Friday, March 13, 2015
SATURDAY, 3rd Week of Lent
SATURDAY, 3rd Week of Lent
Violet
Hos 6:1-6 / Lk 18:9-14
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 persons 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 the 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 down to his house, he had been set right with God, but not the other. For whoever makes himself out to be great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be raised."
Reflection:
In our stories, we are always right, or at least blameless. Our actions and behavior are perfectly rational, given the circumstances. In our stories, other people happen to us. They are strange. They get in our way. They can't get their acts together. Their actions are troublesome and poorly founded. In our stories, we are the protagonists and this life is about us.
But is it God's story? Is it the story God is writing for us? When we go to church, we may not explicitly say to God, "Thank you for making me a better human being than my neighbor over here." But how often do we cast silent judgments almost automatically? How often do we live as if this life was about us and that we know the roles and hearts of all the cast members?
What this parable is saying is that a proud heart has no room for God nor for other people. Righteousness makes one the judge and director. It sets one apart. But if we take a step back before God, "remove the sandals from our feet," then God can begin His work on us. He can begin to work on our hearts and help us truly see ourselves and our brothers and sisters. When this happens, the world will come alive. People will appear to us full of potential and the space for God's love. Our lives will no longer be simply our story but God's.
WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:
BIRTHDAY
ADRIAN JOHN GOTAMCO DY
WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
DIONISION & TERESA LIM TAN
IN MEMORIAM (+)
RICHARD O'GORMAN
OTHER INTENTIONS:
For the healing and fast recovery of Pocholo Aligada
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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# posted by F O O D F O R T H O U G H T @ 5:56 AM 
