Breakfast with the Word: Saturday of the 3rd Week of Lent
Luke 18:9–14
A priest once shared the story of a man who came every morning before the Blessed Sacrament shouting, “God forgive me, I have sinned.” Disturbed by the noise, the priest left him a note saying God had already forgiven him and he could change his prayer. The man replied by pointing him to Lamentations 3:22–23, reminding him that God’s mercy is new every morning. The priest then understood that the man sought God’s mercy each day because we always need it.
In the Gospel of Luke 18:9–14, Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector who went to the temple to pray. The Pharisee boasted about his good deeds and righteousness, while the tax collector humbly admitted his sins and asked for mercy. Jesus praised the humility of the tax collector.
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The lesson is that God desires humility from us. The Pharisee was not condemned for doing good, but because he trusted in his own righteousness rather than in God’s mercy. Like the tax collector, we should approach God with humility, acknowledging our need for His mercy rather than trying to rely on our own efforts.
Our good deeds, prayers, fasting, and sacrifices are important, but they should never make us proud or make us think we can control God. Instead, they should lead us to deeper humility and trust in His mercy. When we come before God, we must approach Him like children, depending entirely on His love and forgiveness.
We should never stop asking God for mercy or think that we no longer need forgiveness. Even the holiest people constantly seek God’s mercy and remain humble before Him.
The mercy of God is new every morning. Never begin your prayers without asking God for forgiveness. Always rest on the mercy of God.
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