COLLECT: “LOOK UPON YOUR FAMILY, LORD, THAT, THROUGH THE CHASTENING EFFECTS OF BODILY DISCIPLINE, OUR MINDS MAY BE RADIANT IN YOUR PRESENCE WITH THE STRENGTH OF OUR YEARNING FOR YOU. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Is 55:10-11; Ps 33:4-7,16-19 and Mt 6:7-15.
Scriptures today give us what trusting in the word of God can do for us. Isaiah in the first reading likens the word of God to the gentle, yet powerful gift of rain, which always aims at achieving the end for which it is sent. The word of God which comes to us like rain, aims at moistening or ‘watering’ our lives, hearts and souls, especially those that are dry and hardened, and are weary or unproductive.
Indeed, any life and heart that are receptive to God’s word will always undergo some transformation to do the will of God, that is, to bear good fruits, to carry out good deeds. However, just like a piece of purely rocky soil that remains unchanged despite torrential heavy rains or even heavy floods, God’s word, even though it is capable of doing the impossible, will not be able to achieve its aim on lives and hearts that are not receptive to it, or that are so dry and hardened like hard rocks. God needs our cooperation, and maybe our permission for his word to do the work for which he always sends it to us.
During this special Season of Lent, God invites and urges us to be more eagerly intent on prayer and meditation on his word. This will let us acknowledge God as our Father in heaven, who is the Creator. Praying and meditating on God’s word leads and directs us to allow God’s will be done on earth, in our lives and hearts, as it is done in heaven. Indeed, any person whose life and heart are receptive to the word of God will not do what pleases the person, but only the will of God. The one whose heart is receptive to the word of God always trusts in, relies on and depends on God through his word for his/her needs.
We often say, “to err is human, but to forgive is divine”. Surely, without that divine grace, one is not able to forgive others their offences and sins they cause one, even though God is always ready to forgive us no matter the offences and sins we commit, when we humbly come to him in repentance.
The person whose heart is ready to receive the word of God is strong enough and therefore, can firmly withstand Satan and his temptations. Remember, Jesus in the desert used the word of God to refute Satan and his temptations. Indeed, when we pray and meditate on God’s word, we are well armed to fight and resist temptations and sin.
May our lives and hearts be open and receptive to the word of God during this Season of Lent. May we allow God’s word that He sends to us every day to achieve its aim in our lives and hearts. May we be armed and equipped with God’s word to enable us fight and overcome our archenemy, Satan and his temptations in our lives, especially during this spirit-filled Lenten Season. May you today forgive those who are sinfully in debt to you. I pray for all those battling with Satan, his temptations and sins to be deeply rooted in the word of God to be able to resist all that in this special season. Stay blessed.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, TUESDAY, ON THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN, THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR, THE CROWNING WITH THORNS, THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS AND THE CRUCIFIXION’ (WE PRAY FOR SORROW FOR SIN, PURITY, COURAGE, PATIENCE, AND PERSEVERANCE) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “GRANT US THROUGH THESE MYSTERIES, LORD, BY MODERATING EARTHLY DESIRES WE MAY LEARN TO LOVE THE THINGS OF HEAVEN. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com
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