Tuesday of the First Week

Reflection

As we move further into the first full week of our Lenten journey, we are encouraged through today’s readings by the powerful role and intercession of God and His Word in our lives.

Despite the many struggles we all face, we are assured in the Responsorial Psalm that, “When the just cry out, the Lord hears them and from all their distress, He rescues them. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those crushed in spirit He saves.” One key element in this promise is that we need to make the effort to earnestly and persistently seek the Lord, be in His presence, and make room for His Word to grow in our lives.

The Gospel reading from Matthew offers insight into how to seek the Lord through prayer. We need not string together many unnecessary words, but rather share heart-felt petitions and follow such guidelines as Jesus provides in the Lord’s Prayer. We should strive to pray to our Father with hearts filled with praise, gratitude, and forgiveness.

The first reading offers a wonderful metaphor for the transformational effect that the Word can have in our lives, like snow and rain that water the earth and enhance its fruitfulness. We play a critical role in tilling our own “soil” for this life-giving, heavenly “irrigation” when we receive the Word with attentiveness and openness to deeper conversion.

Prayer

Dear Lord, teach us how to pray with faithfulness and perseverance. In spite of our inevitable daily challenges, help us to prepare our own “soil” to receive Your life-giving Word with grace and bear Your fruit abundantly in our lives.

 

George Ashline, Professor of Mathematics

Scripture
First Reading: Isaiah 55:10-11
Psalm 34:4-7, 16-19

Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website