Wednesday 28 February 2024

Today is Wednesday the 28th of February, in the second week of Lent.

Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life. The most important thing for me to do now, as I enter into prayer, is to let go for a moment, to let go of my own concerns, my own worries and fears and reluctance, and let myself be led by God, trusting that God, who loves me, will lead me into life.

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Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 20: 17-28

While Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified; and on the third day he will be raised.’

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favour of him. And he said to her, ‘What do you want?’ She said to him, ‘Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.’ But Jesus answered, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?’ They said to him, ‘We are able. ’He said to them, ‘You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.’

When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’

In today’s reading, there is a sense of unease, as Jesus tells the twelve about the reason for their journey to Jerusalem. Imagine now that you are one of the twelve, hearing his words:

‘The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified; and on the third day he will be raised.’

How does it feel to be with Jesus at this moment?

Take a moment to say whatever you need to say to Jesus in response.

Notice the others around you. What is the mood of this group?

As you listen to the reading again, stay with the disciples, watching and listening as the scene unfolds.

Within all the squabbling, power seeking and anger among the disciples, Jesus ends with these words:

‘The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’

Try for a moment to receive these words afresh.

End your prayer, talking with Jesus about your encounter with him today.

You have given all to me
To you Lord, I return it
Everything is yours, do with it what you will
Give me only your love and your grace
That is enough for me
Amen.