Saturday of the Third Week of Lent
God Sees What It Is in Us
Liturgical Cycle: A, B, C | Lectionary Cycle: I, II
Introduction
We cannot save ourselves by rites and practices. Sin is forgiven, and lasting happiness is found in an encounter of love with God. If we recognise that we are sinners, people who have failed at times and who could do better, we recognise that our love is still very limited, and then, there is room for growth. God bandages our wounds and raises us to life. He saves us from our failures. He makes us grow in the life of Christ.
Opening Prayer
Lord, our God,
You yourself remind us through your holy people
that all our religious practices,
even this Eucharistic sacrifice,
are not worth anything
If we use them to bend you our way.
God, may we come to you
in humility and repentance,
ready to encounter you in love
and to turn your way.
Accept us as your sons and daughters,
together with Jesus Christ,
Your Son and our Lord forever.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (see Hosea 6:6) It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
In the greatness of your compassion, wipe out my offence.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin, cleanse me.
R. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
Be bountiful, O LORD, to Zion in your kindness
by rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem;
Then shall you be pleased with due sacrifices,
burnt offerings and holocausts.
R. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
Alleluia Verse
Glory and Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ
If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
Glory and Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ
Prayers of the Faithful
– That we may acknowledge before the Lord that we are still wounded people in need of healing, we pray:
– That we may not be concerned about outward appearances, but that our life and actions may be sincere and transparent, we pray:
– That we may not boast to the Lord what we have done for him but acknowledge what he has done for us, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord, our God,
we have not come together here
to justify ourselves before you
or to boast of our merits.
We simply ask of you, Lord,
to accept us as we are
with our goodwill, our lame efforts
and our half-hearted conversions.
Accept us with the sacrifice of your Son,
who stays with us and lives with you for ever.
Prayer after Communion
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we have celebrated with your Son
the memorial of his sacrifice.
Give us the strength now
to make our everyday life
into a living proof,
that we are one with him
and that we follow him
on the way through death to life.
Let him stay with us,
now and for ever.
Blessing
God will heal us and bind up our wounds. We do not boast about ourselves but about the patient love and goodness of the Lord. May Almighty God bless and heal you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
Humility Pays
Philosophers, theologians, and saints are unanimous in considering pride as the mother of all evils. Pride was the sin of the fallen angels. Saint Augustine defined pride as “the love of one’s own excellence.” Conversely, humility is considered the foundation to all virtues. Socrates argued that humility is the greatest of all virtues. So did Teresa of Avila. For Anthony Mary Claret, humility is the mother of all virtues. Even science is catching up with this insight now: A study published in 2013 by Bradley Owens and colleagues at Brigham Young University has shown that expressed humility has significantly positive impact on organizational outcomes, leadership effectiveness, greater academic and work performance, and job satisfaction. In other words, an attitude of humility wins you friends, opens you up to others, and earns you the good will and cooperation of others; and all these, besides the highest approval of God! Indeed, the one who humbles himself will be exalted, not only in heaven but on earth as well.
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Luke 18:9-14
Prayer is to rise and to descend
Today's Gospel (Lk 18:9-14) presents the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, illustrating two contrasting attitudes in prayer. The Pharisee, confident in his righteousness, exalts himself by listing his good deeds, seeking validation and placing himself above others. The tax collector, on the other hand, humbly acknowledges his sins and pleads for God’s mercy.
Prayer involves two movements: to rise and to descend. To rise means lifting our hearts towards God, detaching ourselves from self-centeredness and worldly distractions. It is the desire to seek God and present our lives before Him. However, rising to God is only possible when we first descend into the depths of our hearts. This descent calls for sincerity and humility—an honest recognition of our weaknesses and need for God’s mercy.
The tax collector exemplifies this humility, standing at a distance, ashamed yet truthful before God. In his humility, he opens his heart to God's healing and transforming love. Meanwhile, the Pharisee’s pride blinds him, making his prayer revolve around himself rather than God. Spiritual arrogance leads us to judge others and glorify ourselves, distancing us from God’s grace.
This parable invites us to examine our own hearts. Do we seek praise for our good works, or do we come before God with humility, trusting in His mercy? True prayer begins with a humble heart, acknowledging our sins and surrendering to God’s love. The more we humble ourselves, the more God lifts us up.
Let us look to Mary, the humble servant of the Lord, who teaches us that God exalts the lowly and fills the hearts of those who trust in Him. May we always approach God with humility, knowing that His mercy alone can restore and transform us.