
Reflection
Matthew 26:39
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus gives his disciples a presage of what awaits Him in Jerusalem. He is preparing them for His ignominy on the cross. Jesus does this to ensure they comprehend His messianic kingdom and what they must do to dwell there.
Jesus asks his disciples if they can drink from the chalice. In the Old Testament, the chalice symbolizes the will of God for us, both bad (Lamentations 4:21) and good (Psalm 16:5 and 23:5). Jesus is asking His disciples whether they will accept the will of God and carry it out by suffering for Him. This chalice, though, has a saving grace: “I will raise the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord,” (Psalm 116:13).
In very little time, Jesus will be in the Garden of Gethsemane praying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.”
Reflection Questions
As a disciple of Christ, am I willing to suffer and make personal sacrifices for my loved ones as Jesus did?
Can I sacrifice my own self-interest, if only for a moment, to put the other person first?
Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner.