Monday, March 05, 2012 (Lenten Weekday)

REFLECTION FOR TODAY
As iron is fashioned by fire and on the anvil, so in the fire of suffering and under the weight of trials, our souls receive that form which our Lord desires them to have.
-- St. Madeline Sophie Barat

READINGS FOR TODAY
First Reading: Daniel 9:4-10
4 I prayed to Yahweh my God, and made confession, and said, Oh, Lord, the great and dreadful God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments,

5 we have sinned, and have dealt perversely, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even turning aside from your precepts and from your ordinances;

6 neither have we listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.

7 Lord, righteousness belongs to you, but to us confusion of face, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, who are near, and who are far off, through all the countries where you have driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against you.

8 Lord, to us belongs confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you.

9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness; for we have rebelled against him;

10 neither have we obeyed the voice of Yahweh our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.

Psalms: Psalm 79:8-9, 11, 13

8 Don’t hold the iniquities of our forefathers against us. Let your tender mercies speedily meet us, For we are in desperate need.

9 Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of your name. Deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name’s sake.

11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you. According to the greatness of your power, preserve those who are sentenced to death;

13 So we, your people and sheep of your pasture, Will give you thanks forever. We will praise you forever, to all generations.

Gospel: Luke 6:36-38
(Judging Others) 

36 Therefore be merciful, Even as your Father is also merciful.

37 Don’t judge, And you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, And you won’t be condemned.

Set free, And you will be set free.

38 “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you. literally, into your bosom. For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you.”