Effort and Grace

Luke 6: 36-38

³⁶ Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Judging Others

³⁷ “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸ Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Looks like the ball is in our court.  If we want mercy, we must show mercy first.  If we don't want to be condemned or judged, we mustn't condemn or judge others. Forgiveness?  We must forgive first. Give, and it will be given to us. This is all easy to read, but to put into practice, it takes work, self-reflection, determination, and reliance on God that comes through prayer. Lent is about this, a cleansing, a change of behavior.  This could be our "mission impossible" for this second week of Lent. We are not alone.  Ask for the needed grace and it will be given.

Bro. Rene

God, the greatest gift we can give you is being merciful to our sisters and brothers. In order to forgive, however, we have to let go of the pain we hold. Letting go of those hurts is a hard sacrifice—help us to die to ourselves willingly so that we can live in your mercy. Amen.

 Rev. Vincent Nguyen, C.S.C.