March 3rd, Wednesday, Second Week of Lent

Jeremiah 18: 18-20, Psalm 31: 5-6, 14, 15-16, Matthew 20: 17-28

To trust and believe in a loving and generous God is the core message of Psalm 31. Just as Jesus had confidence in his Heavenly Father on the Cross, we too are asked to believe and trust in the unconditional love of God. God sent Jesus out of love so that we learned how to live. We strive to do this every day of the year. This journey is not easy but we persevere.

The Son of Man has come, not to be served by others but to serve! (Matthew 20:28) We are instructed in this week’s Gospel from Matthew that Jesus came to show us “how” to live our lives in service to others. The real path to holiness is not about position or power but it is in the simple acts of kindness and generosity where we are the “face of Jesus Christ” to all our brothers and sisters. When we extend a gesture of thoughtfulness or reach out to someone in need, we are indeed following the example and advice of Jesus and aspiring to true “greatness”. Greatness may be defined as a clarion call to “wholeness” of mind, body, and spirit. We are asked to challenge ourselves to greater acceptance of diversity and acknowledge the times when we gossip or “judge” others. As Jesus chided the disciples to set aside their pride and personal agendas in order to serve the needs of others, we too are asked to reach out in generosity and love to all those we meet.

Lord, teach me your way of looking at people, the way you glanced at Peter after his denial, the way you touched the hearts of your disciples. I would like to meet you as you really are, since you change those who really know you. Give me the grace to live my life, within and without, the way you lived your life.

Charlie Meyer, married 45 years to Pauline, father of Lucie (Kreidler), Henry and Tim, grandfather of Jessie, Becky, Jon and Cora.