Fasting – from lack to fullness
THE WORD IN LENT 2026 – TUESDAY THIRD WEEK
March 10 – Daniel 3: 25, 34-43; Matthew 18: 21-35
From lack to fullness – that is the project of our reflection for
this week. And the Word yesterday invited us to look at the close connection
between this fullness and humility… the movement towards fullness is
essentially a movement from hardheartedness to humility, we reflected. Today,
we have the Word indicating to us a formidable sign of this humility – a
contrite heart, a broken spirit… which is diametrically opposed to
hardheartedness; a heart of stone that has to be replaced with the heart of
flesh.
The first element of this sign is the readiness to recognise our
imperfections. At times we find it so had to say that we can be imperfect – we
either think whatever we do is right or we are convinced that what we feel is
right is absolutely right for everyone. This not only leads to an arbitrariness
but also to a haughtiness that makes me consider everyone else subject to my
judgement.
A second element of this sign is the admission of our
imperfections. Even when we recognise a glitch within us, we might sometimes
try so hard to hide it or cover it up that we end up reinforcing it and making
it stronger than before and more harmful that earlier. Only a contrite heart
will enable me to admit my mistake and ask for pardon, admit my imperfection
and look for ways to grow up, admit my folly and make me submit myself to the
graciousness of the other and that of the Other.
The third essential element of this sign is, as a just follow up
of admitting my imperfection, permitting the imperfection of the other. A
sincerely contrite heart will certainly recognise the contrition of the other.
An honestly broken spirit will readily sense the brokenness of the other. An
authentically humble person will respect with great regard a person who seeks
forgiveness. This is the message that Jesus wants us to behold from the parable
he narrates today – that we become persons who measure up to the forgiveness
and compassion we have received from the merciful Lord, by being ourselves
merciful towards the others.
Yesterday we reflected on the fact that humility alone can help us
understand the reality of how we keep ourselves away from the absolute mercy of
God, through our hearts of stones… when we allow this heart of stone to be
replaced by a heart of compassion, we move definitively from lack to fullness.