Reflection: “For everyone who exalts himself will be
humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Today’s parable about
the Pharisee and the tax collect provides a great opportunity to examine our
conscience during this Lenten season. It
can become easy to see the sins and failings of others, while failing to see
your own. It can become easy to see your
own accomplishments and sacrifices, while failing to see the sacrifices of
those around you. In our human weakness
we tend to praise ourselves loudly, while quietly putting others down. Do we think that God does not hear our
thoughts? Do we think that if we point
out the failings of others loud enough God will not see the failing in us? We must first humble ourselves and recognize
that we are all fallen and we are all in need of repentance. Only then can we truly receive the grace and
forgiveness of our Lord. “Come, let us return to the LORD, it is he who
has rent, but he will heal us.”
Reflection
for younger saints:
Sometimes when we behave in a way that we know is wrong, we will tell
the adult who discovers this that another child has behaved poorly as
well. We do this to try to draw
attention away from our sins and to point to another’s sins. Today’s Gospel tells us that we must focus
first on being humble and recognizing our sins and failings, not pointing to
the sins and failings of others.
Big
Picture: Keep your
eyes on your own work
Discussion
Starters:
Younger saints: Is anyone perfect and free from sin? (No, everyone sins. We all try very hard to follow God’s commandments, but our original sin makes this hard sometimes.) Do you sometimes point out when others are naughty, but try to hide when you are naughty? What did today’s reading teach us about focusing on our sins and our need for forgiveness, rather than the sins of others?
Older saints: Throughout our lives, be it in academics, in sports, in the arts, or in careers, we will easily be drawn into seeing ourselves in a positive light while easily seeing the failings and shortfalls of others. Reflect on what today’s readings teach us about this way of thinking. Do you tend to judge others harshly while seeing your own failings through hazy eyes? Is this something you need to seek forgiveness for?
Younger saints: Is anyone perfect and free from sin? (No, everyone sins. We all try very hard to follow God’s commandments, but our original sin makes this hard sometimes.) Do you sometimes point out when others are naughty, but try to hide when you are naughty? What did today’s reading teach us about focusing on our sins and our need for forgiveness, rather than the sins of others?
Older saints: Throughout our lives, be it in academics, in sports, in the arts, or in careers, we will easily be drawn into seeing ourselves in a positive light while easily seeing the failings and shortfalls of others. Reflect on what today’s readings teach us about this way of thinking. Do you tend to judge others harshly while seeing your own failings through hazy eyes? Is this something you need to seek forgiveness for?
Fun
Fact: The Chalice
is the sacred vessel that holds the Blood of Christ.
Saint
of the day:
Name: Saint Dominic Savio
What they are remembered for: St. Dominic Savio joined St. John Bosco as a student at the Oratory in Turin at the age of 12. He showed a great desire to be a priest and to help St. John Bosco with his care of neglected boys. St. Dominic started a group called the Company of the Immaculate Conceptions which aided St. John Bosco with care of the boys as well as manual labor. Ill health kept St. Dominic Savio from his goal of the priesthood as he died at a young age.
Feast day: March 9
Patron Saint of: choirboys and juvenile delinquents
Daily Notes:
Name: Saint Dominic Savio
What they are remembered for: St. Dominic Savio joined St. John Bosco as a student at the Oratory in Turin at the age of 12. He showed a great desire to be a priest and to help St. John Bosco with his care of neglected boys. St. Dominic started a group called the Company of the Immaculate Conceptions which aided St. John Bosco with care of the boys as well as manual labor. Ill health kept St. Dominic Savio from his goal of the priesthood as he died at a young age.
Feast day: March 9
Patron Saint of: choirboys and juvenile delinquents
Daily Notes:
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