Greetings on this the Monday of the Second Week in Lent
Readings: Dn 9:4b-10; PS 79:8, 9, 11 and 13; Lk 6:36-38
First Reading
The book of Daniel outlines the contradiction of our beliefs and our actions.
We believe that:
God is great and awesome.
God is just.
God is merciful.
God is compassionate and forgiving.
We act:
wickedly and have done evil,
rebellious and depart from your commands; and
pay no heed to your command to live by the law.
Daniel gives an honest assessment of the disconnect between what God is and does and what we are and do.
Responsorial Psalm
Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
We see our plight’s effect:
We have been brought low (weight of sin, material losses).
We have become prisoners of our own ways.
We are doomed to a spiritual death.
Conclusion of the Psalmist: The weight of sin and the entrapment of sin is more than we can bear.
Jesus Prescribes
Be merciful.
Stop judging.
Stop condeming.
Forgive.
Give gifts (almsgiving).
And everything changes.
Jesus’ moral and ethical teachings reframe and bring deeper understanding of the Divine Law and Divine Will.
Jesus’ proves himself in his miracles and in his resurrection. So you may know… rereading his teaching as not one of many teachings but the pinnacle of moral right and deserving of the greatest attention.
This is the time of Lent.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Deacon Gerry Palermo 