Monday of the Second Week of Lent
(Daniel 9: 4b-10; Luke 6:36-38)
When asked how he was doing, an old priest typically
responded, “Better than I deserve to be.”
Such a remark might be made as a dodge or a deception. However, from this priest, it probably conveyed
humility. The readings today recommend
this virtue.
The passage from Daniel communicates a rare communal
confession. The prophet recognizes the
sins of injustice and idolatry committed by his nation. In the gospel Jesus presumes that his
disciples carry sinful baggage. He tells
them that if they hope to be freed of it, they must acknowledge that they are
no better than others.
Humility and mercy go hand and hand. When we recognize ourselves as no better than
others, we can readily forgive others’ faults.
Like the old priest mentioned above, we should not deceive ourselves in
thinking we are better than others. Even
if we have been able to live relatively good lives, there is a commonness about
sin that make relative differences negligible.
