First Reading
Daniel 9:4b-10
“Lord, great and awesome God,
you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you
and observe your commandments!
We have sinned, been wicked and done evil;
we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws.
We have not obeyed your servants the prophets,
who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes,
our fathers, and all the people of the land.
Justice, O Lord, is on your side;
we are shamefaced even to this day:
we, the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem,
and all Israel, near and far,
in all the countries to which you have scattered them
because of their treachery toward you.
O LORD, we are shamefaced, like our kings, our princes, and our fathers,
for having sinned against you.
But yours, O Lord, our God, are compassion and forgiveness!
Yet we rebelled against you
and paid no heed to your command, O LORD, our God,
to live by the law you gave us through your servants the prophets.”
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 79:8, 9, 11 and 13
R. (see 103:10a) Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;
may your compassion quickly come to us,
for we are brought very low.
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name’s sake.
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Let the prisoners’ sighing come before you;
with your great power free those doomed to death.
Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
through all generations we will declare your praise.
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Gospel
Luke 6:36-38
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
“Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you.”
REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
TITLE: MORE OR LESS?
"Give, and it shall be given to you. Good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over, will they pour into the fold of your garment. For the measure you measure with will be measured back to you." –Luke 6:38
In Jesus' time, most people worked the land as farmers. Modern farm mechanization didn't exist. Recall that people wore ankle-length robes at the time. The method of sowing seeds in Jesus' time was for each person to go to the seedpile, grab their garment at the knees, and pull the garment up toward their waist. This created a "pocket," into which the landowner poured as much seed as the person and garment could hold. The person carried the seeds into the field and sowed them by hand until the "pocket" was empty of seed. Then he returned to the seedpile for the next load of seeds. This process was repeated daily until all fields were completely sown.
Jesus promised that those who give will receive in "good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over...[poured] into the fold of" their garment (Lk 6:38; see also Ru 3:15; Mal 3:10). This means that you who give to Jesus will receive even more work to do. However, you will be given more resources with which to serve Him, and your work will result in a great harvest, even a hundredfold one (Mk 4:20).
Jesus challenges each of us this Lent to work for Him more than ever before. His heart yearns for all to be saved and know the truth (1 Tm 2:4). He longs to gather His estranged children under His wings (Lk 13:34). Jesus says to all His disciples: "Listen to what I say: Open your eyes and see! The fields are shining for harvest!" (Jn 4:35) "Do whatever He tells you" (Jn 2:5).
PRAYER: Jesus, "Here I am...send me!" (Is 6:8)
PROMISE: "Pardon, and you shall be pardoned." –Lk 6:37
PRAISE: St. Patrick, kidnap victim and runaway slave, freely returned to the land of his kidnappers and former slavemasters in order to bring Jesus to them.
...may the good Lord bless His holy word in our hearts...
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