For so long I had lived a double life pretending to be this perfect righteous man. But when I surrendered to God, became humble enough to ask for help and accepted that Jesus is my salvation, I began to have a true relationship with Him. I was also able to find true fellowship and meaningful relationships with those who also struggle with addiction, compulsions, and unhealthy attachments. God showed me that we are only righteous through Him and for Him. It is amazing how Jesus becomes present at every meeting when people share. He is there with us sinners and broken-hearted. At the moment when we all recite The Lord’s Prayer, we can feel His presence, realizing that He is “sitting at our table” with us.

The Gospel acclamation that the “Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives” is a beautiful reminder of how we are to bring our experience, strength, and hope to those who are still suffering—that we are called to bring them to the table of our Lord where He waits to heal all of us.

Reflection Questions

• How did you feel when you first accepted that you had a problem and needed help? How did Jesus lift the accompanying feelings of unworthiness or shame?
• How are you currently bringing your experience, strength, and hope to those who are suffering from addiction, compulsions, or unhealthy attachments?

Daily Mass Readings

First Reading: 1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
Gospel: Mark 2:13-17

Reflection by Juan Carlos P.