3rd Week of Lent - Saturday C

In the reading from Hosea, we hear God calling us back to Himself: “Come, let us return to the LORD.” This invitation comes amidst the backdrop of Israel's unfaithfulness, a reminder that God’s mercy seeks our return, through our Lenten rituals and sacrifices which are done with a genuine desire to know and love Him more deeply. God desires love and knowledge over burnt offerings: “For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice.” As sinners, it's easy for us to be like the Israelites, caught up in our routines and outward piety disjointed from the love that must accompany them.

In today’s Psalm, we call out for mercy: “Have mercy on me, O God.” We hear the psalmist’s plea—a prayer not of pride but of profound humility, recognizing personal failings and needing God's cleansing grace. “My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit.” The Lord delights in a heart that is humble—a heart ready to acknowledge its limits and its need for divine assistance.

This leads us to the parable in the Gospel of Luke, where Jesus contrasts the self-righteousness of the Pharisee with the profound humility of the tax collector. The Pharisee prays with pride, listing all his virtues and comparing himself to others with disdain. In contrast, the tax collector stands at a distance, burdened by his sin, and pleads for mercy: “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” Here we see the essence of humility for through this analogy of the tax collector, Jesus is getting us to understand that true justification comes not from our own righteousness, but from our recognition of our need for God’s mercy, who is absolutely and perfectly holy.

Mary, our Mother, exemplifies this humility throughout her life. From the moment of the Annunciation, where she says, “I am the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word,” we see her humble acceptance of God’s will but also her dependence on him. It wasn’t about her. It was about Him. Her song of praise, the Magnificat, proclaims, “He has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.” Mary does not assert her worthiness; rather, she embraces her identity as a servant, trusting absolutely in God’s plan.

Today, let us reflect on how we, too, can live this humility. In a world that often celebrates self-promotion and confidence, humility can feel countercultural. Yet, it is through humility that we allow God to work in us. It opens our hearts to His grace and invites us to return to Him, recognizing our need for His healing and sustenance.
In our prayers, let us ask for the grace to recognize our own shortcomings, to be like the tax collector who humbly asks for God’s mercy. May we avoid the trap of self-righteousness, always striving to grow closer to the Lord through love and knowledge rather than mere actions or appearances.

Let us also seek the intercession of our Blessed Mother, that she may teach us to embrace humility as she did—trusting fully in God’s mercy and allowing that trust to bring transformation into our lives. May our journey back to God be rooted in a heart that is contrite and humble, just as Mary’s heart was.

In closing, let us submit ourselves anew to God’s mercy and grace, believing as Hosea reminds us, that the Lord will come to us “like the rain,” refreshing our spirits and binding our wounds. Amen.