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Good and Bad Days
Second Sunday of Lent (Year A)
“Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Matthew 17:4
The Apostle Peter’s reaction to the Transfiguration reveals that he was overwhelmed by his firsthand experience of a glimpse of Jesus’ true glory. Not long before this moment, our Lord took His disciples north to Caesarea Philippi and asked them privately who they thought He was. Peter boldly proclaimed, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). In response, Jesus promised Peter that He would build His Church upon Peter’s profession of faith and that Peter himself would be entrusted with the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. It was a good day for Peter.
Shortly after this, however, Jesus began to reveal to His disciples that He “must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised” (Matthew 16:21). In response, Peter pulled Jesus aside and said, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you” (Matthew 16:22). Jesus replied harshly to Peter’s rebuke: “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do” (Matthew 16:23). It was a bad day for Peter.
Jesus then taught His disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:24–25). Not only was Jesus soon to suffer greatly, but His followers, including the Twelve, were called to follow Him on this difficult path. This was hard news for them to accept.
In today’s Gospel, we hear the story of the Transfiguration. Interestingly, Jesus allowed the disciples to reflect on His prediction of suffering for six days before taking Peter, James, and John up a mountain for prayer and solitude. Jesus, aware of their confusion and struggles, was transfigured before their eyes. “[H]is face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him” (Matthew 17:2–3). Peter exclaimed in this moment of glory, “Lord, it is good that we are here.” It was another good day for Peter.
We all have good days and bad days. But what defines a good day versus a bad day? Was the day of Jesus’ Crucifixion a bad one for Him? Certainly not. Though filled with intense suffering, it was the most glorious day in history because His perfect obedience to the Father’s will was fulfilled. Similarly, Peter’s good and bad days can be understood in terms of his willingness to obey Christ, especially when the demands were great.
In our lives, we must also define our good and bad days through the lens of obedience to God’s will, especially when His will calls us to bear the Cross and practice sacrificial love. It’s easy to love God when we are consoled, but it becomes much more difficult when we face trials. Peter’s declaration, “Lord, it is good that we are here,” is the perfect prayer for us to echo in every circumstance. When we are consoled, as Peter was at the Transfiguration, we must pray this prayer. But unlike Peter’s earlier missteps, we must also say, “It is good,” when we encounter opportunities for sacrificial love, even when difficult.
Reflect today on your own good and bad days. Use the lens of holy obedience and your call to live a life of sacrificial love. Do not hesitate to cry out to the Lord, “It is good!” Consider whether you view every cross and every invitation to love sacrificially as something good. This is what God desires for you; embrace His desire with determination and joy.
My sacrificial Lord, You embraced the Cross and saw it as truly good. You looked beyond the suffering and saw the fruits of Your sacrifice. Help me to imitate You by seeing every act of sacrificial love as the good I desire. I love You, Lord. Help me to love You and others with all my heart. Jesus, I trust in You.
Dazzling White Light
Second Sunday of Lent (Year B)
Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Mark 9:2–3
Notice the detailed description of how white Jesus’ clothes had become. First, they were “dazzling” white. Then, a further description is added: “such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.” The purity of Jesus’ white clothing clearly caught the attention of these three disciples.
The color white is a combination of all the colors in the visible light spectrum. When light hits an object and that object reflects all wavelengths of visible light equally, our eyes perceive it as white.
Symbolically, this dazzling white light emanating from Jesus’ clothing indicates that He is clothed with every virtue, far beyond what any human effort can achieve. Within Him is contained all goodness, which shines forth with dazzling radiance. Just as the rainbow was a sign of God’s covenant with Noah, Christ’s radiance of all colors, emanating from His clothing, indicates that He is the New Covenant.
The disciples were given a special gift that all the saints and holy angels will enjoy to a much greater degree for eternity: a glimpse into the soul of the Son of God. While on earth, Jesus’ soul was hidden from those who lacked faith. Even those with faith only perceived His soul to the extent that their faith enabled Him to reveal who He was. In Heaven, when we see God as He is in the Beatific Vision, we will perceive His essence and cry out eternally with Peter, “It is good that we are here!”
Jesus revealed a momentary glimpse of His glory on this mountain to Peter, James, and John. Though they had already spent about two years with Jesus, they did not truly know Him. Their faith had not yet become perfected, so their spiritual sight had not yet been able to perceive God’s fullness in the person of Jesus.
