30 March 2020 – Monday of 5th week in Lent – Daniel 13:41c-62

        Sometimes things are not what they seem.  Two elders appear as witnesses against a young woman – it seems to be an open and shut case.  However, with his cunning and intelligence, a young man named Daniel finds out the truth of the matter and helps prove the innocence of this young woman. 
         I have always like the “Anyways Prayer” written by Mother Teresa of Calcutta. I quoted part of this prayer a couple of weeks ago in one of the daily masses.  I would to read the entire prayer today.  The message of this prayer is similar to the message of Daniel – sometimes the ways of the world seem easy to figure out, sometimes we think we know the justice of the world, but, in the end, the values of the Kingdom of God will prevail. 

The Anyways Prayer of Mother Teresa
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.