He Will Raise Us Up

March 17, 2012

Saturday of the Third Week of Lent

"Come, let us return to the LORD, it is he who has rent, but he will heal us; he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds. 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." Hosea 6:1-3

But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.' I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:13-14

Piety

Father, as we return to you this Lenten season, we know -- as certain as the Son will rise -- that your arms are open and outstretched for us. We offer to you our love for each other in obedience and humility. Send forth your Spirit to guide our steps as we make this turn in our lives. Amen.

Study

Usually we concentrate on the Easter mystery as the miracle of Jesus' resurrection. Today's reading from the prophet Hosea reminds us that Jesus is not the only one to rise from the death of sin. "He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, to live in his presence. "

This season also is about our resurrection from the deadly choices and the culture of death in which we participate. We cannot live in the presence of the Lord without His resurrection. We cannot live in the presence of the Lord without our resurrection, too.

Sometimes, we can be closer to the presence of the Lord when we stand at a distance. The tax collector standing in the back of the Temple provides a model for how we can get closer to the Lord by distancing ourselves from ourselves -- from our pride, from our vanity and from our boastfulness.

Action

Take an inventory of the ways in which you participate in the culture of death that surrounds us. Is there one item you can begin to change in your piety, study and action?

Take that positive step today to walk in the presence of the Lord and the culture of life.