LENTEN MESSAGE OF POPE FRANCIS BASED ON FATELLI TUTTI NO. 104Nor is equality achieved by an abstract proclamation that “all men and women are equal” 


TODAY’S WORD

By


Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore

Luke: 18:13 "But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be Merciful to me, a sinner!’


TODAYS REFLECTION

The Gospel of the Day exhorts a strong message on this deadly vice of Pride. Chapter 18 of the Gospel of St Luke begins with two parables that teach on the aspect of Prayer.  The parable of the Widow who was persistent (Lk 18: 1-8)   the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Lk 18: 9-14)

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector have interesting comparisons with respect to the various gestures and actions that they take: Both go up to the Temple area to pray…The Pharisee took up his position… the tax collector stood off at a distance.

The Pharisee spoke of his personal glories…spoke the prayer to himself… The Pharisee used the mirror and saw his many achievements and accomplishments…… being unlike the rest of the sinful humanity like the greedy, dishonest or adulterous… fasting twice a week… pay tithes on his whole income

The tax collector would not even raise his eyes to heaven. The tax collector, also used a mirror… but saw in it, his many failures and shortcomings…… the moments when he had cheated others to have greater financial gains… the times he had subjected himself to be a traitor by working against his own people… the need to seek for God’s mercy acknowledging his sinfulness, the tax collector acknowledged being a sinner, in need of mercy.

Prayer is like a mirror…but it depends on one’s attitude and disposition what one sees…If one is filled with pride and self-conceit, one sees only one’s accomplishments…… and thus pushes out God and replaces oneself as the source of all good works! If one is truly humble and modest, one sees one’s weaknesses and limitations…… and thus acknowledges the dependence on God and on His grace in life!

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

What is our attitude and disposition?  Am I afflicted with the sickness of pride which makes me to flaunt only myself at the expense of the other? Am I distressed with the disease of arrogance which makes me to see myself as the greatest person in the world, casting aside all people and even God? 

RESOLUTION

Let’s resolve to cast away pride and embrace humility and a total dependence on God and total trust in God and a complete surrender!

Happy Saturday

An amazing Week end

Let’s storm the Heaven’s for Fr. Stan Swamy as his bail plea is coming for hearing on the 15th March.