Faith Daily | 3 March 2021
PRAYER of the WEEK Lent Two
Remember, O Lord,
what you have wrought in us
and not what we deserve,
and, as you have called us to your service,
make us worthy of our calling;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen APBA p484
GOSPEL for the Day: Matthew 20 17:28
17 While Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, 18‘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; 19then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified; and on the third day he will be raised.’
20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favour of him. 21And 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.’ 22But 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.’ 23He 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.’
24 When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. 25But 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. 26It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; 28just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’
GOSPEL Reflection: Contributed by Anne Mac Ronald
I find today’s Gospel very sobering. While walking with the disciples to Jerusalem Jesus again told them that he would be condemned tortured and crucified. But he added the most important information.
On the third day he would be raised.
How did his followers feel about the prospect of Jesus suffering and dying. For several years they had followed him, slept rough , gone hungry and were often rejected by their families. In today’s society news of that sort would be greeted with horror and disbelief. I believe we would react in the same way.
The second part of the Gospel speaks of the ambition of the mother of James and John. All who heard were shocked at her request but it was very human. We all want the best for our children but the best is not always what we see it to be.
Jesus didn’t condemn her or her sons for asking for places of honour. He understood. He spoke of greatness in service and his commitment to servant leadership.
In this modern world greatness is associated with accomplishment wealth and power. In Gods kingdom we are asked to find our true humanity and meaning of life in and through the good we do and receive from those around us.
Think of when you felt most content and joyful. Is it connected to relationships care and service. And more…..
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FINAL PRAYER: Jim Cotter “Unfolding the Living Word”
Living Presence of a wisdom far beyond our own,
facing us with challenges we would rather avoid,
yet seeking to bring harmony to our disordered lives,
give us courage to pay the price of true love,
so that you may bring us to our hearts’ true desire,
our deepest yearnings and longings at last fulfilled.
We pray this in the name of the living Jesus
and in the power of the Spirit.
Amen