40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Monday in the Second Week of Lent, 26 February 2024
Daniel 9:4-10 <*((((>< + + + ><))))*> Luke 6:36-38
Thank you, Lord,
"great and awesome God"
(Daniel 9:4) for another month
about to end as we entered
the second week in Lent;
by this time,
let us feel more your mercy
and forgiveness,
your immense love
despite our repeated sins
that have actually
habitual to many of us.
Like Daniel your prophet,
make us "shamefaced"
before you instead of being
shameless.
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.
Daniel 9:7-8
Before we can be
merciful as you are
merciful dear Father
according to Jesus Christ,
let us be shamefaced first
of all for our sinfulness;
many of us have lost that
sense of sinfulness,
becoming shameless
and so thick-faced
that saying it in Tagalog
is best, "makapal
ang mukha".
This Lent,
teach us to be
ashamed of our sins
and iniquities;
teach us to let go
of our many excuses
and alibis that only
make our face grow
thicker like the soles
of our feet; make us
realize the more shame
we put on our selves
when we feel so
self-righteous
that we have no room
to be kind and understanding,
even caring and
forgiving of others.
This Lent,
let us start
being shamefaced,
of having a healthy
mistrust of our selves
so that we begin to trust you more,
O Lord, and become like you,
loving and merciful,
and eventually a vessel
of your blessings for others.
Amen.
lordmychef.com 