The Catholic Calendar for Monday, March 13, 2006
Monday of the Second Week of Lent

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Daniel 9:4-10
Psalm 79:8-9, 11, 13
Luke 6:36-38

"Be merciful, just as your father is merciful." (Luke 6:36)

In today’s gospel, Jesus is asks us to imitate the actions of our Father in Heaven, as He does for us. But how is our Father merciful? In the reading from the Book of Deuteronomy it is explained in one sentence what it is. Our Father forgives. He forgives, despite the fact that we are sinners who have not always been loyal to His covenant.

Forgiveness is a very powerful act. It frees the offender and the forgiver from evil because it is an act of love and mercy. Each act of love brings us one step closer towards Our Lord. As all good fathers, Our Heavenly Father wishes to shower us with gifts. But He is not able to do so unless we are with Him. It is like a father buys a new bike for his child and leaves it in his room. The child will not know that there is a brand new bike waiting for him to play with until he returns home and sees it in his room.

Our Heavenly Father has many gifts that He wishes to bestow upon us; but unless we are home we won't know what wonders are waiting for us. That is why Jesus asks us to perform acts of love and mercy towards others; so that with each act, our hearts may be filled more and more with God’s love, enabling us to go home and find the bike in our rooms.

- Danielle

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