SAVE US LORD FROM THOSE WHO HATE US (Jeremiah 18:18-20/Psalm 31:5-6,14,15-16/Matthew 20:17-28)

SAVE US LORD FROM THOSE WHO HATE US

(Wednesday March 20, 2019)

We are living in a world where many people want to be on top, by all means, doing anything humanly and physically possible to get to power, to retain and to remain in power. Many because of this uncontrollable quest for power and authority have lost their lives in the process. The gospel of today presents the tip of an iceberg of what we are talking about here. Even among the disciples of Christ, such a quest was obvious and glaring. Christ in the gospel of today corrected the wrong impression some of His disciples had about power and authority which also serves as a big lesson for all us because this crazy quest for power is something else in our society today.

Christ is teaching us today how to serve others. Christ even pointed out that those happen to be in power should see that as a way of rendering service not as a means of suppressing, killing, destroying lives and property, and lording it over to others In this gospel, Christ made it clear that we should not set our minds on power and authority as if it is the be all and end all. That if such privilege comes to us, we should see it as a call to serve others. From the answer He gave to James and John concerning sitting either at the right or at the left in the kingdom of God, we can deduce that the kingdom of God is for everybody.

It is not meant for any particular set of people or group. The ticket to heaven or securing a seat in the kingdom of heaven is open and for all. Whoever struggles and works hard for it gets and grabs it. It is not a kingdom that money can buy or a kingdom that one can get through cheating or still a kingdom one can get through the snatching of ballot boxes like during election, or through malpractice or rigging in order to get the ticket. It is not a kingdom that thugs can hijack through the use of force and guns! It is indeed a kingdom that is given to those who merited it or struggle for it, who love God and their neighbour. It is a kingdom for those who set their minds on doing the will of God. It is not a kingdom for those who plan evil always or how to destroy others as we see today in the first reading of the wicked plot to do away with the prophet of God in the person of Jeremiah.

What was exactly the offence Jeremiah committed? Nothing, only that he told his people to walk in the way of the Lord and to keep His precepts and commandments, to embrace the road that leads to life that quickly brings them to the kingdom of God. The wicked plan and plot to destroy Jeremiah are found among the people of our generation especially among Christians of the 21st century. There are those whose profession is to destroy people’s reputation and pulling people down in any available means within their reach. Let us pray in this Lent for the spirit of working hard for the kingdom of God.

Let Us Pray: Lord Jesus, give me the grace to serve others as you have instructed me and may I bring glory to your name. Amen.