Saturday of the Third Week

Reflection

These are some amazing readings. They are hard to digest and make us tremble at the power of our God. However, we need to remember that God’s love for us is more powerful than any other power in the universe. God makes it very clear that what He desires of us is love—not sacrifice, not good works, not money, not endless acts of devotion, but love. Love is the greatest power on Earth.
 
In the gospel reading, Jesus reminds us to be humble. It is a tough read, but we must remember who he is talking to. Luke tells us he is talking to people “who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.” Okay, so a rough crowd. His message needed to be tough for them to understand that God was not interested in the checklist they provided. God was interested in their love. He reminds them that “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”  We are reminded of this at mass during the Confiteor when we strike our breasts three times. We know that the fault lies with us, not with God.
 
God wants our love and nothing else can replace it—not fasting, not tithing, not going to daily mass…nothing other than love, and love is what the tax collector gives to God. He realizes that he is a sinner in need of mercy. He realizes that all he has comes from God and all he can return is love and humility. He knows that nothing he does can earn him God’s love. Thomas Aquinas defines humility as “seeing ourselves as God sees us knowing every good we have comes from Him as pure gift.” I know that God sees us in love and that what He expects from us is to love Him with our whole heart. We need to let go of the checklist that we have created of what it means to be a follower of Jesus…and just love God. If I trust that, then everything else will follow. 

Prayer

Abba, Help me love you with my whole heart. Help me silence the endless lists of things that I believe I must do to please you. I put my life in your hands. Amen.

André and Amy LaChance
Worshipping Community

Scripture

First Reading: Hosea 6:1-6
Psalm 51:3-4, 18-21b
Gospel: Luke 18:9-14

Daily Scripture readings can be found online at the USCCB website