DAILY- HOMILY

March 2, 2015 MONDAY, 2nd Week of Lent

Violet

Dn 9: 4b-10 / Lk 6:36-38

Reading: Dn 9: 4b-10

     "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, fathers, have sinned against you. We hope for pardon and mercy from the Lord, 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:

     Some of the hardest things to do are to be merciful and to forgive someone who has hurt us. Our natural reaction is to retaliate or to strike back, preferably with more force, just to see the satisfaction of hurting the other party even more than they hurt us.

     And yet, Jesus tells us to be merciful just like the Father; not to judge or condemn; to forgive. By doing so, He promises that we will receive the same treatment that we give others, in full measure and running over. This is exactly how Jesus, innocent and sinless, out of unconditional love for us, embraced his rejection, his Passion and death so that He may rise again, conquering sin and death, and bringing all of us the salvation He wants for everyone. He did not hold anything against his enemies but forgave them from the cross.

     To show mercy and to forgive are some of the most difficult things to do. We can't do it alone and it takes time. Jesus wants us to repent for any resentment or hatred we may have against others. He knows how it feels to suffer from life's hurts and He is always with us in our struggles. It is only with God's grace that we'll be able to reconcile with our enemies or people who have hurt us or treated us unfairly and to move on.

     Forgiveness doesn't always totally erase the memory of the hurt that was done to us but the process of healing can only start with this conscious act of love and forgiveness. It is what Christ did for us with His loving sacrifice on the cross. He wants to see us whole and at peace, and free enough to show people the same mercy he has shown us. "For the measure you give will be the measure you receive back."

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     JEKIE DAGODOG

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For Tan Chin Eng who is depressed after he was told he had several minor strokes, and that he may have the will to strive for recovery and the will to live.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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