
The first or the last? - 04-03-2026
Wednesday of the Second week of Lent
Readings Responsorial Psalm Gospel YOUCAT Reflection
First Reading
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 tongue;
let us carefully note his every word."
Heed me, O LORD, and listen to what my adversaries say.
Must good be repaid with evil that
they should dig a pit to take my life?
Remember that I stood before you to speak in their behalf,
to turn away your wrath from them.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 31(30),5-6.14.15-16.
You will free me from the snare they set for me,
for you are my refuge.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
You will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
I hear the whispers of the crowd, that frighten me from every side,
as they consult together against me, plotting to take my life.
But my trust is in you, O LORD;
I say, "You are my God.
In your hands is my destiny; rescue me
from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors."
Gospel
Matt 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 priests
and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death,
and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked
and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day."
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee
approached him with her sons and 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 cup that I am going to drink?" They said to him, "We can."
He replied, "My cup you will indeed drink,
but to sit at my right and at my left,
this is not mine to give but 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 servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served
but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."
YOUCAT Reflection
131 What must we do for the unity of Christians?
In word and deed we must obey Christ, who expressly wills "that they may all be one" (Jn 17,21).
Christian unity is the business of all Christians, regardless of how young or old they are. Unity was one of Jesus' most important concerns. He prayed to the Father, "that they may all be one ... so that the world may believe that you have sent me" (Jn 17,21). Divisions are like wounds on the Body of Christ; they hurt and fester. Divisions lead to enmities and weaken the faith and credibility of Christians. Overcoming the scandal of separation requires the conversion of all concerned but also knowledge of one's own faith convictions, dialogues with others, and especially prayer in common, and collaboration among Christians in serving mankind. Those in authority in the Church must not let the theological dialogue be interrupted.