How clearly do you see our Lord? When someone’s faith is weak and suddenly deepens, new clarity is given to the person’s soul, often resulting in a spiritual consolation similar to what these disciples experienced. Seeing God and His goodness more clearly is awe-inspiring. A spiritual consolation is far more dazzling to our souls than any earthly consolation that comes through our senses. A good meal, a beautiful sunset, and fine wine are but a few things that might offer a certain level of comfort and consolation on a natural level. However, a clearer vision of God’s glory is inspiring and consoling to an infinitely greater degree.
Though Peter wanted to remain on the mountain, he had to come down. Imagine the next week as he, James, and John thought about their experience and might have spoken with each other about it. They might have wanted to return there, but our Lord wanted them to follow Him to Jerusalem, where He would suffer and die.
As we grow in virtue, there will be times when God floods our souls with greater clarity about Himself and our own lives. These transfiguring moments are given to us during this life to increase our eternal desire for God. When that consolation is removed and we descend that mountain with our Lord, we return to the reality of the Cross. When this happens, we must never forget God’s past consolations but use them as a source of strength as we strive to lay our lives down sacrificially, imitating our Lord.
Reflect today on these three disciples and the interior consolation they received. Ponder any ways God has similarly revealed Himself to you. If you have never experienced a transfiguring moment like this, keep seeking God in prayer. Be faithful and obedient, and know He will give you what you need to fulfill your mission. Heaven will be an eternal consolation where we will remain forever. For now, any foretaste of Heaven we have received is meant to fill us with hope so we can enter our Lord’s Passion, anticipating a full share in His Resurrection.
My dazzling Lord, You are the fullness of light; You are the fullness of virtue and all goodness. Please draw me into the beauty of Your glory so I can see You more clearly. As You do, strengthen me to be more obedient to You, enduring the Cross with the hope that awaits us in the glory of Heaven. Jesus, I trust in You.
From Glory to Obscurity
Second Sunday of Lent (Year C)
Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. Luke 9:32–33
Imagine entering into the glory of Heaven and seeing God as He is. This beholding of God’s essence is traditionally called the Beatific Vision. That glorious vision of God will satisfy our longings so completely that every desire within us will be fulfilled, and we will want nothing else. What a glorious day that will be for those who remain faithful until the end, meriting this eternal gift.
What do you desire in life? Because of our fallen human nature, our passions and desires are often disordered, unruly, and misguided. We often seek momentary pleasures and passing delights. As soon as one satiation ends, we seek another.
The glorious event of the Transfiguration teaches us that there is one thing, and one thing alone, that will satisfy our every longing—God’s pure essence. As Saint Augustine famously wrote, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” Peter, James, and John were given a small glimpse of this truth on the Mount of the Transfiguration. This experience struck them so deeply that, in an instant, they understood what true satisfaction was.
Perhaps you have never experienced anything like what these three disciples experienced on the mountain that day. If you haven’t, ponder what they experienced and try to understand the joy and consolation they felt. If you have had some powerful experience of God’s presence that consoled you in a way nothing else ever could, then never forget that moment. When Peter first experienced the consolation of Jesus’ Transfiguration, he wanted to build three tents and remain there forever. This is a common experience for every Christian who experiences consolations from God—we want them to remain forever.
While on earth, we receive consolations at times, but the Cross is ever before us, and sacrificial love is our constant mission. However, the Cross, sacrifice, patient endurance of suffering, and purification are not the end. The glory of sharing in Christ’s Resurrection in the Beatific Vision is the end. As we journey through the crosses of life, we must never take our eyes off that end, anticipating it with much hope.
In Luke’s version of the Transfiguration, this glorious experience ends when “a cloud came and cast a shadow over them…” The cloud frightened them, and within that cloud, they heard the Father say, “This is my chosen Son; listen to Him” (Luke 9:34–35). The Transfiguration, followed by the cloud, can be interpreted as a metaphor for our daily human experiences. Sometimes we see God’s glory and are filled with zeal, but then obscurity and darkness can seem to cover us.
The good news is that God is found not only in the glory of the consoling experience of Jesus’ radiance but also in the obscurity of the cloud. Within that cloud, the Father speaks all we need to know during our crosses: “This is my chosen Son; listen to Him.”
As we continue our Lenten journey and ponder the Transfiguration, reflect today on this twofold experience. No matter if you feel on top of the world, profoundly consoled by God’s intimate presence, or find yourself covered with an experience of darkness and obscurity, know that God is there, in the midst of that experience. Seek Him no matter what you encounter, and you will discover the assistance you need to press on in fidelity to His holy will.
