2023년 3월 6일 사순 제2주간 월요일
오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp
제1독서
다니엘 예언서. 9,4ㄴ-10
4 아, 주님! 위대하시고 경외로우신 하느님,
당신을 사랑하고 당신의 계명을 지키는 이들에게 계약과 자애를 지키시는 분!
5 저희는 죄를 짓고 불의를 저질렀으며 악을 행하고 당신께 거역하였습니다.
당신의 계명과 법규에서 벗어났습니다.
6 저희는 저희의 임금들과 고관들과 조상들과 나라의 모든 백성들에게
당신의 이름으로 말하는 당신의 종 예언자들에게 귀를 기울이지 않았습니다.
7 주님, 당신께서는 의로우십니다.
그러나 저희는 오늘 이처럼 얼굴에 부끄러움만 가득합니다.
유다 사람, 예루살렘 주민들, 그리고 가까이 살든 멀리 살든,
당신께 저지른 배신 때문에 당신께서 내쫓으신
그 모든 나라에 사는 이스라엘인들도 다 마찬가지입니다.
8 주님, 저희의 임금들과 고관들과 조상들을 비롯하여
저희는 모두 얼굴에 부끄러움만 가득합니다.
저희가 당신께 죄를 지었기 때문입니다.
9 주 저희 하느님께서는 자비하시고 용서를 베푸시는 분이십니다.
그러나 저희는 주님께 거역하였습니다.
10 주 저희 하느님의 말씀을 듣지 않고,
당신의 종 예언자들을 통하여
저희 앞에 내놓으신 법에 따라 걷지 않았습니다.
복음
루카. 6,36-38
그때에 예수님께서 제자들에게 말씀하셨다.
36 “너희 아버지께서 자비하신 것처럼 너희도 자비로운 사람이 되어라.
37 남을 심판하지 마라. 그러면 너희도 심판받지 않을 것이다.
남을 단죄하지 마라. 그러면 너희도 단죄받지 않을 것이다.
용서하여라. 그러면 너희도 용서받을 것이다.
38 주어라. 그러면 너희도 받을 것이다.
누르고 흔들어서 넘치도록 후하게 되어 너희 품에 담아 주실 것이다.
너희가 되질하는 바로 그 되로 너희도 되받을 것이다.”
March 6, 2023
Monday in the Second Week in Lent
Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass
: https://www.youtube.com/c/DailyTVMass
Bible : http://www.usccb.org/bible/
Reading 1
Dn 9:4b-10
"Lord, great and awesome God,
you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you
and observe your commandments!
We have sinned, been wicked and done evil;
we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws.
We have not obeyed your servants the prophets,
who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes,
our fathers, and all the people of the land.
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."
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 79:8, 9, 11 and 13
R. (see 103:10a) Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;
may your compassion quickly come to us,
for we are brought very low.
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name's sake.
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Let the prisoners' sighing come before you;
with your great power free those doomed to death.
Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
through all generations we will declare your praise.
R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Gospel
Lk 6:36-38
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
"Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
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."
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
Today’s Gospel reading from Luke is a passage from what is referred to as the Sermon on the Plain. Some scholars believe this is a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount found within Matthew, whereas others suggest they are closely related due to their similarities and parallel passages. That said, let’s reflect on today’s reading from Luke and what Jesus says to his disciples.
Jesus begins with, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” He continues by telling his disciples to stop judging and they will not be judged, stop condemning others and they will not be condemned, and forgive and they will be forgiven and give and gifts will be given to them. Jesus ends by noting that “for the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”
I believe most of us have a feel for the importance of treating others as we want to be treated. The more challenging question for me is - What does Jesus mean by being “merciful?” I began by digging out The American Heritage Dictionary and looking up “mercy.” It defines mercy as the “kind and compassionate treatment of a person under one’s power.” It makes sense for mercy to entail being kind and compassionate to others, but I somehow think Jesus meant more than this. After further research into the topic, I came across Pope Francis’ Misericordiae Vultus, his letter that introduced the 2017 Holy Year of Mercy. Here, we find a deeper understanding of what is meant by God’s mercy. In Misericordiae Vultus, Pope Francis reminds us how the visceral nature of mercy comes from a personal relationship Jesus promised to us based on forgiveness and love, reconciliation, and truth. And since forgiveness is an essential part of mercy, when we look for examples, we see no better modeling on how to be merciful to those who have wronged us than by Jesus on the cross - “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Lk 23:34). But forgiving someone who has wronged us is not easy. And the Pope notes this as well - “At times how hard it seems to forgive! And yet pardon is the instrument placed into our fragile hands to attain serenity of heart. To let go of anger, wrath, violence, and revenge are necessary conditions to living joyfully” (Misericardiae Vultus). Not an easy task, but God has given us this gift to pardon. And as Jesus noted to his disciples, “Give and gifts will be given to you.”
