WEDNESDAY OF THE 2nd WEEK OF LENT

WEDNESDAY OF THE 2nd WEEK OF LENT

1.Jer 18:18-20

2. Matt20:17-28

REFLECTIONS AND MEDITATIONS

" It was a pride that changed angels into devils, it is humility that makes men as angels."

The popular psychiatrist, Dr. Karl Menninger in the course of his psychological analysis once gave a lecture on mental health, after which someone from the audience asked him what he would suggest that a person do in the event of a suspected impending nervous breakdown. Everyone guessed and suspected that Dr. Menninger would advice as preventive measure a visit to a psychiatrist. Instead he replied: " Lock up your house, go to other side of the railroad tracks and find people in need. Then do something to help. Immerse yourself in the lives of others." I'm sure this is the cure for a nervous breakdown, boredom and other not so good feelings.

In the gospel today, the other apostles are indignant of James and John because their mother, on behalf of her two sons, requests Jesus that her two sons will sit at His left and right. In the gospel of St. Mark (10:35), instead of a mother interceding for her sons, James and John themselves plead for their own request. Sad to say, the apostles get angry with these two not because of disappointment but because, we can find in other gospel passage, that they have the same ambition with these two.

Jesus shows us His example on how to be truly great and that is by serving others and giving Himself totally to us. We are called to the same in our lives and by doing so we can love Him more. Let us reflect the following statements taken from the teaching of Jesus:

We are great when we serve.

When Blessed John Paul II died, so many people - prigrims were coming together to see the body  of this late Pope and this impressed majority of people. This was simply because the Pope suffered so greatly both physical and moral in the last years of his life. He served the Church and brought totally new face to the papacy. Many today are still calling him, " the Great." He is great not because of what he wrote, spoke or incredible feasts he accomplished as Pope, rather he is great because he truly took to heart this gospel passage and served his brothers and sisters.

Let us go out from our comfort zone

God asks to serve others and put ourselves at their disposal. Jesus asks us only that we look out for the good of others before our own. We are invited  to serve those around us and to bring Christ to them through our humble service. Sometimes this service can be inform of smile, a kind word or charitable act. In serving others we can be truly fulfilled. This is what Christ means by being the last and servant of all.

At the end let us reflect this true story  told by J.K. Laney, which I am sure speaks to us about serving others. The great Violinist, Niccolo Paganini willed his marvelous violin to city of Genoa on condition that it must never be played. The wood of such an instrument, while used and handled, wears only slightly but when set aside, it begins to decay. Paganini's lovely  violin had today become worm-eaten and useless except as a relic.

What do we learn from the story above is that  it invites us to reflect that if we are unwilling to serve we may soon destroy our capacity for usefulness.