My consoling Lord, You revealed Your beauty, splendor, and glory to Peter, James, and John on the mountain. You also allowed them to enter the cloud of obscurity and hear the Father speak to them while they were afraid. I thank You for being present to me throughout my life and meeting me where I am. Help me always to discern Your divine presence and to listen to Your perfect commands. Jesus, I trust in You.
Incomprehensible Mercy
Monday of the Second Week of Lent
Jesus said to his disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36
What is mercy? How is the Father in Heaven merciful? Suppose someone lived a life contrary to God’s will. When that person dies and stands before the Judgment Seat of God, will God, in His mercy, say, “That’s okay, you can enter Heaven even though you do not deserve it”? Or in our lives, if someone is living an openly sinful lifestyle that is objectively contrary to God’s moral law, should we say, “If living that way makes you happy, then I’m happy for you”? Neither of these depicts authentic mercy.
After telling us, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful,” Jesus defines what He means. First, He tells us what not to do: “Stop judging…Stop condemning.” God, and God alone, has the authority to judge and condemn. We do not. Therefore, when we judge and condemn another, we usurp God’s authority. Only God sees the heart; therefore, only God can judge a person.
However, the command to “Stop judging” and “Stop condemning” must be exercised from two perspectives. On the one hand, we ought not to judge a person as a sinner deserving condemnation. On the other hand, we ought not to declare a person morally righteous, especially when someone’s actions contradict God’s revealed law. So what are we to do? We limit our judgment to the objective moral actions that God has revealed, leaving it to God to condemn or exonerate the heart. This will free us from anger and enable us to express authentic love.
For example, if two people live as husband and wife even though they are not married, we should look for an opportunity to express our hope that they enter into marriage rather than continue living together while unmarried. This is not a condemnation of their souls but a proclamation of God’s objective moral law. It’s the Gospel, and we must speak it with kindness, patience, and clarity. Furthermore, if we express to these same individuals that we are somehow happy for them and support their living arrangement, we are also wrongly judging them to be in God’s good graces, which is just as sinful on our part. Hence, not judging and not condemning means we focus on the objective action, not the heart. This can be difficult, especially with those closest to us, but it is essential in practicing true mercy.
What Jesus says next is even more challenging: “Forgive” and “give.” As an added motivation, Jesus explains that we will only be forgiven when we forgive others, and good gifts will be given to us only when we give. Forgiveness and generosity are acts of great mercy. To forgive is to offer pardon to one who has committed some sin against us. Though we never know a person’s heart and, therefore, their culpability for an action, there are plenty of times when an offense is committed against us. In this case, there is only one appropriate response: forgive and give kindness, compassion, and mercy. We must never hold a grudge, remain angry, sulk over an injury, or hold a sin against another. Never.
The challenge is that human reason alone cannot fully comprehend this. We need divine revelation and God’s grace to inform our minds and hearts that this is the right thing to do. By drawing closer to Christ in prayer and the sacraments, we can grow in this supernatural mercy, allowing His grace to transform our hearts.
Reflect today on this true meaning of mercy. Beg for God’s mercy in your life in superabundance. As you do, choose to offer mercy to others to the same extent that you ask for God’s mercy. Give generously, exceeding what your human reason alone comprehends, and God will pour His mercy upon you in the same incomprehensible way.
My merciful Lord, there are many times when I judge another, hold a grudge, and am stingy with mercy. Please give me Your Heart so that I can overcome my failures and give of myself with supernatural virtue. I want to be like You, my God. Help me show mercy in superabundance. Jesus, I trust in You.
Kindness and Charity
Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent
Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice.” Matthew 23:1–3
Why do you do what you do? Even when our actions appear good, reverent, or charitable, they can be motivated by pride. The scribes and Pharisees struggled with this very sin. They often performed their acts of piety and charity not to glorify God but to win the praise of others. They were quick to judge others while failing to practice what they preached. This hypocrisy led many to view them with disdain. Therefore, Jesus’ public rebukes of the religious leaders must have consoled those who had been mistreated under their leadership. His words provided both corrections and hope for those seeking authentic faith.
Jesus condemns the religious leaders more than a dozen times throughout the Gospels, making them a significant aspect of His mission. Jesus came to bring both healing and truth, and confronting hypocrisy was necessary to restore justice within the community. But why did Jesus take such a firm stance against them? Wouldn’t it have been easier to seek peace and unity through kindness, avoiding conflict and division?
