2nd WEEK OF LENT
Psalter: Week 2 / (Violet)
Ps 79:8, 9, 11 & 13
Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
1st Reading: Dn 9:4b-10
I prayed to Yahweh, my God, and made this confession: “Lord God, great and to be feared, you keep your Covenant and love for those who love you and observe your commandments. We have sinned; we have not been just; we have been rebels, and have turned away from your commandments and laws. We have not listened to your servants, the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, leaders, fathers and to all the people of the land.
Lord, justice is yours; but ours is a face full of shame, as it is to this day—we, the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the whole of Israel, near and far away, in all the lands where you have dispersed us because of the infidelity we have committed against you. Ours is the shame, O Lord, for we, our kings, princes and fathers, have sinned against you. We hope for pardon and mercy from the Lord, our God, because we have rebelled against him. We have not listened to the voice of Yahweh, our God, or followed the laws which he has given us through his servants, the prophets.
Gospel: Lk 6:36-38
Jesus said to his disciples, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
“Don’t be a judge of others and you will not be judged; do not condemn and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you, and you will receive in your sack good measure, pressed down, full and running over. For the measure you give will be the measure you receive back.“
REFLECTION:
Mercy Begets Mercy
It is so much easier to see the mistakes of others than our own. We are quick to criticize others and are so slow in admitting our own faults. A beautiful poem by an anonymous poet goes:
“Oho!“ said the pot to the kettle;
“Not so! Not so!“ kettle said to the pot;
“You are dirty and ugly and black!
“Tis your own dirty image you see,
Sure no one would think you were metal,
For I am so clean – without blemish
Except when you're given a crack.“ or blot
That your blackness is mirrored in me.“
The season of Lent is a time for self-examination. That is what the Daniel in our first reading does. He makes a confession of the sins of his people. Like Daniel we have to kneel before God and beg for forgiveness and mercy.
But so that the Lord may heed our plea for mercy we must have merciful hearts, too. Indeed, we pray that Our Father may forgive us as we forgive those who sin against us! We say to God, “Lord, if I do not forgive those who have wronged me I do not deserve to be forgiven too.“ If we beg for mercy we must be ready to give mercy as well. Mercy begets mercy.
Daily Reflection
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Biblical Texts are taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition (57th Edition) The New English Translation for the ROMAN MISSAL
With permission from the EPISCOPAL COMMISION ON LITURGY of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines
Readings and Reflections
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