Saturday the Third Week of Lent

Saturday, March 17, 2012
              The Third Week of Lent

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never forget all his benefits; it is He who forgives all your sins.

First Reading   Hos 6: 1-6

Come, let us return to the Lord.  It is He who has rent, but he will heal us.  He has struck us but he will bind our wounds.  He will revive us after two days;  on the third day he will raise us up to live in his presence.  Let us know, let us strive to know the Lord!  As certain as the dawn is His coming, and his judgement shines forth like the light of day!  He will come to us like rain, like spring rain that waters the earth.
  What can I do with you, Ephraim?  What can I do with you, Judah?  Your piety is like a morning cloud, like the dew that early passes away.  For this reason I smote them through the prophets, I slew them with words of my mouth;  For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. 


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Responsorial Psalm    Ps 51: 3-4, 18-19, 20-21ab

It is mercy I desire and not sacrifice 

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
  in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
  and of my sin cleanse me.

Response

For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
  should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
  a heart contrite and humbled,
  O God, you will not spurn.

Response

Be bountiful, O Lord, to Zion in your kindness
  by rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem;
Then shall you be pleased with due sacrifices,
  burnt offerings and holocausts.

Response



Verse before the Gospel  If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.

Gospel          Lk 18:9-14                   



                        The tax collector went home justified, not the Pharisee.

Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. 
"Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, " O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity, greedy, dishonest, adulterous; or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income."  But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast and prayed, " O God, be merciful to me a sinner."  I tell you, the later went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."