It’s important to understand that true kindness is a fruit of charity. But for kindness to be truly charitable, it must always seek the good of the other. Charity is not merely about making people feel good; it is rooted in divine truth. If Jesus had simply said, “We should be nice to the scribes and Pharisees, no matter what,” this would not have been true charity. Jesus’ rebukes sought to awaken the religious leaders from their spiritual blindness and protect the people from their harmful example. True charity often requires correction.
In our own lives, we must also examine our motivations. Are our acts of piety and charity truly for the glory of God, or are they done to be seen and praised by others? When we embrace the Gospel, we must accept that we might sometimes hear uncomfortable truths. Genuine love does not shy away from correction but seeks the ultimate good of the other, even when it challenges us to change. Therefore, we must see ourselves as the scribes and Pharisees, needing rebuke and correction.
Additionally, there are times when God uses us to correct others out of love. Parents do this for their children, guiding them with patience and tenderness so they may grow in virtue. In the same way, teachers are called to instruct their students, imparting knowledge and forming their character with care and wisdom. Spiritual directors, priests, and confessors gently guide souls on the path to holiness, helping them discern areas of growth and sin, always in the light of God’s mercy and truth.
Reflect today on Jesus’ charitable words to the scribes and Pharisees. First, hear Jesus’ words spoken to you. Humble yourself so you are open to such loving rebukes. Allow yourself to become more aware of your pride and self-righteousness so that you can change. Also, be open to how God might want to use you to confront others charitably. While Jesus alone is the Judge, He sometimes uses us as instruments of His judgment for those open to hearing His voice through us. Humbly consider this role, allowing God to use you as He wills. Always speak with gentleness and love, imparting the hard truth another needs to hear, never with cruelty or harshness.
My just Lord, Your just judgments flow from the unfathomable charity within Your Sacred Heart. You desire all men to be saved and to turn to You. Please humble me so that I never reject Your just judgments but receive them with joy so that I may repent and grow closer to You. I also place myself at Your service as an instrument of Your justice for others in accordance with Your will. Jesus, I trust in You.
The True Path to Glory
Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.” Matthew 20:20–21
What a bold move by the mother of the sons of Zebedee! A common misconception at that time was that the Messiah would usher in a new political and earthly kingdom and those who held positions of power in this kingdom would bask in earthly glory. However, Jesus’ mission as the Messiah was to establish a far superior Kingdom through His Passion and Resurrection. These two disciples, along with their mother, did not yet understand this.
Just before this passage, Jesus took the Twelve aside and prophesied His Passion and Resurrection: “…the Son of Man will be handed over… they will condemn him to death… be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” This is the third time in Matthew’s Gospel that Jesus predicts His Passion. It’s surprising that, immediately after this prophecy, the mother of the sons of Zebedee asks Jesus to give her two sons the most prominent positions in His Kingdom. Jesus initially responds, “You do not know what you are asking.”
In many ways, Jesus says the same to us. When we pray and seek to grow closer to God, we don’t always understand what we are truly asking for. Like these two disciples and their mother, we might think that growing in holiness means God will protect us from all illnesses, difficulties, crosses, and problems—replacing them with consolations, a comfortable life, family unity, success at work, notoriety, and even wealth. But that’s not the Gospel. The Gospel always points us to the Cross, while promising God’s grace to carry it, not avoid it.
As Jesus said to these two disciples, He also says to us when we pray for greater holiness: “Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” In other words, the path to holiness is the Cross. It’s the only way. Jesus tells us this in many ways, just as He told His disciples three times. They did not understand or chose not to believe what He was saying. The same is true for us. When we seek holiness, our Lord tells us that we must be willing to be “handed over,” “condemned,” “mocked and scourged and crucified,” so that, with Jesus, we can be raised up. Each person’s path to the Cross will be unique, but we all must accept it if we want to share in Christ’s Kingdom. It is the only way.
Reflect today on Jesus looking at you with love and asking, “Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” Try to understand what that means. What does the Cross look like in your life? Often, when we encounter crosses, we flee from them, presuming they are bad, and even pray for them to go away. Yet our Lord lovingly tells us to carry that cross with His strength, peace, and joy. That is the only way to authentic holiness and the only way to true greatness in the Kingdom of God. Do not fear Christ’s Cross. It is the answer to all you long for in life.
