TUESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT
The Word: "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 1:20)
Mystery of the day: Sorrowful
Table of the Word: I R.:Isaiah 1:10.16-20
Resp. Psalm: Psalm 50:8-9.16bc-17.21 and 23 (R. 23bc)
Verse before the Gospel: Ezekiel 18:31
Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12
Theme: Obedience is better than sacrifice.
Inspiration:The virtue of obedience is rank as one of the highest virtues apart from love, for through it that God’s laws are embedded.It is an act of surrendering to the will of God; as well as worship as it shows our love for God. As in the life of Jesus, He obeyed the Father and abandoned everything to Him in the garden of Gethsemane when He said: “Not my will but your will.’
However, in obedience God reveals Himself to us, as He said: “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” (John 14:23-24). It is quite obvious that in obedience that we keep the law of the Lord, in return God repays us with basket of blessings.
Prophet Isaiah in the first reading pronounced God's intention on us, inviting us to true repentance saying:"If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 1:20)
We are weak and short-lived, but God is ever willing and ready to assist us in our frailty. That is why Prophet Ezekiel invited us to cast away all our transgressions which we have committed, and get ourselves a new heart and a new spirit. (cf. Ezekiel 18:31).
Dearest in the Lord, we need to retreat our steps and move ahead with vigour, to learn to do good and seek justice. For God is ever willing and ready to forgive us. As the psalmist proclaimed: "To one whose way is blameless, I will show the salvation of God."(Psalm 50:23bc). As we continue to voyage with the Church along this penitential path, let us be conscious of temptations that may arise along the way. The journey has never and will not be an easy one. There must be stumbling blocks, thorns as well as persecutions. Amidst this, loose not your heart. Persevere, if eventually, you find yourself in a fallen state; don't remain there. Get up, and dust yourself through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and move ahead. Indeed, His grace is sufficient unto us. Peace be with you!
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
“Obedience is the key with which Heaven is opened.”
- St. Catherine of Siena
Let us pray
Graciously hear our cries, O Lord, and relieve the weariness of our souls, that having received your forgiveness, we may ever rejoice in your blessing. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
© ARCHIVE 18032025
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