Friday of the Third Week of Lent – March 12, 2021

For every day during Lent, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click HERE for the readings.

Following upon yesterday’s theme of corporate guilt, our first reading from Hosea begins this way: “Return, O Israel, to the LORD, you God; you have collapsed through you guilt.”

We place ourselves, as a nation and as a Church, before God. The more we do this together, the greater is our consolation. In other words, we must not only pray for ourselves, but we must also pray for one another.

To pray for our Church and to beg mercy on our nation is another form of loving our neighbor as ourselves.

Praying opens our heart to God, whom we must love above all things. Prayer opens our heart to the needs of those who share this space with us too.

We ask the Lord’s mercy, for one and for all.