Our hearts are a battleground for good and evil; the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. Due to our concupiscent nature, this line keeps changing place, sometimes it is squeezed one way by evil masquerading as good and sometimes it shifts to allow enough space for righteousness to flourish. The quip "rules for thee but not for me" is often used to critique those in positions of power especially politicians who practise double standards and break their own laws. We are often guilty of judging everyone except ourselves too quickly and unfairly with tainted prejudice and mixed motives. We often give away only what we have in excess and call it charity.

How can we be compassionate and merciful to those who cause us grief, harm, or ill-will and look upon another's afflictions as if it were our own? How can we practise sacrificial loving and benevolent giving? The Gospel reading provides the answer - be as 'your Father is'. Jesus exhorts us to use Divine, not human standards for these corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

The Lenten season invites us to purify our hearts so that the mercy of God can confirm and restore us in Christ, and His bountiful grace work efficaciously in us to help us do what is good, right and just. God cannot be outdone in generosity.