40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Tuesday, Second Week in Lent, 03 March 2026
Isaiah 1:10, 16-20     + + +     Matthew 23:1-12

Praise and glory
to you, O Lord, 
God our Father!
You are most gracious
and kind despite our sins
you still call us to come to
you.

Come now, let us set things right, says the Lord: Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool (Isaiah 1:18).

You are indeed 
a loving God,
dear Father,
inviting us your sinful
children to "come now",
inviting us to a conversation,
always believing change is
possible even if most often
we are not willing to come
to you; give us the humility
and firm resolve to accept
finally your invitation
to come and set things right
so that we may become 
a people of justice;
let us come to you, 
Lord to be reconciled,
to wash myself clean,
to start anew in you again.

O dear Jesus,
you have been inviting me
for so long to come to you, 
to return to you
but I still refuse to believe,
refusing to accept and welcome
you because I feel 
I am doomed and hopeless;
open my heart to you,
Jesus, make me "willing
and obedient" 
to set things right.
Amen.