The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Daniel 3:25,34-43
Psalm 25:4-9
Matthew 18:21-35

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Today Jesus speaks to us about the importance of forgiveness - how we must forgive each other before we can enjoy the Lord's forgiveness. In the spiritual domain, what we give, we will receive, what we hold back, will be held back against us....this is a universal spiritual truth.

So applying this truth.....if we hold a lack of forgiveness for another person....we are in effect condemning ourselves....as we judge so will we be judged. Holding resentment,judgment, lack of forgiveness against another contaminates our spiritual nature, creating a block which stops us receiving God's love and grace. Our willingness to forgive is not about the other person....it is about our ability to accept God's healing presence and to move forward in openness and communion -- this is the challenge.

Today, O Lord,
help us melt the hardness in our heart
so that we may be refreshed and renewed
and grow in your divine Love.

- Cliodhna Doyle
(clia at cliadoyle dot com)

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posted by joachim at 5:58 AM