Breaking the Word

3^rd week in Lent, Saturday – 26^th March 2022 — Gospel: Lk 18,9-14

God reverses human expectations

The gospel story sets before us two ways of prayer, two ways of life, and two paths that people call religion. The parable contrasts the prayer of the Pharisee and that of the tax collector. It challenges the inner disposition of the participants. At the time of Jesus, the Pharisees were seen as models of moral and religious learning, and stood for purity and faithfulness, while the tax collectors were despised as corrupt collaborators with the Roman officials, for amassing people’s money under threat. The Pharisee exalts himself by listing all that he does for God and has no real sense of his own sinfulness and unworthiness before God. In contrast, the tax collector knows that the only way to improve his relationship with God is to rely on his merciful grace. Jesus concludes that what the Pharisee strove to achieve through his own efforts, the tax collector received as God’s gift. Again, Jesus shows how God honours’ humility and reverses human expectations.

Annunciation of the Lord, Monday – 25^th March 2022 — Gospel: Lk 1,26-38

Mary’s Enabling Grace

God surely knows how to lay a heavy burden or responsibility on a person. Mary was left troubled, confused, and afraid of divine announcement. Yet she was able to say ‘yes’ to the angel’s invitation, because Mary was full of grace.  Grace is a gift that God has freely given to all, especially at an appropriate moment. There are many kinds of grace. For example, God gives the grace of salvation, the grace to believe, and the grace to die to oneself. In this manner, God gave Mary an “enabling grace”, which moved her to say resolutely, “Let it be done to me according to your word”. The grace of God acts in an individual like fuel, for it makes things happen. The grace clears uncertainties and helps to hold fast to firm decisions. As St.Paul says, “It is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil 2,13). Mary then becomes an icon of Grace, where God fills everyone with grace to accept His responsibility and gives strength to carry out that responsibility.