March 04, 26 Wednesday of Second week of Lent: Truth stands alone, while hostility travels in crowds.

March 04, 26 Wednesday of Second week of Lent:

Truth stands alone, while hostility travels in crowds.

Daily Divine Word,

Jeremiah 18: 18-20; Matthew 20: 17-28

Jeremiah is puzzled: The First Reading presents a reflective moment where prophet Jeremiah faces a conspiracy from his own people. Jeremiah questioned the complacency of the priests, wise men and challenged the false prophets. The prophet is being targeted and persecuted for speaking the truth and delivering the true divine message. Jeremiah is puzzled

Truth is confronted with hostility: Jeremiah pleads people to listen to God, paradoxically, his own people plot to silence him. They wanted to harm him, even kill him. People gather in numbers and whisper, “Come, let us plot against him.” Truth often stands alone, while hostility travels in crowds. Jeremiah did not run away from his ministry. Tell me—can any person or any multitude ever silence the voice of God? Jeremiah pleaded people to listen to God. They consistently refused, which demonstrated how rebellion can harden the heart against correction and truth.

Reversed Values: Who is great? The present generation is growing into self – consumerism, pushing themselves, promoting themselves. Being is spotlight, glowing in glory matters. This is also reflected in our social relationships – everyone claims for individual rights, we are being consumed with self-glory, self-esteem and self-promotion. We hear statements like ‘I am proud of myself, I deserve more than this, etc.’

We hear of Jame and John in the Gospel pushing themselves into what they consider important spotlight. Here, the self-promotion comes with a recommendation from their mother. Jesus redefines, worldly ambition and reverses the concept of greatness. True greatness is found in becoming the least of all. Greatness lies not in becoming big but in remaining small.

Our Takeaway

1. Truth is confronted with hostility. Truth stands alone, while hostility travels in crowds. can any person or any multitude ever silence the voice of God? However, Jeremiah does not give up.
2. Jeremiah pleaded people to listen to God. They consistently refused. Persistent refusal is a demonstration of a rebellion heart which is hardened against correction.
3. Present world is growing into self-consumerism – consumed with self-glory, self-esteem and self-promotion. Jesus reverses this value – greatness lies not in becoming big but in remaining small.

Wilson SVD