THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE

SATURDAY THIRD WEEK IN LENT: LOVE NOT SACRIFICE

First Reading Hosea 5: 15-6,6

What I want is love, not sacrifice and holocausts Readings

The Lord says this:

They will search for me in their misery. ‘Come, let us return to the Lord.

He has torn us to pieces, but he will heal us; he has struck us down, but he will bandage our wounds; after a day or two he will bring us back to life, on the third day he will raise us and we shall live in his presence. Let us set ourselves to know the Lord; that he will come is as certain as the dawnhis judgement will rise like the light, he will come to us as showers come, like spring rains watering the earth.’ Lectures

What am I to do with you, Ephraim? What am I to do with you, Judah? This love of yours is like a morning cloud, like the dew that quickly disappears. This is why I have torn them to pieces by the prophets, why I slaughtered them with the words from my mouth, since what I want is love, not sacrifice; knowledge of God, not holocausts.

Responsorial Psalm : What I want is love, not sacrifice

Gospel Luke 18-9-14 The tax collector, not the Pharisee, went home justified

Jesus spoke the following parable to some people who prided themselves on being virtuous and despised everyone else: ‘Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector.

The Pharisee stood there and said this prayer to himself, “I thank you, God, that I am not grasping, unjust, adulterous like the rest of mankind, and particularly that I am not like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes on all I get.” The tax collector stood some distance away, not daring even to raise his eyes to heaven; but he beat his breast and said, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”

This man, I tell you, went home again at rights with God; the other did not. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the man who humbles himself will be exalted.’ Reflections

Give me a loving heart God my Father. Father make me know your way. Teach me and direct my path. Give me insight to your word. Make my spirit yearn for you. I want to know you, I ask of you God my Father to be with me. Give me a sincere spirit, a humble heart, a heart full of love and compassion. Father all you ask of me is LOVE. Father for the love you, love of my fellow creatures and things created by you is better than sacrifice. I love you Lord my strength.

Lord Jesus Christ thank you so much for loving me. Lord Jesus I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. My Angel guardian pray for me, be my guide and guard. God's Holy Angels pray for me.

Pray the Holy Rosary: Honor the Mother of Christ the Blessed Virgin Mary. Love her Son Jesus Christ.

Your Birthday Saint: Saint Ludgar, Bishop. May he pray for you as you celebrate your birthday.

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