3RD WEEK OF LENT
Psalter: Week 3 / (Violet)
Ps 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21ab
It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
1st Reading: Hos 6:1-6
Come, let us return to Yahweh.
He who shattered us to pieces, will heal us as well; he has struck us down, but he will bind up our wounds.
Two days later he will bring us back to life; on the third day, he will raise us up, and we shall live in his presence.
Let us strive to know Yahweh.
His coming is as certain as the dawn.
His judgment will burst forth like the light.
He will come to us as showers come, like spring rain that waters the earth.
O Ephraim, what shall I do with you?
O Judah, how shall I deal with you?
This love of yours is like morning mist, like morning dew that quickly disappears.
This is why I smote you through the prophets, and have slain you by the words of my mouth.
For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice; it is knowledge of God, not burnt offerings.
Gospel: Lk 18:9-14
Jesus told another parable to some people, fully convinced of their own righteousness, who looked down on others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself, and said, ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people, grasping, crooked, adulterous, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and give a tenth of all my income to the temple.’
In the meantime the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’
I tell you, when this man went back to his house, he had been reconciled with God, but not the other. For whoever makes himself out to be great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be raised up.”
Reflections
HUMILITY
One of the rarest qualities of people is genuine humility. It seems to be a part of our psychological survival to be proud or vain. One can appear to be humble but in reality one is just submissive and subservient. There is also the so-called humility with a hook in which we engage in self-deprecating statements hoping for someone to contradict us. The ego is so pervasive and is so wily that it insinuates itself into our actions and thoughts in disguised ways. Actually, one cannot be humble unless one has a healthy self-esteem. Someone puts it this way: One cannot be humble if one does not have something to be proud of. Actually a genuinely humble person has a healthy self-esteem that comes from an honest self-knowledge and self-acceptance. Humble people have an inner security which is immune to flattery and blame. Unlike people who are innerly insecure, they do not need to put up a front, a false façade to hide their insecurity. They do not have to flaunt their achievements and accomplishments. They are also not easily insulted or humiliated, because they know who they are and what people say does not make them grow or diminish even a single inch. HUMILITY IS TRUTH.
Daily Reflection 2018
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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
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