Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent
Reading 1 Jeremiah 18:18-20
The people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem said,
"Come, let us contrive a plot against Jeremiah.
It will not mean the loss of instruction from the priests,
nor of counsel from the wise, nor of messages from the prophets.
And so, let us destroy him by his own tongue;
let us carefully note his every word."
Heed me, O LORD,
and listen to what my adversaries say.
Must good be repaid with evil
that they should dig a pit to take my life?
Remember that I stood before you
to speak in their behalf,
to turn away your wrath from them.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 31:5-6, 14, 15-16
R. (17b) Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
You will free me from the snare they set for me,
for you are my refuge.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
I hear the whispers of the crowd, that frighten me from every side,
as they consult together against me, plotting to take my life.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
But my trust is in you, O LORD;
I say, "You are my God."
In your hands is my destiny; rescue me
from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
Verse Before the Gospel John 8:12
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
Gospel Matthew 20:17-28
As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem,
he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves,
and said to them on the way,
"Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,
and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests
and the scribes,
and they will condemn him to death,
and hand him over to the Gentiles
to be mocked and scourged and crucified,
and he will be raised on the third day."
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons
and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.
He said to her, "What do you wish?"
She answered him,
"Command that these two sons of mine sit,
one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom."
Jesus said in reply,
"You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?"
They said to him, "We can."
He replied,
"My chalice you will indeed drink,
but to sit at my right and at my left,
this is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."
When the ten heard this,
they became indignant at the two brothers.
But Jesus summoned them and said,
"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and the great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many."
- Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Casimir
Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
March 4, 2026 // Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent // Optional Memorial of Saint Casimir
Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Matthew 20:17-28
Reflect on the Word
Birds warbled their same familiar, neighborhood song as my sister and I swung open the squeaky back door, breathless from hours of playing pioneer and picking berries in the yard. Our weekend afternoons often looked like this, our imaginations running wild as we plotted games we could fill our time with. Our mother often called out to us to remind us of our chores, knowing we had likely become lost in our play. My little sister would spring up with delight, as if pulled by the opportunity to help, while I often grumbled under my breath, trudging up the stairs toward the incessantly buzzing washing machine, wondering, Why does she like doing chores?
Years later, as I prayed with Jesus’ humble words from today’s Gospel, “[T]he Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:27), I realized that Jesus Himself likely split wood with Saint Joseph and heeded His mother’s call around the house. Like any child, the proposition of play constantly tugged at His arm, but Jesus always prioritized obedience. He continued to serve into adolescence and adulthood, washing the feet of His disciples and ever so patiently addressing each of their misunderstandings and doubts. This was His delight. He arose every morning, pulled by the opportunity to help His people whom He had finally drawn so close to, walking amongst them, hearing the echoes of their laughter, and feeling the firm shake of their hands. He served because His Sacred Heart brimmed with love, a love which meant ultimately giving Himself for us entirely in Jerusalem.
We may think we are worlds separated from childhood, but as adults, we are not much different. New whims and opportunities tug at our arms daily, but we must not forget the example of our Lord. His kingdom is a different kingdom, one where the King serves His people. Let us become like our King, and willingly drink the chalice of pouring our lives out in love.
Relate to the Lord // How can you spring up in obedience to Jesus—to love—today?
Olivia Jackson, known by her friends and family as Liv, is a college student pursuing a BA with a major in elementary education. When she is not in the classroom, she loves to dance, hike, and workout. Sundays hold a special place in her heart, and she loves to celebrate them by sabbathing with her roommates and basking in nature.
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