GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY – 15TH MARCH 2017

GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)

DATE: 15TH MARCH 2017

WEDNESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT

1ST READING: Jeremiah 18:18-20

PSALM: Psalm 31:5-6, 14-16

GOSPEL: Matthew 20:17-28

THEME: TRUTH

Winston Churchill rightly said, “Truth in incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.” A truthful person is like a candle in a windy dark night. His/her presence brings light to dark situations but he/she risks being snuffed out by those who relish darkness. Yes, truth has admirers but also many adversaries. These adversaries can be found in one’s family, among friends, at the workplace and even in the Church.

Corruption was on the increase in Judah. The priests and prophets whose duty it was to denounce this evil and lead the people to the right path had closed their eyes to the situation. In fact some condoned and connived with the perpetrators of wrongdoing, and the ‘prophets’ uttered lies and spoke of prosperity even in the face of a looming disaster (cf. Jer. 14:11-16). Jeremiah chose to stand up for the truth. He became a thorn in the flesh of those who preferred darkness to light. The consequence of his choice was an arrest, imprisonment and public ridicule. The First Reading offers us an insight into the plot of his adversaries. They argued, “Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah– for instruction shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, let us bring charges against him, and let us not heed any of his words” (Jer 18:18).

Jesus Christ also spoke the truth to his generation and he was hated by the leaders of Judaism for that. In our Gospel text, he tells the twelve disciples, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death” (Mat 20:18).

Jesus invites us to emulate him when he says, “Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mat 20:26-28).

As followers of Jesus, our mission is to serve the world with truth even if it means persecution. Like the sun, truth will always prevail even if momentarily the dark clouds appear to hide it.

PRAYER: Lord God, in you I place my trust. Deliver me from the plots of my adversaries and keep me in your truth; for the sake of the name of Christ I pray. Amen.

Andrews Obeng, svd

DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES

BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)

“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).

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