It is 28th February 2018. The readings are from Jeremiah 18:18-20; and the Gospel from Matthew 20:17-28. The cup of pain and sorrow for the ones who are genuine, honest, outgoing and sincere in serving the Lord and Lord’s people is the offer God gives to us to sip during the Lent. Have you anytime of your life tasted the cup of suffering and sorrow like that of Jeremiah and Jesus? When we have wished and done the best for the others, in turn if we are haunted and halted for the very good things we have performed to humanity, we truly feel that God is the only safety and security. It is in touch with and to bring out the servant in us is the momentum of our spiritual lives. Normally, we would like to boss over someone around. But the readings invite us to recognize the suffering servant who did nothing but good. The suffering is not merely bodily but it is of the inner spirit for having been humble and helpful to the others. We can never redeem our brokenness without going through the tunnel of suffering. It is the suffering and pain make us to come closer to the reality of love, affection and truth. This process of coming in contact with the truth makes us to lean on God. In the first reading, we reflect the portrait of the servant who suffered in the service of God presenting Jeremiah as an ante type of Christ. The responsorial Psalm pleads, “Save me in your love, O Lord.” (Ps.30:17). In the Gospel, Jesus invites us to partake in the cup of suffering. It is not the seat and honour we hold in the church makes us closer and familiar to Jesus rather our humble service to the broken humanity. The power and positions are insignificant for Jesus in His Kingdom of love and service. Our eligibility comes only by the consistent service to Christ and the Church and that is the only one that make us worthy to experience the eternal happiness in Heaven. Let us be available for the service of the Lord not the positions in the churches. Service and voluntarily sacrifices are the antidote for the suffering soul. The season of Lent helps to purify and enlighten our minds to know and experience who Jesus is and what He expects from us. Jesus came to serve and not to be served, and even to give His life as a ransom for many. May we understand the reason for our call to be at the beck and call of the suffering humanity. May you have a good day. God bless you.