Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent (Feb.. 24, 2016)

Reading 1 and//usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/18:18 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 tonguelet us carefully note his every word.”Heed me, O LORD,and listen to what my adversaries say.Must good be repaid with evilthat they should dig a pit to take my life?Remember that I stood before youto speak in their behalf,to turn away your wrath from them. Responsorial Psalm and//usccb.org/bible/psalms/31and5 PS 31and5-6, 14, 15-16 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 spirityou will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God. R.Save me, O Lord, in your kindness. 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.Save me, O Lord, in your kindness. But my trust is in you, O LORDI say, You are my God.”In your hands is my destiny rescue mefrom the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors. R.Save me, O Lord, in your kindness. Verse Before The Gospel and//usccb.org/bible/john/8:12 JN 8:12 I am the light of the world, says the Lordwhoever follows me will have the light of life. Gospel and//usccb.org/bible/matthew/20:17 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 priestsand the scribes,and they will condemn him to death,and hand him over to the Gentilesto 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 sonsand 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 givebut 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 servantwhoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serveand to give his life as a ransom for many.”