Title: Meditation: Tuesday, March 5, 2002
The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, March 5, 2002
Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Daniel 3:25,34-43
Psalm 25:4-9
Matthew 18:21-35
A reflection on today's Scripture . . . .
Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled,
and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. (Matthew 23:12)
We often hear "Pride goeth before a fall." This phrase is a similar
reminder, but it is a reminder of a great deal more consequence. Jesus
reminds us that our actions have eternal consequences. If we puff ourselves
up here, we can expect to be the least in the kingdom of Heaven. Or perhaps,
even worse, miss heaven entirely.
Self-importance is deadly--eternally deadly. It is deadly because it forces
us to take our eyes off of Jesus. "For only is your master, the Christ" (Mt
23:10). If we allow anything to usurp his place we are dooming ourselves.
According to Milton, Satan's great sin was exactly this. He said to God,
"Better to Reign in Hell than to serve in Heaven." Our attitude must be
diametrically opposed, and even more than that. Better to serve eternally
and everywhere than to miss the chance to serve in heaven.
Lent gives us that opportunity to reflect and turn around. If we think a
great deal of ourselves, perhaps a bit more prayer, a bit more reading of
scripture, a bit more fasting will help us come to terms with ourselves.
Perhaps we can change our haughtiness to humility and emerge friends of
Christ and servants of the one Master.
- JuandelaCruz T.O.Carm. ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
YOU CAN HELP to evangelize the Word of God: Please recommend our website
to your friends and webmasters. The Daily Meditations appear online in
English & Spanish at: http://homepage.mac.com/ojoachim3/DailyMeds.html
ARCHIVED Meditations at: http://www.abcsoffaith.com/quiet/quietplace.html
and at: http://www.mail-archive.com/dailymed%40saturn.nibcomp.com
For ALL communications, including subscribe/unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
(c)2002 The Way, The Truth, The Life. Permission granted to make reprints
of the meditations or to post on any web page, except for profit.
All scripture quotes are from the Douay-Rheims edition of the Catholic Bible.
Full text from the New American Bible: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm
Lives of the Saints: http://www.christdesert.org/public_texts/martyrology/