My gentle Lord, like Your disciples, I often want my crosses removed from my life rather than carry them with the aid of Your grace. I desire to drink from the Sacred Chalice of Your Passion so that I may share in Your Resurrection and glory. Give me courage when I encounter the crosses You wish me to carry and the wisdom to discern Your path to glory. Jesus, I trust in You.
The Danger and Blessing of Riches
Thursday of the Second Week of Lent
When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. Luke 16:22–23
Money is dangerous, as are power, notoriety, physical beauty, and exceptional talent. All of these are often desired, sought after, and envied. In and of themselves, each has the potential for great good. But because of that, they also have the potential for great sin.
The Gospel passage above presents us with the eternal consequences of a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. The rich man lived in luxury, dressed in fine clothes, ate sumptuously every day, and hoarded his wealth. Lazarus, in stark contrast, was dirt poor, covered with sores, and longed to eat the scraps of food often given to dogs.
The story’s crux is that their lifestyles were reversed when they died. From the netherworld, a place of great torment, the rich man begged Abraham for relief and to raise Lazarus from the dead to warn the rich man’s five brothers. Abraham replies with perfect truth and justice: “If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.” With that, the story ends.
Which person would you rather be? If we removed everything from the story that took place after their deaths, most people would likely choose the life of the rich man. Only when we add the eternal consequences to the story does the choice become clear.
Is it possible to be rich and still attain Heaven? Or is it possible to have earthly power, beauty, and natural talents that lead to great success and notoriety in this life and still attain Heaven? Certainly it is, but only if the Gospel is embraced, regardless of your state. Whether a person is rich or poor, successful or not, beautiful, talented, or lacking in these, the question is the same for us all: Have I generously and wholeheartedly placed all that I am and all that I have at the service of God? Or have I made a god of passing things?
Even those who lack the “good” things mentioned above run the risk of seeing their lack of them as the source of their earthly misery. This is just as dangerous. The bottom line is that God must be our God, no matter who we are, what we have, how we are perceived, how we look, or what natural gifts we possess. Furthermore, our God-given virtues become the means by which we exercise God’s will in this world, in preparation for the next.
Money, power, notoriety, beauty, and talent are “dangerous” in that they tempt us to make them gods. They become true blessings when they are fully dedicated to the exclusive service of God and His will. Poverty and every worldly misfortune have the same potential for danger and blessing. When poverty or misfortunes in life are embraced and offered to God as a sacrifice for His glory, they produce abundant blessings. When they are disdained and perceived as obstacles to happiness, then we have turned that which we desire into a false god.
Reflect today on how fully you have dedicated your life to God and His holy will. Whether you are more like the rich man or poor Lazarus, hold nothing back from God’s grace. Your entire life, the good and the bad, must be united to Christ for the glory of God the Father. That is the one and only path to true eternal riches.
Lord of superabundance, every good thing comes from You. Please free me from my attachments and desires for the passing things of this world so that my life may become more selfless and sacrificial. I rededicate myself to You and the service of Your holy will so that my eternity will be one of unimaginable blessings. Jesus, I trust in You.
Rooting Out Our Pride
Friday of the Second Week of Lent
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned…” Matthew 21:33–34
Jesus addressed this parable to the chief priests and elders of the people because He loved them. It concludes with Jesus prophesying the fate of these religious leaders: “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.” The religious leaders were deeply rooted in their sins, and this parable was meant to uproot those sins, disturbing the soil of their hearts. Out of hope for their conversion, Jesus, in His mercy, took decisive action in a direct, clear, and bold way.
This vineyard image comes from Isaiah 5:1–7, which identifies Israel as the “vineyard of the LORD of hosts.” The landowner is God, and the people of Judah were His “cherished plant.” God had planted, nurtured, and protected His people. The hedge, the wine press, and the tower all point to the care and providence God had for them, showing that they had been given everything they needed to flourish spiritually.
The problem was the “tenants”—the chief priests and elders of the people who had been entrusted with the care of God’s people. They neglected their duty to bear fruit for God’s glory, perverting His Law and usurping His Kingdom for their own prestige, authority, and comfort. Jesus rebuked them harshly, identifying them as murderers, even of the landowner’s son, a clear reference to Himself. Their attachment to power and outward religiosity blinded them to the deeper demands of justice, mercy, and faithfulness to God’s covenant. This pride led to their rejection of the prophets, John the Baptist, and the Messiah.
