Saturday March 29, 2025

---

“Come, let us return to the LORD, for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.” (Hosea 6:1)

---

Good News Reflection for:

Saturday of the 3rd Week of Lent
March 29, 2025

Today’s Readings:

Hosea 6:1-6
Psalm 51:3-4, 18-21
Luke 18:9-14
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032925.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-march-29-2025

The Healing Shadow of Jesus

When is a saint not a sinner?

A saint is anyone who has chosen to follow Jesus to heaven. We are baptized into sainthood. We are all saints! However, Jesus points out in this Saturday’s Gospel reading (Luke 18:9-14) that there’s pride in claiming to do all the right things and using this to prove that we are righteous. A truly holy person knows that he or she can be tempted to sin and continually relies on strength from the Holy Spirit while putting energy into a real effort to be holy.

So let me rephrase the question: When is a saint living out his true identity instead of living like a sinner? When he repents, of course.

In Saturday’s first reading (Hosea 6:1-6), we can identify with the affliction as well as with the desire to return to God: Until we’re healed by his forgiveness, we’re afflicted with the sorrow and regret of realizing how easily we stumble on our journey of faith. We want to be godly, and so, if we really take an honest look at how unlike Jesus we sometimes are, we feel wretched.

How do we cope with feeling so badly about ourselves? Most of us handle it by distracting ourselves from our wretchedness.

This is why Saturday confession lines in many churches are short. We’d rather live in the illusion that we don’t need the Sacrament of Reconciliation. However, the fact is, God doesn’t look at us and see ugly wretches. Remember, Jesus substituted himself for us. He who never sinned took our sins upon himself. When God our Father looks at us, it is through the filter of Christ’s blood. He recognizes us as a holy child who wants to be free of sin. And thus he is very pleased with us.

By placing ourselves behind Jesus, in the protection of his shadow, we have a great advantage.

So be the saint that you truly are by stepping into the confessional to ask Jesus to give you the power of his Holy Spirit to overcome your sins and to avoid them in the future. Go to Mass fully aware of how easily you sin, then receive God’s forgiveness in the Penitential Rite. Finally, go home realizing that you have been empowered in your sainthood through the graces received in Confession and in the Holy Eucharist.

© 2025 by Terry A. Modica

P.S. “The Healing Wounds of Jesus” is my mystical and scientific compilation of how Jesus suffered for you according to the revelations of saints and mystics and by modern scientists. Meditate on the Passion of Jesus @ wordbytes.org/healing-wounds-of-jesus.

Access more in our new Calendar of Reflections.

---

 To distribute the Good News Reflections in your church bulletin or in RCIA or faith sharing groups, please contact us.

 You can also receive this & more faith-builders by text message on your phone.

 Keep it going! This reflection reached you thanks to benefactors. Please support this ministry today.

 Post your prayer request.

 How else can we serve you today? Visit our homepage.

Search more reflections in our continually growing database.

Homebound, Prison & Hospital Ministers are invited to print and distribute them without further permission.

Continue your prayer time with these:
Pray with Saints | Pray the Rosary | Other Prayers | Random Quotes.

 

Order and share Terry Modica's books

Socialize with us at:
        

Please share this with others by inviting them to visit this page. You may also print this for your personal use and you may share the print-out with others.