As we journey through the second week of Lent, a time of reflection and penance, the readings from Esther 13:8-11; 15-17 and Matthew 20:17-28 invite us to meditate deeply on themes of humility, intercession, and true greatness in the eyes of God.
In the book of Esther, we encounter a profound moment of intercession. Queen Esther, aware of the impending doom of her people due to Haman’s decree, turns to God in a heartfelt plea for help. Her prayer is one of complete humility and reliance on God’s mercy. She acknowledges her own lowliness and the plight of her people, who are facing destruction. Esther’s intercession is a powerful act of faith and a testament to the strength found in vulnerability before God. In her prayer, we see a prefiguration of the Christian understanding of intercessory prayer—wherein we, recognizing our own helplessness, turn to God to plead for ourselves and on behalf of others, trusting in His divine will and mercy.
Moving to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus presents a counter-cultural view of greatness and leadership. As He prepares His disciples for the events that will unfold in Jerusalem, including His own Passion, He teaches them about the true nature of authority and service. The request of the mother of James and John, for her sons to sit at Jesus’ right and left in His kingdom, reveals a common misunderstanding of greatness as a form of power and prestige. Jesus corrects this view, emphasizing that true greatness lies in servitude: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Both passages challenge us to reflect on our own perceptions of power, leadership, and greatness. Esther’s humility and reliance on God teach us the power of prayer and the strength that comes from acknowledging our dependence on divine grace. Jesus’ teaching to His disciples invites us to embrace a life of service, where greatness is measured not by how many serve us, but by how many we serve in love and humility.
In this Lenten season, let us meditate on these passages, asking ourselves how we can embody the humility of Esther and the servant leadership of Christ in our own lives. May our Lenten journey be marked by a deepening commitment to prayer, service, and a willingness to embrace the true greatness that comes from following in the footsteps of our Lord.