LENTEN DIGEST with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

 

FRIDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT

Mystery of the day: Sorrowful

Lebten Exercises: Meditatively praying the mystery of the day and actively participate at the Station of the Cross.

Theme: Go first and be reconciled to your brother.

"Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it." (Matthew 21:43ff.)

Beloved in Christ good morning and a beautiful weekend to you. It has been God all the while and His love endures forever. 

Today, we are being invited to reconcile with others. Reconciliation is seen as the fruit of a contrite heart. In the course of this Lenten walk, God spoke to us in many ways , inviting us to reconciliation with Himself and our fellow human. 

However, failure on our parts will tentamounts to robbing us of this Divine gesture as Evangelist Matthew says: 

"Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it." (Matthew 21:43ff.)

We must not only bear fruit, but  fruit that will last. 

Brethren, this is the most acceptable time to reciprocate this kind gesture of our God with goodness; bearing in mind His love and care. It is obvious that, some of us derived joy in the sadness of others, sometimes we feel at home to use others to get to the pinnacle; and be satisfied with the tears of the oppressed, etc. If these or any other ill-acts against others brings out joy in us, making us to be more "sadist" than King Pharaoh then we have lost it out.

Therefore, let us remind ourselves of the Words of the Psalmist who said:

"Remember the wonders the Lord has done." (Psalm 105: 5a).

How can we do this? When we are keeping malice, cooking hatred for others and denying others their basic rights and privileges. It is time to reconcile with others, for God to forgive us, else "the Kingdom" will be taken away from us.

Peace be with you!

Let us pray

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, purifying us by the sacred practice of penance, you may lead us in sincerity of heart to attain the holy things to come.

 Through Christ our Lord. Amen

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