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Pray with Humility

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Luke 18:9-14


Jesus says of the tax collector, 'I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other.' (v. 14). This is because the tax collector came to pray with a true realisation of his position before God.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “But when we pray, do we speak from the height of our pride and will, or ‘out of the depths’ of a humble and contrite heart?  He who humbles himself will be exalted; humility is the foundation of prayer.” (para. 2559). It's clear in this parable which of the men is praying from the height of his pride and will, and which out of a 'humble and contrite heart.' Our need is to pray like the tax collector, in humility and repentance. 


Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy steadfast love; according to thy abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!'  (Ps. 50(51):1-2)


Chris 
 



Hosea 5:15-6:6 • Psalm 50(51):3-4, 18-21 • Luke 18:9-14



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Soften our Hearts, Father

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Matthew 21:33–43, 45–46

Jesus' ministry is drawing to a close.  Until now the chief priests and Pharisees have resolutely refused to listen to his teaching or come to faith in him. Their hearts and minds have remained firmly closed.  The Parable of the Tenants represents Jesus’s final attempt to break through the stubbornness of the Jewish leaders in the hope that they might recognise him as the One who fulfils the prophecies, the long-awaited Messiah.

Despite all their blindness and hardness of heart, Jesus loves them.  They are his brothers and he wants to reach out to them.  He can see beneath the surface and knows they are lost, and are in darkness and pain.  In their own, confused way, they are seeking life, but in all the wrong places.  Their interest is in power, prestige and wealth. Sadly, they choose to remain in the darkness and reject him.

In many ways, we're not so different.  We too can go astray and seek fulfilment and security in the things of the world.  Our hearts can harden as quickly as any Pharisee. But, as with the Pharisees, Jesus never stops loving us.  He is the Good Shepherd who always comes searching when we stray into the wilderness of sin.   He is not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters (Heb. 2:11–12) for he bought us at the price of his precious blood to make us God's sons and daughters.

Through this parable, Jesus is speaking to our hearts today.  In this Lenten season he asks us to turn to him, to rediscover that we desperately need him each day.  He invites us to accept him as the cornerstone of our lives, to recognise him as the centre of all things, the One who gives meaning and significance to life.  Peter tells us that anyone who trusts in this 'chosen and precious cornerstone will never be put to shame (1 Pet. 2:6).  Jesus, through our prayers, fasting and almsgiving, wants to open our eyes to the truth that he is the goal of all our hopes and aspirations and only he can bring true fulfilment.

Father, soften our hard hearts with your grace. In this holy season may we build our lives on Christ your Son, the chief cornerstone.

Chris 
 

Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13, 17-28 • Psalm 104(105):16-21 • Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

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Tempted by Satan

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1st Sunday of Lent

The Spirit led Jesus into the desert for forty days to be tempted and tested.  During Lent we too are tested and tempted, although it's different for each of us. Some find food an overwhelming temptation, whilst others struggle instead with envy and jealousy.  In this sense temptations are a mystery: 'By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert.' (CCC 540). So, during this holy season we too can expect to be tempted and tested. 

The Scriptures make clear that Jesus was tempted by Satan and so are we!   The name Satan means ´adversary'.   In the Book of Job, we're given a vivid picture of Satan in God's heavenly court, along with other angels, where he has the role of accuser or prosecutor (see 1:6-12:2:1-7).  The Scriptures also identify Satan as the serpent who tempted Adam and Eve  Gen. 3) and thus as the origin of sin and temptation.

Therefore, the Scriptures and tradition clarify that we have a mortal enemy who, although created by God, is in a desperate struggle to overthrow God's reign and lead his creation into darkness and death.

Over Easter, we will recite and renew our baptismal promises.  Bear this in mind as we move through Lent, because, as you know, this renewal involves us actively and freely rejecting Satan.   Lent is also a time for us to discover anew the Gospel, the 'good news', which Jesus began to proclaim immediately after his time of testing.   The good news is a message of two parts: firstly, to repent, and secondly, to believe in the Gospel.

We walk together on this road marked out for us by the Church and take up our call to stand firm and resist Satan, knowing that he will flee, and embrace freely and with love the Gospel, which is Christ with us and in us, the hope of salvation.

'In these days.. let us add something beyond the wonted measure of our service, such as private prayers and abstinence in food and drink. Let each one, over and above the measure prescribed for him, offer God something of his own free will in the joy of the Holy Spirit.' (St Benedict)

Chris 
 

Deuteronomy 26:4-10 • Psalm 90(91):1-2, 10-15 • Romans 10:8-13 Luke 4:1-13

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