Gospel: March 17, 2025
March 17, 2025 (Monday)
2nd Sunday of Lent
Psalter: Week 2 / (Violet)
St. Patrick, bishop
Ps 79:8, 9, 11 & 13
Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
1st Reading: Daniel 9:4b-10
I prayed to the Lord, my God, and made this confession: “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 and fathers, have sinned against you. We hope for pardon and mercy from the Lord, our God, because we have rebelled against him. We have not listened to the voice of the Lord, our God, or followed the laws which he has given us through his servants, the prophets.
Gospel: Luke 6:36-38
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:
“Giving before taking”
Saint Patrick’s autobiography, his Confession, begins “I, Patrick, a sinner.” This chimes with the first reading for today, in which the prophet Daniel admits his own sins and the sins of the people for not listening to God or following his ways. And yet, neither Patrick’s Confession, nor Daniel’s speech are made in despair. They hope in the love of God, a loving mercy which transforms, even, as in the case of the Bishop Patrick, when people rebuked him for his sins and discouraged him in his ministry.
Saint Patrick declares that God was patient with his ignorance and led him to the understanding of what was good, and for this Saint Patrick professes that his life has been blessed. As a captive slave in Ireland, Patrick had tended sheep. Then upon his return, Patrick became a shepherd of souls, now freely choosing to be a servant of God. Christ’s words in the Gospel call us to a way of love and generosity, a way which places giving before taking. Pope Francis describes mercy as “to forgive and give” (Misericordiae Vultus, 14). Let’s reflect the mercy we have received from God in the way we deal with others.
