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28 February 2016
The Third Sunday of Lent (Luke 9:28b-36)
Today's gospel forces us to reflect on our own conversion. How am I doing on repentance this Lent? Jesus doesn't want me thinking I'm less of a sinner than the next person, and that they are actually the ones in need of conversion. No, I am the one in need of conversion. St. Paul reminds us in today's second reading: "Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall." In other words, none of us has "already" converted; none of us is no longer in danger of falling. Repentance must be a daily thing. And if I don't repent, I am the one who will perish.
The parable of the barren fig tree shows us God's untiring patience: Jesus told St. Faustina, "I am prolonging the time of mercy for the sake of sinners" (Diary 1160). Even though for God, conversion on a person's very deathbed isn't even too late, we can never count on the grace of a long, slow death. We could die at any time and need to be constantly vigilant, and strive always to be in a state of grace.
Reflecting on the conversion of the "good thief," how he stole heaven, St. Faustina wrote: "See, what grace and reflection made out of the greatest criminal. He who is dying has much love: 'Remember me when You are in paradise.' Heartfelt repentance immediately transforms the soul" (Diary 388).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, grant me the grace of heartfelt repentance. Never allow me to put off my conversion, but show me what steps I need to take to amend my life. I trust in You. Amen.
21 February 2016
The Second Sunday of Lent (Luke 9:28b-36)
Just a few weeks ago we heard Jesus' Mother telling the servants at Cana to "Do whatever He tells you." Today we hear His Father saying, "Listen to Him." Even Jesus Himself tells us, "Anyone who hears My words and puts them into practice is like the wise man who built his house on rock" (Mt 7:24). In other words, everyone with credibility is telling us to obey Jesus!
In the saints we see models of people who listened to Jesus' words and obeyed them, and we would do well to follow their example. In today's second reading from the letter to the Philippians St. Paul tells us, "Join in imitating me and mark those who so walk as you have an example in us." Later he tells us the reward for doing so: "The Lord Jesus Christ (...) will change our lowly body to be like His glorified body" (3:21). Transformation!
St. Faustina ardently desired to be holy, to be transformed from human to divine. She wrote: "Most sweet Jesus, set on fire my love for You and transform me in to Yourself. Divinize me that my deeds may be pleasing to You. (...) Oh, how greatly I desire to be wholly transformed into You, O Lord!" (Diary 1289). Thanks to her persistent work on self-improvement and her cooperation with God's grace, Faustina became a saint. We also can become saints if we follow her example of obedience to God and self-renunciation.
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, I want to listen to what You say and to obey You, but so often my pride and sinful inclinations get in the way. Help me to control my sinful passions, and lead me to a deep conversion during this Lenten season. I trust in You. Amen.
14 February 2016
The First Sunday of Lent (Luke 4:1-13)
In this Sunday's gospel we see Jesus being tempted by the devil for forty days. Imagine being tempted for even one day and not giving in! But since Jesus was united with the Father through prayer, He was always able to recognize the devil's tactics. Even when He was physically weak from hunger, He never once got caught in the devil's snares.
Satan is constantly on the lookout for the opportune time to tempt each one us, and it is usually when we have our guard down, when we are tired out or hungry or bored or weighed down with daily challenges. St. Faustina was also tempted, but she was skilled at spiritual warfare. Jesus told her: "Satan gained nothing by tempting you, because you did not enter into conversation with him. Continue to act in this way. You gave Me great glory today by fighting so faithfully. Let it be confirmed and engraved on your heart that I am always with you, even if you don't feel My presence at the time of battle" (Diary 1499).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, I am so weak when it comes to fighting temptations. Sometimes I feel like a hopeless case. Help me to stay focused on You, to ignore the devil's whispers, and to find in You the strength I need to do the Father's will and to be Your loving presence to others in their daily struggle. Amen.
7 February 2016
The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Luke 5:1-11)
This week's Gospel begins with crowds of people pressing in to hear the Word of God, and a small group of fishermen off to the side washing their nets and minding their own business. Suddenly Jesus gets into Simon Peter's boat and asks him to put out a little from the land. We don't know the theme of Jesus' teaching that day, but it obviously had an impact on Peter. When Jesus finished his sermon, He asked Peter to "put out into the deep" and lower the nets. For a tried and true fisherman (who was already out fishing all night and had caught nothing) to listen to a carpenter from Nazareth giving him instructions on how to fish took great humility. Yet something told Peter this carpenter knew what He was talking about! And the miraculous catch of fish proved he was right--and in fact gave him proof enough to leave everything to follow Jesus"”but not until he had first acknowledged his own unworthiness and misery before the Lord.
St. Faustina wrote: "When the soul sees that everything is given it freely and that the only thing it has of itself is its own misery, this is what sustains it in a continual act of humble prostration before the majesty of God. (...) A humble soul does not trust itself, but places all its confidence in God" (Diary 593).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, I repent of all the times I have refused to cooperate with Your grace, thinking that I knew more or better than You. Give me the humility to acknowledge my sinfulness and the grace to trust always that You know best. Amen.