Reflection on Today's Readings, Monday, 2nd Week of Lent, Year B, March 1st, 2021
Texts: Dan. 9: 4-10; Ps. 79:8.9.11.13; Luke 6: 36-38
Lenten season is a period to return to God, it is a period set aside to seek God's mercy intensely. The readings of the period do teach us how to approach the throne of God’s mercy. Jesus, in today's gospel reading, teaches us that we need to forgive others if we are to obtain forgiveness from God. Jesus asks us not to judge; for when we judge others it becomes difficult for us to forgive them. We should rather learn to excuse others instead of judging them. When we give room for excuse, we will be able to tolerate them and to forgive them. We are not to condemn because man is full of possibilities; man is capable of change, of becoming a new person, a new creation. To condemn is to write off someone, giving up hope on someone. We will be open up to forgive anyone if we do not judge and condemn anyone. When we forgive others their sins, God will forgive us ours.
The truth of gaining forgiveness by forgiving others is embedded in the general truth that when we give, we will receive. Jesus puts it this way: "forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” It is not only that when we give, we receive but also in the measure we give, we receive.
Today's first reading is one of such readings aim at teaching us how to approach God for mercy as it gives us an example in the prayer of Daniel. In the reading, Daniel pleads for mercy on behalf of his people, Israel. Daniel, in the prayer, acknowledges God's faithfulness, he accuses his people of having sinned, and acknowledges that God is merciful and forgiving.
We need to have faith in God's faithfulness and righteousness. God is ever committed to His word and His covenant. Even when we prove unfaithful, God is ever faithful. St. Paul says, "If we are faithless, he is faithful still, for he cannot disown his own self" (2Tim. 2:13). He is faithful because He always keeps promise to forgive us in His Son, Jesus Christ. In the covenant He established with us in Jesus Christ, He promised to forgive us our sins. Hence, it is said, "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful" (Heb.10:23). When we approach God mercy let us confess and hold firmly that God forgives in Christ. Acknowledgement of God's faithfulness gives us confidence to approach God for mercy. It also leads to contrite of heart when we look at His faithfulness in relation to our unfaithfulness; when we acknowledge His faithfulness, we become humble and sorry for being unfaithful.
The prayer also teaches us that the time to plead for mercy is not the time to justify oneself, but the time to accuse oneself; it is not the time to exonerate oneself, but the time to accept responsibility; it is not the time to cast blame, but the time to accept blame. John says, " If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1John 1:9). The Penny Catechism of Catholic Church says, "Confession is to accuse ourselves of sins to a priest approved by the Bishop" (No. 295). The point, here, is that to confess is to accuse oneself of sin.
The prayer also reminds us that we have to acknowledge that God is merciful and forgiving, if we are to obtain His mercy. Prophet Isaiah says, "'Come now, let us settle the matter,' says the LORD. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool'" (1:18). God is always ready to forgive us our sins whenever we come to Him.
Lord God, do not remember against us the guilt of our sins. Let your compassion hasten to meet us, for we are sorry for sins. Help us, O God our saviour, for the sake of the glory of your name free us and forgive us our sins. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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