March 14th, by Mr. Julian Ohizu: Theology Teacher/Campus Minister

March 14, 2022
Mr. Julian Ohizu: Theology Teacher/Campus Minister
Daniel 9:4b-10/Lk 6:36-38
At the beginning of the Gospel of Luke chapter 6, you will notice that it is the question of the
Pharisees that prompts the teachings of today’s Gospel in Luke 6: 36-38. The Pharisees are
frequent images in the whole of Matthew chapter 6. And that brings us to one of the important
messages for today’s readings which is “self-righteousness.” One of the enemies of authentic
Christian life is self-righteousness. Often in the Gospels we see Jesus condemn the Pharisees for
their self-righteousness. The reason why the Pharisees claim to be self-righteous is not because
they see themselves as sinless, but because they always see themselves as insurmountable,
people who are above the Commandments of God, and cannot faulter in them. They always think
that others are the problem of evil in the world while neglecting how every human person is a
victim of original sin, its consequences, and the need for redemption. This is what self-
righteousness is all about. What Jesus hates in the Pharisees is their pride and lack of
compassion for those entrusted to their care. And the same applies to us as well. In the Gospel,
Jesus reminds us that we should extend forgiveness and pardon to others as a sign of our
awareness our own shortcomings and how loving and forgiving God is to us when we seek
pardon for our sins.
The Scripture readings today are appropriate for our Lenten journey.  The prophet Daniel
reminds us that no one is excluded from the fall of Adam and Eve; all of us have sinned; and we
need to ask God to forgive us as the prayer of Daniel demonstrates.  Again, we need to realize, as
the psalmist mentions, that if God treated us in the way we should be treated, then life will be
miserable for us.  The passage from the Book of Daniel also reminds us that we are sinners, no
one excluded; and we need God’s mercy.  The First Reading is a beautiful prayer for each of us
as individuals, and as members of a community of faith, and as part of the human race.  It begins
by acknowledging Who God is: “Great and awesome God, You Who keep Your merciful
covenant toward those who love You. . .”    The prayer of Daniel continues by including a
section of contrition in which it says that we have not done what God has expected of us. The
psalm picks up this theme with the response refrain being: “Lord, do not deal with us as our sins
deserve.”  How true that is.  If God deals with us as our sins deserve, none of us would have a
chance.
This passage is important when we think about accountability and how we treat others. The
Psalmist reminds us that we are fully accountable to God and if God deals with us according to
our sins, we will not survive. This Lent is a period for us to reflect of what that accountability
means for us both as a faith community and as individuals. Jesus reminds all of us, that we must
strive to see the way Jesus sees, and think as Jesus thinks, and act as Jesus acts. These
reflections lead me to realize that we have truly missed the mark and sinned.  We have done what
was wrong.  Yet, our ever-gracious God is willing to forgive us and not treat us as our actions
deserve.