Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent (February 27, 2018): Saintliness is not just for canonized Saints

Today’s Readings:

Isaiah 1:10,16-20
Ps 50:8-9,16-17,21,23
Matthew 23:1-12
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/022718.cfm

USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/18_02_27.mp3

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
“The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people’s shoulders,
but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’
As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called ‘Master’;
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Good News Reflection:

Are you holy? Don’t blush and choke and say, “Nooo, I’m no saint!” Well, don’t you believe (as we profess in the Creed) in the holy catholic church? Aren’t you part of this church? Didn’t you receive the holy Spirit in baptism?

We are holy. We were made holy during our baptisms. However, we’re not fully convinced that it’s good to be holy, and thus we do things that are not true to our baptismal nature. It takes a lifetime to learn how to apply our holy nature to all the daily situations that tempt us to be unholy. We have to work hard to motivate ourselves to act according to the holiness within us.

To resist sin, we must learn to control our thoughts, nourish our souls, and discipline our flesh-nature so that we become stronger against whatever makes us vulnerable to sin.

Our minds stray into evil less often when we spend more time praying and meditating on God’s Word, God’s love, God’s will, and everything else that is Godly. The spiritual passions of our souls become less selfish when we care about others. We learn to overcome our irregular appetites (the sinful cravings of the flesh) when we discipline our bodies through fasting, abstinence, and penance.

In today’s first reading, God pleads with us: “Wash yourselves clean! Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good.” We want to live this way, but it surely is not easy. We need supernatural help. We need special graces. Praise the Lord, this is exactly what is offered in the Sacrament of Reconciliation! Because it is a sacrament, it is an encounter with the supernatural.

God wants to make it easier for us to put away evil deeds and use the gift of holiness that he’s given us. And he never asks for the impossible. He’s the one who makes saintly living possible. It’s up to us to avail ourselves of this help.

“Come now, let us set things right, says the Lord: Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow….”

And Jesus tells us in the Gospel reading, “Whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” The word “exalt” means “to enhance the activity of” or “to intensify.” God will enhance and intensify our holiness whenever we admit we’ve sinned and rely on the power of his holy sacraments!

Today’s Prayer:

My Lord, don’t let my deeds be different from the fruit of Your love for me. May humility be always present in my heart. Amen.

© 2018 by Terry A. Modica

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