Category: Daily Reflections
“The other man, however, kept his distance, not even daring to raise his eyes to heaven.” –Luke 18:13 The humble tax collector in today’s Gospel passage did not presume he was worthy to approach God. He saw his position in relation to God correctly and realized his only option was to throw himself upon the mercy of God. He hoped in God; otherwise he would not have entered the Temple to pray, but knowing his unworthiness he remained at a distance. Jesus was pleased with this man’s humility, and proclaimed him “justified” in God’s sight (Lk 18:14). This parable is...
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“Take with you words, and return to the Lord.” –Hosea 14:3 Return to the Lord, or you will collapse “through your guilt” (Hos 14:2). “Return to the Lord; say to Him, ‘Forgive all iniquity’ ” (Hos 14:3). Return to the Lord, for He will heal your defection and love you freely (Hos 14:5). Return to the Lord; because of Him you “bear fruit” (Hos 14:9). Return to the Lord, for He is merciful and will not remain angry with you (Jer 3:12). “Return, rebellious children” (Jer 3:14), and He will appoint over you shepherds after His own heart who will...
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“But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out devils, then the reign of God is upon you.” –Luke 11:20 Mass Readings: March 8 First: Jeremiah 7:23-28; Resp: Psalm 95:1-2,6-9; Gospel: Luke 11:14-23 Listen to the Mass Readings In Lent, we imitate Jesus when He fasted forty days and overcame the temptations of Satan (Mt 4:2ff). Some demons cannot be driven out except through prayer and fasting (Mt 17:21). “Prayer and fasting are the first and most effective weapons against the forces of evil” (The Gospel of Life, Pope St. John Paul II, 100). In today’s...
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“Whoever fulfills and teaches these commands shall be great in the kingdom of God.” –Matthew 5:19 Mass Readings: March 7 First: Deuteronomy 4:1,5-9; Resp: Psalm 147:12-13,15-16,19-20; Gospel: Matthew 5:17-19 Listen to the Mass Readings Many years ago, I told my little daughter to pick up the mess on her bedroom floor. An hour later, I checked her room. “Daddy, daddy!” she exclaimed. “I cleaned my floor as you told me. And look, I also made my bed and dusted my shelf and cleaned my desk!” My daughter kept my command and far exceeded it because of her desire to please...
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“My heavenly Father will treat you in exactly the same way unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.” –Matthew 18:35 Mass Readings: March 6 First: Daniel 3:25,34-43; Resp: Psalm 25:4-9; Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35 Listen to the Mass Readings “To err is human, to forgive divine.” This saying of Alexander Pope expresses the heart of the Gospel. We must forgive, but only God has the power to forgive. Therefore, we are desperately in need of God’s grace to forgive. The Lord often gives us the grace to forgive others by reminding us of how much He has forgiven...
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