On Your Side

March 5, 2012

Monday of the Second Week of Lent

Justice, O Lord, is on your side; we are shamefaced even to this day: we, the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, and all Israel, near and far, in all the countries to which you have scattered them because of their treachery toward you. O LORD, we are shamefaced, like our kings, our princes, and our fathers, for having sinned against you. But yours, O Lord, our God, are compassion and forgiveness! Yet we rebelled against you and paid no heed to your command, O LORD, our God, to live by the law you gave us through your servants the prophets." Daniel 9:7-10

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. Luke 6:37c-38

Piety

Father, you promise us the best but we still must endure the worst. Please help us reach out to the victims of natural disasters in their hour of need so that should we ever face such devastation, others may reach out to use with similar measure. Amen.

Study

“That’s not fair!” Who has not heard our children reproach us or others with their cry? Who has not uttered this phrase ourselves? Do we really seek fairness?

What is fair? Today’s readings remind us that we are not getting our fair and just action from the Lord. Based upon our behavior, who would sacrifice his only Son for us? But that is indeed why the sacrifice os Christ is so remarkable. He transcended fairness and justice in order to restore us to the merciful and perfect covenant with the Father. Paul spells out this mystery in his letter to the Romans 5:6-8: For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die.But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

Action

Sunday’s news brought word of a baby found in a field in Indiana after the tornadoes swept through the Midwest. Sadly, the child died some hours later. Is that fair?

We have the opportunity through the gift of action to offer relief to the victims of these latest storms in the Midwest. To help Catholic Charities assist people in need, visit the Catholic Charities USA Disaster Donation Page or point your browser to this page: https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=2357