Wednesday of the
Second Week of Lent
(Jeremiah 18:18-20; Matthew 20:17-28)
In Greek mythology Cassandra is the daughter of King Priam
of Troy who was endowed with the gift of prophecy but also cursed with the fortune
of never being believed. She predicted
the fall of Troy and even the folly of bringing the artificial horse inside the
city. Her countrymen and women thought
she was crazy and suffered the terrible consequences of ignoring her. In the first reading today Jeremiah is
pictured Cassandra-like.
Jeremiah knows that Judah’s unfaithfulness to God will
bring about its ruin. He urges the
people to desist in their flirtations with foreign gods, but he is more than
ignored. The people plot to have him
killed. Not long afterwards Jerusalem
will be destroyed and many of its inhabitants carried into exile. In the gospel passage Jesus makes similar
warnings of doom, yet his disciples have difficulty listening. They show themselves more concerned about
politics than about reforming their lives.
Hopefully we will do better. There are plenty of signs indicating a deterioration
of fundamental human values in our midst.
Abortion and “homosexual marriage” come handily to mind. There are also indicators of positive social development
such as the decrease of violent crimes.
Now, however, we are called to take to heart what Jesus teaches: that we
rededicate ourselves to the service of all.
