Monday of the Second Week of Lent

VIEW TODAY'S READINGS

Compassion and mercy are the resounding themes in today’s readings. In our first reading, the acknowledgement of sin by God’s people is abundant. The people of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, have sinned against God and have continued to do so time and time again and are ashamed. They know they have done evil, they know that they have departed from God’s commandments and laws. But God is full of mercy and forgiveness and though we do not deserve it, his forgiveness is steadfast to those who seek it. God loves us without condition even when we sin and break his commandments. His love has no bounds; we do not deserve his mercy, but it is through the ultimate sacrifice of his son, Jesus Christ, that we are able to receive one of His greatest gifts to us, forgiveness, with the promise of everlasting life.

The Responsorial Psalm pleads with the Lord to not “deal with us according to our sins,” but “have His compassion come quickly” to the sinner. “Let the prisoner’s sighting come before you; with your great power free those doomed to death” is a call to those who are chained in sin, that they may turn to God and ask for His forgiveness so that they may become saved and share in eternal life with God. The Lord wants us to trust in Him; to trust that he is merciful and that he desires to save us - not condemn us.

The Gospel Reading further demonstrates God’s mercy; Jesus teaches us to be merciful as God the Father is to us when we sin. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” is the Golden rule we should follow throughout our life. How can we expect God to forgive us if we do not show mercy to our adversaries in forgiveness? We should all ask ourselves “do I show mercy to someone who has wronged me?” How would I want God to respond to me when I do not keep his commandments? Would I want someone to show me the same mercy as God shows me when I sin? We should be swift in our mercy, just as God is to us when we sin. We should be generous in our forgiveness, just as God is to us, “for the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” No doubt, sometimes it can be challenging to show someone compassion that has done wrong against us. But if we are generous in our compassion and mercy toward others, God will show us the same kindness and mercy tenfold.

Anonymous