Saturday of the Third Week of Lent
God’s abundant mercy is a gift that is available for all people. As disciples of Jesus we are called to be merciful to others as God is merciful to us. In order to receive and to offer mercy, we must come from a position of humility. Today’s scripture remind us that being humble allows us to recognize both our need for forgiveness and our call to forgive. God desires our mercy, since forgiveness and love is necessary to build the Kingdom of God.
In the first reading, God is calling out to the people through the prophet Hosea. God reminds Judah and Ephraim that “it is love that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” Hosea reminds the Israelites that their love of God should be most visible in their lives of love. Hosea calls the people to return to God who will “bind our wounds” and “raise us up to live in his presence.” God is calling the people into a relationship of love and mercy, where God’s being is revealed in the world around them. God is inviting them to look beyond the burnt offerings and to embrace a God who wants to walk among them.
In the gospel reading, Jesus relates the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector as they stand before God. The Pharisee comes with a position of righteousness, as he judges others who he deems less worthy than he. The tax collector remains at a distance as he recognizes his sinfulness and great need for mercy. In his humility, the tax collector is able to open himself to the mercy of God. Jesus indicates that the one who “exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Without humility, the Pharisee is unable to recognize his need for mercy, and therefore will not be able to receive this great gift. The tax collector not only receives the mercy of God, but he learns that mercy flows when a person recognizes his or her need to live humbly with others. The ability of the tax collector to refrain from judgment, recognize his weakness, and ask for forgiveness allows God’s love to be planted within. This experience of mercy then allows the forgiven to go forth in humility and recognize the need to love and forgive others in imitation of God. It is this living out of God’s mercy that “exalts” the life of the person who is forgiven.
This call to humility and mercy is an important lesson for us today. God desires to give abundant mercy to all people, but only those who recognize the need for forgiveness can receive this gift. We must humbly come before God aware of the many ways that we fall short of how we love God and others. The responsorial psalm reminds us, “My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.” Humility opens our hearts to God’s mercy and provides us the guidance for how we are called to forgive. As I reflect on the times that I am called to forgive another, I understand that my mercy must flow from a place of humility. When I recognize my own sinfulness, my faults and my imperfections, I offer my forgiveness in a way that does not judge but offers healing and love. With the amount of division and hate that plagues our world, humility provides a perfect place to begin the healing process to bring about peace and unity. Jesus’ life of humble service and love for others gives us the perfect example of how we are called to live and forgive.
Loving God, we humbly come before you in need of mercy. Help us to follow Jesus in the way that we love and forgive others. May the gift of Your Spirit provide us the grace we need to bring mercy and compassion to the world around us. We pray this in Christ’s name. AMEN
Marylynn Herchline