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March 6, 2023
"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."
One of the challenges that I often offer to penitents in the Sacrament of Reconciliation is this phrase: "Am I living the way I want people to remember me?" Lent offers an opportunity to ponder this and make some changes, if necessary. Three questions can help: What do I need to START doing? What do I need to STOP doing? What do I need to KEEP ON doing
The Gospel today recommends that we START being "Merciful as our Father is merciful!" It recommends that we STOP being judgmental! It recommends that we CONTINUE to be generous and forgiving. All of these strike at the heart of human weakness - our pride and security. If we want others to remember us as being merciful, non-judgmental, and generous, we have to "put skin on" these to create those memories!! It will not be easy, but a lot more beneficial not only to ourselves but to those who will remember us. It certainly beats giving up alcohol and chocolate for 40 days! Amen.