Saturday, March 21st

It’s good to branch out a bit! Today’s selection comes from The Catholic Telegraph, one of the oldest Catholic newspapers in the world.

Relavent Scripture: HOS 6:1-6; PS 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21AB; LK 18:9-14

Invitation to Prayer: Come, let us return to the Lord.

Reflection: A few years back there was a television show called, “The Moment of Truth.” Each contestant was asked personal questions about their lives, and for every truthful answer, they earned a certain amount of money. No question was off limits.

On one occasion they had a woman who was asked two questions about her marriage that would likely cause great division with her spouse; she seemingly did not care. She answered both honestly, deciding that the prize was worth it.

Then she was asked something simple yet profound:

“Are you a good person?”
She paused. How was she to answer?
She said, “Yes, I think I’m a good person.”
The lie detector had caught her.

In today’s first reading, the first line says, “Come, let us return to Lord.”

How often would you and I be able to answer that question honestly, and say, “Yes Lord, I’m a good person”? Fortunately, the Lord knows of our brokenness, and invites us into His merciful love. He knows our past but wants us to be wiped clean!

Prayer: Lord, my brokenness is real, but so is Your mercy. Forgive me for the ways I have sinned against you and give me the graces to persevere! Mary, wrap me in your mantle of protection and love.

Brendan Gotta