Psalm Reflection: The Second Sunday of Lent - Cycle A

“Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.” - Psalms 33

“There is no saint without a past, no sinner without a future."

This phrase, often attributed to Saint Augustine, reminds us of the difference that understanding God’s mercy can make in the spiritual life. When we sin, we can either make a return to the Lord, or we can stay steeped in our separation by failing to seek or accept God’s mercy. 

We can also forget to have mercy on ourselves. We can get so down on ourselves when we sin that we feel unworthy of God’s love and forgiveness, so we isolate ourselves from it. Instead of facing the reality of our sins, we run from them and drive a wedge between ourselves and the Lord. 

We are not sinners striving to be saints. Rather, we are saints who struggle with sin. We were made for Heaven and God desires to give us His mercy so that, whenever we fail, we will be able to return to Him and live in pursuit of eternal life. We should never despair, that is what the Enemy wants. Instead, we should recognize that, in our imperfections, the perfect one is sanctifying us.

"Let no one doubt concerning the goodness of God; even if a person's sins were as dark as night, God's mercy is stronger than our misery." - Saint Faustina

We cannot open ourselves up to God’s mercy if we do not trust Him. If we have a skewed image of God, one of an angry judge, an absentee father, or an evil tyrant, it will be impossible for us to experience the beautiful gift of His mercy. On the other hand, when we realize that God truly is a loving Father, and He desires only what is good and life-giving for us, we will approach Him and all He offers with open arms, like a carefree child running into their father’s arms.

I encounter so many people who get caught up in the particularities of sin, or who get so down on themselves because they cannot overcome the vices and struggles in their lives, that they turn away from God or lash out at Him. The target of their frustration is also the only possible resolution for it. 

Let’s be clear: God does not cause our sin and suffering, but when we experience the deprivation of His grace it makes our capacity to appreciate it even greater. We will never stop being sinners on this side of Heaven. So what do we do with that reality? 

We can be overly hard on ourselves and drive a wedge between us and God.

We can lash out at the Lord and blame Him, when He is not the cause but the antidote.

OR

We can trust in His mercy.

What will you choose to do?

“Suddenly the wave crashed at my feet. … When I looked up, I noticed that a tiny droplet of water had hit the top of my hand. It was so beautiful. It glistened like a diamond in the sun.

The droplet affected me so deeply with its beauty that I felt unworthy of it, and to my own surprise, as I stood there, I threw it back into the ocean.

My odd little peace was broken when I felt the Lord say to me, "Angelica?"

I said, "Yes, Lord?"

"Did you see the drop?"

I said, "Yes, Lord."

"That drop is like all of your sins, your weaknesses, your frailties and your imperfections. And the ocean is like My Mercy. If you looked for that drop, could you find it?"

I said, "No, Lord."

"If you looked and looked, could you find it?"

I said, "No, Lord."

And then He said to me, ever so quietly. "So why do you keep looking?" - Mother Angelica

I am praying for you. Please pray for me and my family, and I will see you in the Eucharist.

Matt

This reflection is based on the Responsorial Psalm for this Sunday, March 1st, 2026, the Second Sunday of Lent: Psalms 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22.