5th Week of Lent
April 10, 2019
CollectDan 3: 14-20, 91-92, 95
John 8: 31-42
Don Bosco Cristo Rey HS, Takoma Park, Md.
In our Collect
today, after an appreciative note that the God of compassion stirs us to a
sense of devotion, we made 2 petitions:
that he enlighten the hearts of his children—meaning us, of course—and
that he grant a gracious hearing when we cry out to him.
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| by Simeon Solomon |
The prophetic and
gospel readings are related to these 2 petitions. In Daniel the Lord hears the prayers of the 3
young men condemned to a fiery death on account of their fidelity to him
(prayers skipped over in the reading but included in part in the responsory),
and rescues them. The story’s one of
several in Daniel meant to encourage the Jewish people in a time of
persecution. So we pray that we may be
rescued—not so much from temporal threats, altho Christians have to deal also
with those; but especially from the ultimate dangers of infidelity, sin, and
eternal disaster. We pray that God’s
grace always protect us.
In the gospel Jesus
assures his listeners that his word is truth and it sets us free from sin or
safeguards us from sin. His word enlightens
our hearts. His word is the truth that
guides our lives if we will truly be his disciples and remain in his word (John
8:31-32,34,36).
So that’s our prayer
today for ourselves and for the entire People of God: for hearts enlightened by Christ and for a
gracious hearing whenever we’re in need of divine assistance—which is always,
isn’t it?
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