BEING MERCIFUL TO ONESELF - 03/26/22 (Saturday of the Third Week of Lent)

Luke 18:11-14

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, `God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, `God, be merciful to me a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

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Blessed Saturday! In the parable, our Lord Jesus is contrasting the humility of the tax collector and the pride of the Pharisee. How can we be more humble? One key to persevere in this virtue like the tax collector is by being merciful to oneself. When we are compassionate to other people, we desire to help them and address their needs. If we see that they are hungry, we'll make a way to feed them. If we see that our family members are sick, we will advise them to go to the doctor and/or look for the medicines they need. In the same way, we should be merciful to ourselves by acknowledging before God our spiritual illnesses and sins. Our Lord is calling us to be dependent more on His Healing Mercy for us to be healed of the impurities of our hearts and grow in virtues. 

The Pharisee did not see the whole truth about himself. He was boasting about his good works and his exterior devotion, but he did not notice how guilty he was of pride. It will be difficult for a person who does not see his own weaknesses to be merciful to others. This is why the Pharisee ended up judging other people, fellow sinners just like him. For this Lenten season, it is important for us to be more devoted in our prayers, almsgiving, and sacrifices. However, we should be careful of the tendency of elevating ourselves over others just because of our exterior devotions. Our works should flow from the interior devotion of our merciful hearts. If we become merciful to ourselves, we'll realize that we should pray for the conversion of sinners knowing they are also in need of God's graces. 

Do we truly humble ourselves, not elevate over others, before God? Can we honestly tell Him our sinfulness and weaknesses? All of us are struggling with pride. If we find it difficult to be humble, let's depend on the mercy of God even more because He is whom we really need. In times of temptations, let's reject it immediately by seeking strength from God in prayer. Even when we commit sins, we should beg for God's forgiveness and persevere in doing the right thing instead of justifying our wrong doings. In the Sacrament of confession, we confess our spiritual illnesses, especially grave sins, for us to be healed from them. As long as we trust in the goodness of God, Jesus will grant us compassion and kindness, not just for ourselves, but also for other people. 

 

Amen +

 

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

 

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic