March 15, 2026 ~ 4th Sunday of Lent ~ Year A

Spiritual Reflection

 March 15, 2026 ~ 4th Sunday of Lent ~ Year A (PDF)

Brothers and sisters: You were once darkness
but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.
Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.  Ephesians 5:8-14

 When the good thief was hanging on the cross beside the Redeemer, he probably was aware of the fact that he wasted everything in his life and that he was the worst. In fact, he himself recognized that he suffered justly. He saw in this suffering the consequences of his sins. In spite of this, he made a decision – a profound act of trust in Christ: “Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom’” (Lk 23:42). Those words reflect the attitude of the prodigal son: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers” (Lk 15:18-19).

This is precisely the attitude that God awaits from you.

Perhaps you will know the lowest depth of your misery only at the moment of your death. And then, God will wait for the most important decision in your life: that you want to return.

This will save your life for all eternity.

Your incessant return after every infidelity has to prepare you for this moment. By allowing you your falls, God always desires that you grow in humility and that you discover that with His love He is inclined toward the most profound misery. Precisely as such, He prepares you for the last moment of your life – for the last trial that someday will finally arrive.

S. C. Biela, In the Arms of Mary, pages 105-106.

 References from the Catechism of the Catholic Church 

1695 "Justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God," 13 "sanctified . . . [and] called to be saints," 14 Christians have become the temple of the Holy Spirit. 15 This "Spirit of the Son" teaches them to pray to the Father 16 and, having become their life, prompts them to act so as to bear "the fruit of the Spirit" 17 by charity in action. Healing the wounds of sin, the Holy Spirit renews us interiorly through a spiritual transformation. 18 He enlightens and strengthens us to live as "children of light" through "all that is good and right and true."  

1458 Without being strictly necessary, confession of everyday faults (venial sins) is nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church. 59 Indeed the regular confession of our venial sins helps us form our conscience, fight against evil tendencies, let ourselves be healed by Christ and progress in the life of the Spirit. By receiving more frequently through this sacrament the gift of the Father's mercy, we are spurred to be merciful as he is merciful:  

Whoever confesses his sins . . . is already working with God. God indicts your sins; if you also indict them, you are joined with God. Man and sinner are, so to speak, two realities: when you hear "man" - this is what God has made; when you hear "sinner" - this is what man himself has made. Destroy what you have made, so that God may save what he has made  When you begin to abhor what you have made, it is then that your good works are beginning, since you are accusing yourself of your evil works. The beginning of good works is the confession of evil works. You do the truth and come to the light.  

Questions for Reflection

1.       What is my attitude when I approach the Sacrament of Confession?
2.       How do I see going to the Sacrament of Confession as preparation for the last moment of my life?
3.       How can pondering Our Blessed Mother’s humility help me when preparing to go to Confession? 

Prayer after Sharing 

Thank you, God, for allowing me to see the truth about my weaknesses and how it calls upon the abyss of your merciful Love.