Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection March 04, 2026

04th March 2026 (Wednesday)

Psalter: Week 2

Readings of the Day

First Reading: Jeremiah 18:18-20

They said, “Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah, for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not pay attention to any of his words.” Hear me, O Lord, and listen to the voice of my adversaries. Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for my life. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.

Psalm 31:5-6, 14, 15-16 (R. see 17b)

R/. Save me, O Lord, in your merciful love

Gospel Acclamation

V/. Glory and praise to you, O Christ

R/. Glory and praise to you, O Christ

V/. I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.

R/. Glory and praise to you, O Christ

Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12

At that time: As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the chalice that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my chalice, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at 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 exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Daily Gospel Reflection

Wednesday – Second Week of Lent

Main Point: We all aspire to the throne, but we avoid the cross. Being willing to serve the food is what really defines greatness, not having the finest seat at the table.

1. Everyone aspires to be significant. We want the most comfortable living, the finest seats, and the recognition. Humans naturally want to be at the top of the hierarchy.

2. This is precisely what James and John accomplish in today’s Gospel. Jesus had just completed giving His friends His whole being. He informed them that he would be ridiculed and murdered in Jerusalem. And how did they react right away? The two most influential seats in His kingdom are what they request.

3. Their lack of knowledge is nearly comical. I do the exact same thing, however, to be honest. I completely disregard the sacrifice that God is asking of me and instead offer Him my lengthy list of selfish requests in my prayers. We certainly do not desire the agony of the crucifixion, but we do want the glory of the resurrection.

4. Jesus does not chastise them for their self-centeredness. He just says, “Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?” in a very calm and serious manner. He wants to know whether they really believe that love is worth suffering for.

5. The world teaches us that being great entails being served by others. It denotes riches and authority. However, Jesus modifies the rules entirely. He believes that being a servant is a prerequisite for greatness. It must be you who helps the weak and does the dishwashing.

6. This is not a simple task. Take a look at the first passage. They planned to destroy the life of the prophet Jeremiah because he attempted to assist his people. It’s messy to serve people. You won’t always get their gratitude. They will sometimes even insult you in return for your nice acts.

7. But that’s just what Jesus did. He came to offer His life, even for those who wronged Him, not to be served. Climbing over others to get to the top is not the definition of true power. It’s about getting on your knees to help people get up.

My Practice: Where am I requesting the “best seat” or anticipating preferential treatment at this moment? Instead of requesting service today, I will discreetly help someone else without expecting gratitude.