March 02, Monday of second week of Lent - Lessons from A Legend

Daily Divine Word

March 02, Monday of second week of Lent - Lessons from A Legend

Daniel 9: 4b-10, Luke 6: 36-38

The first reading presents to us Daniel’s amazing prayer of forgiveness. He begins, ‘Great and awesome God, you who keep your merciful covenant.’ Great, Awesome, Merciful covenant. Doesn’t this sound unusually to begin a prayer of repentance? Yet, this is an expression of Daniel’s confidence in God. Daniel is certainly certain that God will forgive him and his people.

Daniel was a prophet to people in exile in Babylon. The Israelites had abandoned God Yahweh and landed in exile uprooted from their homeland. They were in pain, shame and agony. Daniel gathers all the people in exile and offers a collective prayer on behalf of his people in exile.

Features of Daniel’s prayer:

Daniel is brutally honest: Daniel is very straightforward and sincere in his prayers, he confesses boldly and honestly – we have sinned, have been wicked, have rebelled and have done evil. Danile does not water down or blame shift instead calls a spade a spade. Honesty is a necessity for repentance and reconciliation.

Daniel identifies himself with his people: Daniel himself was a righteous man (Ezek 14:14 – Daniel is praised as one of the godly men) yet he identifies himself with his people. He does not speak for them instead speaks with them. He speak of people’s sin as his own. Therefore, when I seek forgiveness for my sins, my prayer of forgiveness brings blessings to everyone around/with me. Every forgiveness and reconciliation has both personal and communal dimensions imbedded.

Daniel believes God is compassion and forgiveness. Daniel did not fall into the trap that God is vindictive. He believes that God he is confessing to is loving and merciful father. God would not withhold his compassion and forgiveness. God is not full of compassion and mercy instead God is compassion and mercy.

Jesus says in the Gospel “the measure you give will be the measure you will get back.” Either love or hatred, forgiveness or vengeance, I cannot gather what I have not scattered.

Our Takeaway:

1. Daniel is brutally honest. Honesty is a necessity for repentance and reconciliation.

2. Daniel does not speak for people instead speaks with them. My prayer/act of forgiveness brings blessings to everyone around/with me. Every forgiveness/reconciliation has both personal and communal dimensions imbedded.

3. I cannot gather what I have not scattered.

Wilson SVD