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
Notes
In the old days we called it the ‘Blame Game’. Everyone had someone to blame for their problems. It seems it is impossible for my miseries to be cause by my actions or reactions. Rather it is your fault. As a rule, judging others is less about observations of the Other and more about rejection of what we detest in ourselves. Tricky stuff.
In our first reading today the prophet Daniel, leveraging the prophet Jeremiah, goes to great length to describe the miseries as they are and how they came about. The Seventy Years and again the Seventy Weeks of Years (490 years) are durations of the miseries in poetic terms. But the message is simple and clear.
Summary
We ignore God. We ignore his commandments. We follow our own desires. We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and turned from your commandments and your laws (Dn 9:5).
Reflection
In our readings today Jesus prescribes the medicine we need to take: Be Merciful. This is the advice not to ignore.
- Stop Judging.
- Stop condemning.
- Forgive.
Recognizing it is hard thing to do is a super first step. The Divine will aid you in the attempt. Because he wants his sons and daughters to be like him.
Personal Reflection
I taught the OCIA Elect yesterday in preparation for the Scrutinies. We read the entirety of the text of The Samaritan Woman (1st Scrutiny) and The Man Born Blind (2nd Scrutiny). Then we went through line by line of each story. Among the many spiritual gifts sacred scripture shows I concluded with these observations.
- The Church gives you these first two examples. Woman and Man.
- The Woman was perfectly healthy in body but her spirit forgot who she was and what her faith was: a Jew seeking the Messiah.
- The Man was not perfectly healthy (born blind) but his spirit was healthy seeking the Messiah through the faith.
- The woman received her dignity again.
- The man received his sight.
- They both, Woman and Man, received what they needed most: the Messiah.
People who are stuck in judgement think her a whore (she was not, she had but one man) and he born in sin (he was not, he simply was born blind). Judging others is tricky business. Best left to the Angels.
Be merciful.
Reference on Samaritans: https://deacongerrypalermo.blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/samaritan-all.pdf
Footnote: The third scrutiny of the three scrutinies is the story of the raising of Lazarus, but that was not in scope yesterday.
First Reading
The Seventy Weeks of Years.
O LORD, we are shamefaced, like our kings, our princes, and our fathers, for having sinned against you. But yours, O Lord, our God, are compassion and forgiveness! Yet we rebelled against you and paid no heed to your command, O LORD, our God, to live by the law you gave us through your servants the prophets.”
Responsorial
Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Gospel Acclamation
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life.
Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Judging Others
“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry