Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection March 17, 2025
Monday Second Week of Lent
17th March 2025 (Monday)
Psalter: Week 2
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Daniel 9:4b-10
“Lord, great and awesome God, you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you and observe your commandments! We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws. We have not obeyed your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers, and all the people of the land. 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. But yours, O Lord, our God, are compassion and forgiveness! Yet we rebelled against you and paid no heed to your command, O LORD, our God, to live by the law you gave us through your servants the prophets.”
Psalm 79:8, 9, 11 and 13 (R. see 103:10a)
R/. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Glory and praise to you, O Christ.
R/. Glory and praise to you, O Christ.
V/. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life
R/. Glory and praise to you, O Christ.
Gospel: Luke 6:36-38
Jesus said to his disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Monday – Second Week of Lent
Main Point: As the children of God and as the disciples of Christ, we are called to imitate and resemble them. This is the only way to testify to our belonging to them
All seek models and we need them. But the question is whether they are right or wrong, imitable or detestable. And the irony in society is often wrong models are more followed. And often models are rated excellent, connected with only some fields. It is not because of excellent virtue and character. In other words, the models are not always virtuous or character-people.
Thus, there is so much influence of wrong models and disconnection between models and virtue. In such a context, today Jesus is proposing to us the greatest and best model to follow. That is God the Father Himself. Jesus also specifies what we must imitate. It is mercy. He admonishes us, “Be merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful”. The first reading from Daniel also highlights this, saying, “To the Lord, our God belong mercy and forgiveness”.
Jesus further clarifies what this mercy is. It is a mercy that does not judge, does not condemn. He keeps covenant and steadfast love. He chastises the people when they go astray. He is never keen on destroying them. He is enormously patient and so gives ample opportunities to His people to repent and return to Him. He is ever generous in His forgiveness and reward.
If God is so merciful and forgiving, then what is our duty? The first reading is amply clear about these details. First of all, realize our sinfulness and unworthiness; repent for not obeying the voice of the Lord; for not listening to His servants, the prophets; for rebelling and turning aside from His commandments and rules; for not walking in His laws; for doing wrong and acting wickedly. Realizing and repenting for our infidelity, then seeking His forgiveness.
Secondly, live what you experience; give what you yourself receive. If we are not judged and condemned, and if we do not want to be judged and condemned, then do not judge and condemn others. If we are forgiven, then forgive others as well. If God and others are so generous toward us, then we too must be generous to them.
My Practice: Let us always bear in mind that we receive as we give; we will get back as we do. Therefore, let us be always just and fair in our measurements toward others. The measure we apply will be the measure that will be applied to us