I believe that becoming more merciful begins within ourselves. Too often we fail to ask for God’s forgiveness and maybe, more importantly, to accept it. As a psychologist, I see all too often clients who fail to seek forgiveness and fail to accept they are worthy of God’s mercy and love. However, once this is accomplished within our own minds and hearts, we create room to forgive others and, yes, even our enemies. Pope Francis tells us to do so with a heart filled first with forgiveness and then with a commitment to love others without measure. And finally, to follow Pope Francis’ words of his Youth Day letter when he wrote, “I ask you, then, to rediscover the corporal works of mercy: to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, assist the sick, visit the imprisoned and bury the dead.” He continues by writing that “mercy does not just imply being a ‘good person’ nor is it mere sentimentality. It is the measure of our authenticity as disciples of Jesus, and of our credibility as Christians in today’s world.” And as Luke reminds us, “the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp
PERMISSIVENESS AND COMPASSION
“Be compassionate, as your Father is compassionate.” —Luke 6:36
Today’s readings speak of an ever-increasing awareness of sin. Sin eventually results in being “brought very low” (Ps 79:8). Nations and people that rebel against God (see Dn 9:9) will eventually reap the harvest of sin, that is, disaster and death (see Rm 6:23). As Jesus says, the measure that rebels measure with will eventually be measured right back to them (Lk 6:38).
In the secular culture, to stand up against sin and immorality is considered an act of “hate.” Yet it is not love to allow (let alone encourage) a person to speed headlong toward disaster. The secular culture considers permissiveness a good thing. Holding moral standards is considered intolerance. Yet the Church teaches: “So-called moral permissiveness rests on an erroneous assumption of human freedom” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2526).
The true follower of Jesus can never encourage a lost sheep to wander directly into the danger of sin rather than toward the loving protection of the Good Shepherd. In this context, permissiveness can be seen as an act of indifference, which is the opposite of love. Compassion does not judge the motivation of the sinner and does not ignore the effects of sin; rather, compassion embraces the lost sheep and stands ever-ready to rescue that sheep from the consequences of his or her rebellion (Lk 15:4-5).
Disciples of Christ, “be compassionate, as your Father is compassionate” (Lk 6:36).
Prayer: Father, teach me to know the truth and speak it in love and compassion (see Eph 4:15).
Promise: “The measure you measure with will be measured back to you.” —Lk 6:38
Praise: Peter takes part in many wholesome activities in his youth group, including frequent Confession.
http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/
Do you know and experience the mercy God has for you through the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed for you and for your sins upon the cross? The Lord Jesus took our sins upon himself and nailed them to the cross so that we could receive pardon rather than condemnation, freedom rather than slavery to sin, and healing for the wounds caused by sin, injustice, and evil.
God's mercy knows no limits
God the Father never tires of showing his steadfast love and mercy to those who seek him. Scripture tells us that his mercies never cease. "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (The Lamentations of Jeremiah 3:22-23). What can hold us back from receiving God's mercy and pardon? Anger, resentment, an unwillingness to forgive or to ask for pardon can hold us back from the healing power and merciful love that has power to wash away guilt and condemnation, fear and anger, pride and resentment. The Lord Jesus offers us freedom to walk in his way of love and forgiveness, mercy and goodness.
Imitate God the Father's mercy
We are called to be merciful towards one another just as our heavenly Father has been merciful towards each one of us. Do you quickly forgive those who wrong you or cause you grief or pain, or do you allow ill-will and resentment to grow in your heart? Do you pray for those who have lost sight of God's mercy, pardon, truth, and justice?
