Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent &
Memorial of Saints Perpetua and Felicity, Martyrs
Biographical Information about Sts. Perpetua and Felicity
Readings for Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent[1][i]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis
Commentary:
Reading 1 Jer 18:18-20
Today’s scripture comes from that part of Jeremiah referred to as “Oracles in the Days of Jehoiakim”. The good king, Josiah, has died and with him the reforms Jeremiah was supporting. Now, in Jeremiah’s time, idolatry is creeping back in and the prophet is becoming unpopular. We hear the forces gathering against him in this reading. We also hear him pray to God that he might be remembered for his faithfulness.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 31:5-6, 14, 15-16
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
Psalm 31 is a lament in the face of adversity. Placed here, it could be a continuation of Jeremiah’s prayer from the first reading, asking for protection from those who would persecute.
Gospel Mt 20:17-28
St. Matthew’s Gospel reading gives us the third and most detailed description of the coming passion. Emphasizing the lack of understanding of this event, James and John have their mother ask Jesus to elevate them to places of honor in his kingdom. The Lord questions the two, asking if they can drink the cup he will drink (accept the fate of martyrdom). When they answer in the affirmative, the Lord almost pronounces their acceptance as a sentence of death.
The squabbling that occurs between the disciples following this exchange prompts the Lord to define Christian leadership again, saying that those who would lead must be servants, they cannot be like the scribes and Pharisees.
Reflection:
The common thread running through scripture today is not a happy one for those of us who claim the call to discipleship in the Lord. First we hear one of God’s great messengers, the Prophet Jeremiah. He is hearing plots against him and it is clear from his prayer the he takes them seriously and fears for his very life. The psalm supports this feeling, that the faithful are constantly encountering fierce opposition.
Finally, in the Gospel, the passage opens with Jesus stating in clear terms that “the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death”. Even his own disciples, who, being schooled in the Hebrew scriptures, would have seen this pattern in prophecy, did not understand what was about to happen.
If it happened to Jeremiah six hundred years before Christ, and it happened to Jesus as he said it would. He told Zebedee’s sons that they would follow him in death for their faith. We don’t have to be hit over the head too many times to guess that our path, followed faithfully, will be met with significant resistance. Look at those we memorialize today, Perpetua and Felicity, God choose them to be an example to us of how we are to face adversity, even from within their own families.
Are we to expect an easier time? Perhaps, we live in a society that is, for the most part, somewhat benign. Benign unless we get too ambitious and try to actually change the hearts of others. If we do that outside the comforting walls of the Church we see quickly the resistance that waits for us. Try just a little push in that direction and you will see.
Today our prayer is that we be given the strength of spirit given to Saints Perpetua and Felicity. May we be examples of fearless faith to others and thereby earn some piece of the reward promised to God’s faithful servants.
Pax
[1] After 04/07
[i] The Image presented today of Sts. Perpetua and Felicity is taken from another source on the internet. The artist is not identified.
Memorial of Saints Perpetua and Felicity, Martyrs
Biographical Information about Sts. Perpetua and Felicity
Readings for Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent[1][i]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible at Universalis
Commentary:
Reading 1 Jer 18:18-20
Today’s scripture comes from that part of Jeremiah referred to as “Oracles in the Days of Jehoiakim”. The good king, Josiah, has died and with him the reforms Jeremiah was supporting. Now, in Jeremiah’s time, idolatry is creeping back in and the prophet is becoming unpopular. We hear the forces gathering against him in this reading. We also hear him pray to God that he might be remembered for his faithfulness.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 31:5-6, 14, 15-16
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
Psalm 31 is a lament in the face of adversity. Placed here, it could be a continuation of Jeremiah’s prayer from the first reading, asking for protection from those who would persecute.
Gospel Mt 20:17-28
St. Matthew’s Gospel reading gives us the third and most detailed description of the coming passion. Emphasizing the lack of understanding of this event, James and John have their mother ask Jesus to elevate them to places of honor in his kingdom. The Lord questions the two, asking if they can drink the cup he will drink (accept the fate of martyrdom). When they answer in the affirmative, the Lord almost pronounces their acceptance as a sentence of death.
The squabbling that occurs between the disciples following this exchange prompts the Lord to define Christian leadership again, saying that those who would lead must be servants, they cannot be like the scribes and Pharisees.
Reflection:
The common thread running through scripture today is not a happy one for those of us who claim the call to discipleship in the Lord. First we hear one of God’s great messengers, the Prophet Jeremiah. He is hearing plots against him and it is clear from his prayer the he takes them seriously and fears for his very life. The psalm supports this feeling, that the faithful are constantly encountering fierce opposition.
Finally, in the Gospel, the passage opens with Jesus stating in clear terms that “the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death”. Even his own disciples, who, being schooled in the Hebrew scriptures, would have seen this pattern in prophecy, did not understand what was about to happen.
If it happened to Jeremiah six hundred years before Christ, and it happened to Jesus as he said it would. He told Zebedee’s sons that they would follow him in death for their faith. We don’t have to be hit over the head too many times to guess that our path, followed faithfully, will be met with significant resistance. Look at those we memorialize today, Perpetua and Felicity, God choose them to be an example to us of how we are to face adversity, even from within their own families.
Are we to expect an easier time? Perhaps, we live in a society that is, for the most part, somewhat benign. Benign unless we get too ambitious and try to actually change the hearts of others. If we do that outside the comforting walls of the Church we see quickly the resistance that waits for us. Try just a little push in that direction and you will see.
Today our prayer is that we be given the strength of spirit given to Saints Perpetua and Felicity. May we be examples of fearless faith to others and thereby earn some piece of the reward promised to God’s faithful servants.
Pax
[1] After 04/07
[i] The Image presented today of Sts. Perpetua and Felicity is taken from another source on the internet. The artist is not identified.
1 comment:
Today's account by Perpetua and the other martyrs was enthralling. What a benefit and grace to us who walk in relative safety as we follow our Lord. The faith and courage of the martyrs who have gone before us give us great example.
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