The WORD today reminds me that mere sacrifices do not please God.
They
say that actions speak louder than words. Sometimes, it is true. But mere
actions are not indicative of the true state of heart. We see a lot of evil
people do good for publicity. Of course, the action is good if it helps others,
but the intention is not automatically good.
God sees the intentions of the heart
In
the readings, we see that God does not desire sacrifice alone. In the first
reading, he says that it is love he desires, not sacrifice. It is mercy he
desires. In the psalm, he says again that it is mercy he desires, not mere
sacrifice. Jesus further illustrates this in the gospel, when he said that
actions, or sacrifice alone do not please God – especially if it shows
self-righteousness on the person. The Pharisee saw himself as better than
others – because he fasts and gives tithes. His prayer was not really a prayer,
but a self praising activity. On the other hand, the tax collector knows he is
a sinner and asked God to forgive him. And Jesus said that the tax collector
went home justified, not the Pharisee.
God is not impressed by our actions. He looks at our
heart
Sometimes
we get too focused on actions. We need to do this and that for God. We need to
serve him through others. We need to share what we have. We need to give our
time. This lent, we may get too focused on our abstinence or sacrifices for
Him. It should be more than that. Today, we are reminded not to be too focused
on the actions, that we should remember the intentions as well. Our reasons for
doing these things should be clear, and we should not forget those reasons.
What
are my actions for God? How do I show my love for God? What are my intentions
for doing these things? Do I want to look good to others? Do I seek praise and
recognition? Or do I do these things simply because I love God and want to
share him with others? Do I serve God by serving others, especially with the covit19 situation? What is my intention for such?
May
we remember that to God, mere actions and sacrifices are not as important as
the reason for doing them. Let us make sure our hearts are on the right place
as we do these things.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live.
Thank you for another weekend. And thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for
the times I focus on actions and sacrifices, that I forget why I am doing those
things. Sorry for being contented with actions I am doing for you. Help me
examine my reasons as well. Help me to always focus on you. Help me to live for
you. Help me to do those things and actions for you. Purify my heart as I do
things for you. And may this be pleasing to you. Lord, we lift up what we are going through as a nation, and we have faith that you would get us through. Amen.
Blessed Weekend!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflection:
March 21 2020
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Saturday of the Third Week of Lent
Lectionary: 242
Lectionary: 242
Reading
1 HOS
6:1-6
“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.”
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.”
What
can I do with you, Ephraim?
What can I do with you, Judah?
Your piety is like a morning cloud,
like the dew that early passes away.
For this reason I smote them through the prophets,
I slew them by the words of my mouth;
For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice,
and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
What can I do with you, Judah?
Your piety is like a morning cloud,
like the dew that early passes away.
For this reason I smote them through the prophets,
I slew them by the words of my mouth;
For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice,
and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Responsorial
Psalm PS 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21AB
R.
(see Hosea 6:6) It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
Be bountiful, O LORD, to Zion in your kindness
by rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem;
Then shall you be pleased with due sacrifices,
burnt offerings and holocausts.
R. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
Be bountiful, O LORD, to Zion in your kindness
by rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem;
Then shall you be pleased with due sacrifices,
burnt offerings and holocausts.
R. It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.
Verse
Before The Gospel PS 95:8
If
today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
harden not your hearts.
Gospel LK
18:9-14
Jesus
addressed this parable
to those who were convinced of their own righteousness
and despised everyone else.
“Two people went up to the temple area to pray;
one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,
‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity —
greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week,
and I pay tithes on my whole income.’
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.”
to those who were convinced of their own righteousness
and despised everyone else.
“Two people went up to the temple area to pray;
one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,
‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity —
greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week,
and I pay tithes on my whole income.’
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.”
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