Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent
Countless times in prayer, I have asked the Lord for something. Normally, I do it without really thinking about what I am asking for. I ask for things that I want, for things that would follow the plans that I have made. I ask for things like the mother in today’s Gospel. I ask for earthly things. Whereas what I should be doing is asking for the grace, courage, and strength to allow my desires to fall at the wayside so that I may aide in the unfolding of the Kingdom of God here on earth.
In the second half of the Gospel, Jesus speaks with his disciples about how to bring the Kingdom about here on earth. These words to the ten disciples who were grumbling speak to us as well today. Jesus reminds us that our call is not a call to hold power or authority over one another, but is a call to a position of servitude. Our discipleship is lived out through service to one another.
We are the Body of Christ. We are the ones who are tasked with carrying on the mission of Jesus Christ. We must follow the example of Jesus as a selfless servant. Both today’s Gospel and the passage from Jeremiah reminds us where the story is going. Jesus is going to be condemned, tortured and crucified. There is no way to avoid that our discipleship has a cross involved. And the cross is glorious because the cross is not the end of the story. The cross gives way to the Resurrection.
Lord God, May we also take time this Lenten season to prepare to carry our cross. May we, through prayer, cast aside our desires of power, our desires to plan, our desires to be in control. Through prayer, may we instead desire to sacrifice for the betterment of the community, desire to conform to God’s plan, may we desire our cross. We ask all of this through your Son, the example we strive to live for, Amen.
-Will Marsh