Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Lent
Mass Readings
First Reading – Jer 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 – 31:5-6, 14, 15-16 (R. 17b)
R. 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.
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.
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.
Gospel – Mt 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.”
Featured Saints
(Optional memorial ) St. Casimir (†1484). Patron of Poland and Lithuania, son of King Casimir IV of Poland. He died at the age of 25, after a life marked by piety, abnegation and austerity, even renouncing marriage so as to better serve God and help the poor.
Blessed Zoltan Lajos Meszlényi, Bishop and martyr (†1951). Auxiliary Bishop of Esztergom, Hungary, he was deported to the concentration camp of Kistarcsa, where he died after being subjected to extreme ill-treatment and torture for eight months.
Blessed Placide Viel, virgin (†1877). French religious, elected second Superior General of the Sisters of the Christian Schools; she gave great impetus to the congregation during thirty years of governance, humbly enduring many setbacks and misunderstandings.
St. Basinus, bishop (†705). He became a monk in the Benedictine Monastery of St. Maximinus of Trier, Germany, and was elected abbot. He was later appointed Bishop of the same city.
St. John Anthony Farina, bishop (†1888). Great pastor and educator. He founded the Institute of the Sisters Teachers of St. Dorothy, Daughters of the Sacred Hearts, for the education of poor girls, in Vicenza, Italy.
St. Peter, abbot (†1123). Benedictine monk; elected Bishop of Policastro. Weary of the pomp of worldly life, he returned to his monastery, where, as abbot, he renewed religious discipline.
Blessed Robert Spiske, priest (†1888). Diocesan priest; he founded the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Hedwig in Krakow, Poland.
Blessed Humbert of Savoy, monk (†1188). Compelled to leave the cloister to attend to public duties, he soon returned to monastic life with redoubled dedication.
Blessed Marie Louise of Lamoignon, widow (†1825). After her husband was guillotined, she founded the Order of the Sisters of Charity of St. Louis in Vannes, France.
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