In the Old Testament we see the example of Daniel, a man of great faith in God's mercy and just ways, who prayed daily, not only for himself, but for his own people, and for his persecutors as well. Daniel was 'shamefaced' before God because he recognized that his own people who had been called and chosen by God as the people of Israel, were now suffering in exile due to their sins and unfaithfulness to the covenant God had made with them (see Daniel 9:4-10). Daniel did not sit in judgment over the failings and sins of his own people, instead he pleaded with God for compassion, pardon, and restoration. Our shame will turn to joy and hope if we confess our sins and ask for God's healing love and mercy..
Do not judge
Why does Jesus tell his followers to "not judge lest they be judged"? Jesus knew the human heart all too well. We judge too quickly or unfairly with mixed motives, impure hearts, and prejudiced minds. The heart must be cleansed first in order to discern right judgment with grace and mercy rather than with ill will and vengeance.
Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 AD), a wise early Christian teacher and writer, comments on Jesus' exhortation to not condemn:
Do not judge, that is, unjustly, so that you may not be judged, with regard to injustice. With the judgment that you judge shall you be judged. This is like the phrase "Forgive, and it will be forgiven you." For once someone has judged in accordance with justice, he should forgive in accordance with grace, so that when he himself is judged in accordance with justice, he may be worthy of forgiveness through grace. Alternatively, it was on account of the judges, those who seek vengeance for themselves, that he said, "Do not condemn." That is, do not seek vengeance for yourselves. Or, do not judge from appearances and opinion and then condemn, but admonish and advise. (COMMENTARY ON TATIAN'S DIATESSARON 6.18B.)
Grace and mercy
What makes true disciples of Jesus Christ different from those who do not know the Lord Jesus and what makes Christianity distinct from any other religion? It is grace - treating others not as they deserve, but as God wishes them to be treated - with forbearance, mercy, and loving-kindness. God shows his goodness to the unjust as well as to the just. His love embraces saint and sinner alike. God always seeks what is best for each one of us and he teaches us to seek the greatest good of others, even those who hate and abuse us. Our love for others, even those who are ungrateful and unkind towards us, must be marked by the same kindness and mercy which God has shown to us. It is easier to show kindness and mercy when we can expect to benefit from doing so. How much harder when we can expect nothing in return. Our prayer for those who do us ill both breaks the power of revenge and releases the power of love to do good in the face of evil.
Overcome evil with mercy and goodness
How can we possibly love those who cause us grief, harm, or ill-will? With God all things are possible. He gives power and grace to those who trust in his love and who seek his wisdom and help. The Lord is ready to work in and through us by his Holy Spirit, both to purify our minds and hearts and to help us do what is right, good, and loving in all circumstances. Paul the Apostle reminds us that "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us" (Romans 5:5) God's love conquers all, even our hurts, injuries, fears, and prejudices. Only the cross of Jesus Christ and his victory over sin can free us from the tyranny of malice, hatred, revenge, and resentment, and give us the courage to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). Such love and grace has power to heal, restore, and transform us into the image of Christ. Do you know the power of Christ's redeeming love and mercy?
Lord Jesus, your love brings freedom, pardon, and joy. Transform my heart with your love that nothing may make me lose my temper, ruffle my peace, take away my joy, or make me bitter towards anyone.
Psalm 79:8-11,13
8 Do not remember against us the iniquities of our forefathers; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low.
9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name's sake!
10 Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Let the avenging of the out-poured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes!
11 Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power preserve those doomed to die!
13 Then we your people, the flock of your pasture, will give thanks to you for ever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: The Practice of Mercy, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"The practice of mercy is twofold: when vengeance is sacrificed and when compassion is shown. The Lord included both of these in his brief sentence: 'Forgive, and you shall be forgiven; give, and it shall be given to you.' This work has the effect of purifying the heart, so that, even under the limitations of this life, we are enabled with pure mind to see the immutable reality of God. There is something holding us back, which has to be loosed so that our sight may break through to the light. In connection with this the Lord said, 'Give alms, and behold, all things are clean to you.' Therefore the next and sixth step is that cleansing of the heart." (excerpt from Letter 171A.2)
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