Wednesday 16 March 2022

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Today is Wednesday the 16th of March, in the second week of Lent.

Steffany Gretzinger sings, 'Knowing You'. Can you make these words your own today?

All I once held dear, built my life upon

All this world reveres, and wars to own

All I once thought gain I have counted loss

Spent and worthless now, compared to this

Knowing You, Jesus

Knowing You

There is no greater thing

You're my all, You're the best

You're my joy, my righteousness

And I love You, Lord

Now my heart's desire is to know You more

To be found in You and known as Yours

To possess by faith what I could not earn

All-surpassing gift of righteousness

Knowing You, Jesus

Knowing You

There is no greater thing

You're my all, You're the best

You're my joy, my righteousness

And I love You, Lord

Oh, to know the power of Your risen life

And to know You in Your sufferings

To become like You in Your death, O Lord

So with You to live and never die

Knowing You, Jesus

Knowing You

There is no greater thing

You're my all, You're the best

You're my joy, my righteousness

And I love You, Lord

And I love You, Lord

Today's reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matt 20:17-28

While Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, '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; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified; and on the third day he will be raised.'

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favour of him. And he said to her, 'What do you want?' She said to him, 'Declare that these two sons of mine will 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 cup that I am about to drink?' They said to him, 'We are able.' He said to them, 'You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.'

When the ten heard it, they were angry with 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 ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but 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.'

The setting of this passage is Jesus journeying to Jerusalem, foreseeing his passion. What's the atmosphere like as this story begins to unfold?

It's easy, perhaps, to recognise the picture of a mother trying to get the best for her boys. How do you think that Jesus feels as he hears her request?

Now put yourself in the shoes of the two sons. What's going on in them as they hear their mother trying to give their careers a boost?

As the second part of this passage is read again, listen especially for the lesson that Jesus draws from what has happened here.

Speak for a moment or two to the one who has come to serve you, and indeed to give his life for you.

You have given all to me.

To you, Lord, I return it.

Everything is yours; do with it what you will.

Give me only your love and your grace,

that is enough for me.