Though it might be initially unpleasant to do so, take some time to consider how you struggle with similar sins. Do you forcefully and jealously try to control the people in your life? Are you overly concerned about how people perceive you, elevating your public image dishonestly? Are you greedy, desirous of power for selfish gain, and attached to your own comforts? Or is charity at the forefront of your daily mission with people, especially those most difficult to love, avoiding rejection, rash judgment, and condemnation?
Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His time so strongly because many of them suffered deeply from these sins. He knew that His rebukes would lead some to anger, but He hoped others would repent—and some did. Every rebuke Jesus made was an act of love, and the more deeply entrenched we are in our sins, the more we need this form of direct, confrontational love from our Lord.
Even if the extreme pride of the chief priests and elders is not a major issue for you, pride is likely present in some form. Pride is often the last sin to be purged from our souls, as it is considered the “mother of all sin.” At its core, pride is selfishness, rather than selfless, sacrificial love.
Reflect today on Jesus’ firm rebuke of the religious leaders and His desire to rebuke you. Don’t take offense at this form of love. Be open to it, be humbled by it, experience freedom from it, and rejoice as you see those sins—be they big or small—that keep you from fully surrendering your life to Christ.
Most merciful Lord, though at times You are gentle with Your people, especially when we are broken, fearful, and confused, there are other times when Your love comes in the form of a holy rebuke. Please humble me, Lord, so that I can accept those rebukes and allow Your grace to root out every form of pride with which I struggle. Jesus, I trust in You.
The Freedom to Love and to Sin
Saturday of the Second Week of Lent
“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. Luke 15:11–13
Why did the father in this parable give his wayward son his inheritance? Very few parents would do such a thing. Essentially, the son treated his father as if he were dead. He showed no interest in remaining part of the family, nor did he care about his father’s potential need for him in old age. The son’s only desire was to take the money, leave for a distant land, and live a sinful life, severing his relationship with his father. So why did the father agree to the son’s premature demand for his inheritance?
The father’s extreme generosity represents God’s deep respect for our free will. This parable was addressed to the scribes and Pharisees, who constantly sought to manipulate and intimidate God’s people into submission. But God doesn’t work that way. He allows us the freedom to sin because, without that freedom, we would be unable to love Him authentically.
The symbolism in this parable is clear: the son represents all who reject God, treat Him as though He were dead, abuse the natural and worldly gifts they’ve been given, and stray deeply into sin—symbolized by the “distant country.” When God’s children reject Him and use their free will to sin, He permits them to experience the consequences of their choices. They soon discover that a life of sin away from Him quickly turns chaotic. While sin might provide temporary satisfaction, it inevitably leads to spiritual hunger and destitution.
It was the responsibility of the religious leaders to treat God’s people with the same respect that the father in this story showed his son. This remains the responsibility of every parent, Church leader, and person in authority today. First and foremost, we must respect the free will of others. Authentic conversion and worship cannot come from intimidation or manipulation. Yet, the scribes and Pharisees, through their self-righteousness and condescension, interfered with this essential quality of faith and worship.
Even worse was their attitude toward those who had gone astray. They were indignant that Jesus welcomed tax collectors and sinners. But that was precisely why He came—to invite sinners to repentance. And repent they did. The scribes and Pharisees, however, were too self-absorbed to even consider extending forgiveness to those they deemed unworthy.
When someone you love sins against you, how do you respond? Do you allow the one you love the freedom to make choices, continuing to love that person even in his or her rejection of you? The scribes and Pharisees couldn’t stomach such mercy. But to God, it is a profound act of respect for human freedom, allowing each person to experience the consequences of his or her decisions. And when a sinner begins to suffer those consequences, do you think to yourself, “I told you so”? Or does your heart fill with compassion, making it easy for the sinner to return to God and to you?
Reflect today on your attitude toward sinners. We are all sinners, and none of us has the right to judge, intimidate, or condemn others. Mercy—abundant mercy—is essential if we are to become like the father of the prodigal son. Only mercy that fully respects others, longs for their conversion, and forgives even before being asked can effectively change hearts. Contemplate the heart of our loving Father in Heaven and strive to imitate His holy virtues.
Most merciful God, You have given me the freedom to love You or reject You, to obey Your perfect Law or follow my own will. When I sin, help me endure the consequences, so that in my humiliation, I may recall Your abundant mercy and turn back to You with all my heart. Grant me, too, a heart like Yours for every sinner, that I may be a beacon of Your care for them. Jesus, I trust in You.
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