Wednesday, March 4
Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent
First Reading – Jeremiah 18:18-20
Then they said, “Come, let us make plots against Jere mi′ah, for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not heed any of his words.” Give heed to me, O Lord, and listen to my plea. Is evil a recompense for good? Yet they have dug a pit for my life. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 31:5-6, 13, 15-16
℟ Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.
You hate those who pay regard to vain idols; but I trust in the Lord.
℟ Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
Yes, I hear the whispering of many— terror on every side!— as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.
℟ Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors!
Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your merciful love!
℟ Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
Verse Before the Gospel – John 8:12
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Gospel – Matthew 20:17-28
And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him 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 Zeb′edee came up to him, with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the chalice that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my chalice, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” And when the Ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, Ignatius Press, Copyright ⓒ 2006.
