Monday of the Second Week in Lent
The Sinner Seeks Forgiveness
Liturgical Cycle: A, B, C | Lectionary Cycle: I, II
Introduction
Acknowledging sin, being sorry for it and seeking forgiveness is a reality that can only exist where there is genuine friendship and the awareness that this friendship has been hurt or even destroyed. Without friendship with God and with people, sin remains only a thing to be wiped off, sorrow is a little more than a superficial regretting of something that should not have happened, and forgiveness is erasing the past. Sin, sorrow, and pardon are to be seen in the light of the covenant relationship with a merciful God, who loved us first, and with our neighbour, with whom we are taken up in this union of life and love with God.
Opening Prayer
Just and holy God,
our loving Father,
you offered us your hand in friendship
and you sent us your Son, Jesus,
to go with us the road
of obedience and loyalty.
God, we often hurt this friendship,
we act as if we were not your sons and daughters.
See the look of shame on our faces.
Forgive us, for we count on you.
Accept our thanks
for continuing to take us as we are
and loving us notwithstanding our sins.
We ask you this through Christ, our Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (see 103:10a) Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;
may your compassion quickly come to us,
for we are brought very low.
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name's sake.
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Let the prisoners' sighing come before you;
with your great power free those doomed to death.
Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
through all generations we will declare your praise.
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Alleluia Verse
Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;
you have the words of everlasting life.
Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
Prayers of the Faithful
– That each of us may have the courage to say, “Sorry, I am wrong, forgive me,” not only to God when we have sinned, but also to people we have hurt, we pray:
– That we may never gloss over any evil but voice our disapproval without condemning the wrongdoer, we pray:
– That we may not pay back evil with evil but listen to the Spirit who wants us to pay back evil with good, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord, our God, in this Eucharist,
your Son, Jesus, come among us
to bring us your pardon and peace.
Remind us of what he went through for us,
that we may be converted to you
and be your holy people,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord, our God,
your forgiving love is without measure.
May our hearts become as large as yours,
that we too may learn to forgive one another,
and stop from judging and condemning.
May we too take people as they are
and continue offering our friendship,
even when it is abused,
by the strength of him
who has given himself to us in this Eucharist,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Blessing
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Words to remember and to practice, with the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTION:
Luke 6:36-38
Be Generous because you have a generous Father
Imagine God’s mercy as a blank cash cheque with your name written on it, and the account never runs out of cash. The more God’s mercy you share with others, the more mercy will be shared with you. It is up to you to decide how much you want to draw with the cheque.
Pope Francis says: “Loving our enemies, those who persecute us and make us suffer, is difficult; it is not even a “good business”, or at least it is not the logic of the world. However, it is the path that Jesus travelled to conquer the grace that makes us rich”.
The cliché of ‘glass half empty’ or ‘glass half full’ directly applies to today’s Gospel. For the one who regards the Gospel as a new set of commandments – it is all about rules and regulations: Be merciful, Stop judging, stop condemning, forgive and give. There you see the glass half empty. Today, people do not appreciate someone commands them to do things. But the Gospel does not stop with regulations.
On the other hand, it is a set of promises. These promises are as attractive as a blank cheque, provided we accept the project of life that Jesus proposes. Here is what the blank cheque offers: You will not be judged, nor will you be condemned; you will be forgiven of your sins, and God will bless you with unlimited fortunes!
How can we operate this account? The Word of God says to start by forgiving others. Are there people who annoy you? Be merciful by practising patience with them. Can I think of someone lonely or hurt? Can I spare some time to talk and be with them? Have you ever noticed your elderly neighbour for whom it is hard to come to the market to buy groceries? In this Lent, the Lord reminds us of our responsibilities to be generous because we have a super-generous Father.
How often do I share the workload with my parents, spouse, or siblings at home and be merciful by helping them? Mercy is a gift God gives us to share with others. Share it today, and your reward will be great! Jesus, help me be merciful today
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17 March 2025
Luke 6: 36-38
Lent: a pilgrimage of mercy and humility
Lent is a holy pilgrimage—a journey of transformation, mercy, and hope. As Pilgrims of Hope, we are called to embrace this path of change, welcoming God’s love and becoming channels of His mercy.
Today’s Gospel calls us to be merciful. Forgiveness is not an instant act but a lifelong journey. Jesus invites us to shift our focus—not on those who have hurt us, but on our own hearts and our relationship with God. Resentment and anger keep us bound to the wounds of the past, but mercy sets us free. By returning to our essence as beloved children of God, we allow His grace to heal us and help us grow in compassion.
Lent is also a time to let go of judgment. When we judge others, we place limits on their growth and imprison them in our own minds. Judging creates barriers, while mercy opens the doors of our hearts for the other. The journey of Lent invites us to look within rather than measuring the lives of those around us.
In conclusion, this holy season invites us to examine the standards we set for others. Are we overly critical of those nearby while overlooking our own shortcomings? Do we act asgatekeepers of faith, determining who deserves God’s love? Lent encourages us to look into ourselves, to pursue integrity, and to align ouractions with our beliefs.
As pilgrims of hope, let us walk with humility, extending mercy to others as we receive it from God. This journey leads us to the heart of the Father, where every soul finds healing and renewal.
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36).