Return to the Lord

March 17, 2007
Saturday of the Third Week of Lent

For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice,and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6

But the tax collector stood off at a distanceand would not even raise his eyes to heavenbut beat his breast and prayed,‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ Luke 18:13

Piety

Let us pray: O God, be merciful to me, a sinner. Too often Lord, I do not love you with the sincerity and mercy that emanates from your Sacred Heart. Give me a drop of your Blood and a morsel of your Body to inspire true piety, devoted study and active love. Amen.

Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/031707.shtml

Cursillo and the tripod makes their first appearance in the Hebrew Bible in Hosea, Chapter 6.

First we get the invitation to the weekend experience: Come, let us return to the LORD, For it is he who has rent, but he will heal us; he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds.

Then we get a description of what happens on the Cursillo Weekend.

He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, to live in his presence. Let us know, let us strive to know the LORD; as certain as the dawn is his coming, and his judgment shines forth like the light of day! He will come to us like the rain, like spring rain that waters the earth.

Then we find out three desires that God has for us to live better and follow Him.

Piety: “Your piety is like a morning cloud, like the dew that early passes away.” God does not want temporary sacrifices. Instead, God wants us to strengthen our devotion to Him with a permanent presence, not a passing fad.

Study: In addition, the Lord wants us to get to know God better – “Knowledge of God rather than holocausts.” We do that through studying scripture, other sacred texts and religious books.

Action: Finally, God seeks our love and love expressed to our sisters and brothers in the world. “It is love that I desire, not sacrifice.”

Action

Do we behave like the tax collector when we enter Church? Do we sit in the back? Do we pray quiety? Do we sing softly? How does this behavior translate into our actions when we go forth to “love and serve the Lord and our sisters and brothers? Are we timid in our outreach? Are we shy about helping others?

Match your tax collector-inspired quiet piety with active love.