# It Is Better to Give Than to Receive
*2022-03-14*

> Bill and John reflect on the Gospel reading for the second Monday of Lent, emphasizing mercy, the joy of giving, and praying for souls in purgatory and for St. Joseph.

## Gospel Reflection

The Gospel for today (Luke 6:36‑38) calls us to be merciful as our Father is merciful: “Stop judging, and you will not be judged; stop condemning, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and you will receive.” Bill explains that mercy is God’s most distinctive characteristic and that the more we draw on divine life, the more it overflows to us. The passage reminds us that giving opens the way for greater blessings.

## The Joy of Giving

Bill and John discuss how many of us are raised to receive first, but true happiness comes when we learn to give. They note that while it’s natural to take what we need, the Gospel invites us to extend generosity even to strangers and the homeless, following Christ’s higher call.

## Prayers of the Day

The hosts lead the community in several prayers:
• Opening prayer invoking the Source of Life and Divine Mercy.
• Psalm 130 (De Profundis).
• The Apostles’ Creed.
• A prayer for the souls in purgatory, asking Christ’s mercy to relieve their suffering.
• A series of invocations of Divine Mercy, affirming “I trust in you.”
• A prayer for those affected by the war in Ukraine.
• The traditional prayer to St. Joseph, asking his intercession and protection.
• A daily‑action prayer asking God’s guidance in all we do.
• A consecration of a child to the Blessed Virgin Mary, ending with the Hail Holy Queen.

## Looking Ahead

Bill reminds listeners of upcoming feast days: St. Joseph on Saturday (4 p.m. Mass at St. Gregory the Great) and St. Patrick on Thursday, encouraging the community to prepare a{ rosary for St. Patrick.

## Closing Thoughts on Mercy and Giving

Bill concludes that the Gospel’s call to mercy and generosity is not just a moral lesson but a source of abundant grace: the more we give, the more God’s love returns to us.

*Living a merciful, generous life opens us to the overflowing blessings of God’s love.*