Reflection: 2020-03-21 Saturday 3rd Week of Lent

Hosea 5:15b-6:6; Psalm 51; Luke 18:9-14
Yesterday, we discussed about returning to the Lord. Today’s readings show us what that means. The First Reading tells us that when the people acknowledge their guilt and seek the face of the Lord, they will cry out to him. They will invite people to return to the Lord. They speak of God forgiving them and healing them, just because they acknowledge their guilt and seek him and cry to him. But the Lord responds as if in exasperation: What shall I do with you? Your love disappears like the morning cloud. The repentance is shallow. They repent, not because they are truly sorry for their sins, but because they want to be healed. And once healed, they go back to their old ways. Which is why God said: I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Our actions ALONE do not indicate repentance. The parable Jesus gave in the Gospel shows this. The Pharisee went to pray and commend himself to God. He spoke of the things he did, to prove his righteousness to God. Even in his prayer, it was all about himself. God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income. He spoke of God once, he spoke of the tax collector beside him, once, and even in a derogatory manner. And he spoke of himself four times! Our actions do not produce repentance. Jesus said about the tax collector:

1. He stood far off. He could not even come near before God or the people.
2. He beat his breast because his heart led him to beat his breast.
3. He said: God, be merciful to me, a sinner. He begged God for mercy. He did not boast of his riches but instead, he came with a humble and contrite heart. Jesus said, this man went home justified.