“WARM WITH GOD’S LOVE”
Lenten Reflections
10thMarch 2018.
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SATURDAY, THIRD WEEK OF LENT
Reading 1: Hos 6:1-6 God pleads with his people to return to him: “It is love I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than holocausts.”
Res. Psalm: Ps 51: 3-4, 18-21 What I want is love, not sacrifice.
Gospel:Lk 18: 9-14 Luke relates the famous contrast between the self-righteous Pharisee and the humble publican who realizes he is a sinner and begs God for mercy.
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PRAYER IS SEEING ONESELF THROUGH GOD’S EYES!
God is reaching out to the chosen people, beloved Ephraim and Judah, who are far from God, caught in their affliction. God is sure that they will realize that although it was God who struck them, it is God too who will heal their wounds. If we strive to know the Lord, we can be certain that he will come to us like the rain that waters the earth. But God knows Ephraim and Judah, and us. Our piety is like the dew, which passes away. We are fickle; our faithfulness is fleeting and shallow.
Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, is addressed to those who believe in their own self-righteousness while holding everyone else in contempt. Two men go up to the Temple to pray. One stands before God with his head unbowed and prays aloud, condemning others while boasting of his righteous deeds. The other, a tax collector, does not even dare to raise his eyes. He just beats his breast and prays, “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”
How do we pray? Do we tell God who we are and how much good we do, expecting God to be impressed? Or do we see our true relation to God? In fact, when the awareness of God overshadows us, we must be filled the awareness of our sinfulness and lack of love. We do not presume to stare God in the face. We are not sure of a privileged position at all. We are still sinners and in need of mercy and the Spirit, even to pray, even to approach God.
Today, we still struggle with self- perception. However we see ourselves, one thing is certain: God sees us the way we really are. He sees the good qualities, and he sees the ones that need working upon. He sees things that are so deep down, which are blind spots for us. God loves us just as we are. So let us try to look at ourselves through the eyes of our Savior. As we see ourselves the way he does, we will be able to open ourselves to receive his mercy and grace.
Prayer: Lord, your love desires that I repent and return to you. My self-righteousness blocks me from seeing my frail self. May your grace help me to see myself as you see me. Amen.
Lenten Act: Take a Prayer Walk. Take a 15 minute walk near your home or work place. Talk to God, experience the presence of Jesus with you as you walk, and tell him who you really are, and in sincerity ask his help to walk towards the light instead of darkness.