Saturday of the Third Week of Lent

Readings of the Day

Do we humbly seek God's mercy? Do we show mercy to others, especially those we find difficult to love and forgive? 

Each day at Catholic Charities we encounter co-workers, donors, volunteers, and clients. With each interaction we are invited to show God's love, mercy and patience. But this can be very difficult some days. 

Have you ever been trying to get caught up on paperwork, and then the phone rings and it’s someone in need? There you are, getting caught up on the business side of your work, and now you’re interrupted by a cry for help. As you speak with them, you realize that they’ve compounded their troubles by waiting until the last minute to call.  Frustration builds as you look at everything on your desk, while listening to a long story of how they got to where they are but just want to do a quick fix. 

But why is our patience so thin? Why are our needs greater than theirs?  In the parable from today's reading, Jesus teaches that despising one's neighbor separates us further from God.  Who are we to judge the needs of the desperate person on the phone and where it stands in the importance of the day?

When inconveniences start to weigh on us, we’re challenged to not be like the tax collector: self-satisfied, absorbed with our accomplishments, and dismissive of others. Instead, we’re invited to humble ourselves before God, asking for his mercy and help. 

Today's readings are a great reminder that our task at Catholic Charities is to live by God’s grace to navigate the tasks at hand. And as we pray this Lent, let us do so with humility rather than with pride.

Alice Nolan is a member of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Joplin, MO. She volunteers with the Joplin Area Catholic Schools.  

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