Spiritual growth is rarely a matter of sudden, dramatic leaps. Instead, it is a journey of daily consistency, a steady walking with the Word of God that gradually reshapes the heart. For many Catholics, the daily readings provided by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) serve as the primary roadmap for this journey. Today, on this Tuesday of the third week of Lent, March 10, 2026, we find ourselves deep in the season of preparation, looking toward the Paschal Mystery.
As we engage with the scriptures today, we are invited to see how personal holiness is intrinsically linked to the missionary mandate of the Church. The spiritual growth we seek in our quiet moments of reflection is meant to fuel a fire that reaches the ends of the earth. In particular, the readings today challenge us to reflect on the nature of mercy and how that mercy forms the foundation for the work of The Pontifical Mission Societies, specifically through the Society of St. Peter the Apostle.
The Call to Forgiveness: A Reflection on the Gospel
In today’s Gospel from Matthew (18:21-35), Peter approaches Jesus with a question that many of us have likely pondered: "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Peter, perhaps thinking he is being generous, offers a limit. Jesus’ response: "seventy-seven times": shatters the concept of limits on mercy. He then tells the parable of the unforgiving servant, a man who was forgiven an astronomical debt by his king but refused to forgive a small debt owed to him by a fellow servant.
This scripture is a cornerstone for spiritual growth because it addresses the core of our relationship with God and neighbor. When we meditate on this daily, we realize that our capacity to be missionaries: to go out and share the Good News: is dependent on our realization of how much we have been forgiven. A missionary is, at heart, a beggar telling other beggars where to find bread.
In the context of global missions, this "mercy without limits" is what drives clergy and lay missionaries to enter difficult territories, often facing opposition or indifference. They do so because they have encountered a God who does not count their sins, and they are compelled to share that liberation with others. This is the "missionary spirit" in its purest form: the overflow of a heart that has been transformed by the Word.
The Foundation of Global Mission: The Society of St. Peter the Apostle
When we speak of the missionary spirit, we must look at the practical structures that allow the Gospel to take root in new soil. One of the most vital arms of The Pontifical Mission Societies is the Society of St. Peter the Apostle.
While the daily readings provide the spiritual "food" for our growth, the Society of St. Peter the Apostle provides the "formation" for the leaders of the global Church. The history of this society is a testament to the power of a single spiritual insight translated into action. In 1889, in Caen, France, Stephanie Bigard and her daughter Jeanne received a letter from a missionary bishop in Japan. He expressed a dire need: he had young men who wished to become priests, but he lacked the funds to train them.
The Bigards did not just pray; they acted. They recognized that for the Church to truly flourish in mission territories, it could not rely indefinitely on foreign missionaries. It needed a local, indigenous clergy: men who knew the language, the culture, and the hearts of their own people. This realization led to the birth of the Society of St. Peter the Apostle.
Today, this society supports the education of seminarians and religious novices in mission dioceses across Africa, Asia, and Oceania. When we support this work, we are participating in the "Christian maturity" that the USCCB identifies as a goal of spiritual growth. We are moving beyond our own spiritual needs and looking toward the sustainability of the Universal Church.
Connecting Spiritual Maturity to Mission
The USCCB identifies four dimensions of spiritual development: the call to holiness, the call to community, the call to service, and the call to Christian maturity. The daily readings act as a springboard for all four.
- The Call to Holiness: By reflecting on the daily readings, we align our will with God’s will. As we see in today’s readings, holiness is not just about avoiding sin, but about actively embodying the mercy of the Father.
- The Call to Community: The readings remind us that we are part of the Mystical Body of Christ. When we pray with the USCCB texts, we are praying the same words as Catholics in Nairobi, Tokyo, and Rome.
- The Call to Service: True spiritual growth always leads to outward action. In the mission territories, this service is often rendered by local priests who serve as the "hands and feet" of Christ in areas of extreme poverty or conflict.
- The Call to Christian Maturity: Maturity involves taking responsibility for the growth of the Church. This is where our support for the Society of St. Peter the Apostle becomes a spiritual practice. It is a recognition that the "debt" of grace we have received must be repaid by investing in the future of the faith.
The Role of Local Clergy in the Missionary Mandate
The mission of the Church is not merely to "do good works" but to plant the Church where it does not yet exist. The most effective way to do this is through the formation of local clergy. A priest who is a son of the soil has a unique ability to inculturate the Gospel. He understands the nuances of local traditions and can navigate the social complexities of his community in ways a foreigner might struggle to do.
By focusing our Lenten spiritual growth on these themes, we begin to see the USCCB readings as more than just a daily ritual. They become a call to solidarity. When we read about the apostles being sent out, we should think of the seminarians currently studying in places like Nigeria, Vietnam, or Papua New Guinea. These men are the modern-day successors to that apostolic mission, and they rely on the prayers and financial support of the global Catholic community.
For those interested in the specific history and current impact of this mission, more information can be found at: https://pontificalmissions.org/who-we-are/the-society-of-st.-peter-the-apostle.
Practical Steps for Daily Spiritual Growth
To integrate these missionary values into your daily routine using the USCCB readings, consider the following approach:
- Read the Text Twice: First, read for personal instruction (What is God saying to me?). Second, read with a missionary heart (How does this Word apply to those who have never heard it?).
- Identify the Theme of Mercy: Especially during Lent, look for how the readings highlight God's mercy. Remember that every person in the world deserves to encounter that mercy.
- Pray for a Specific Mission Territory: Each day, pick a country where the Church is in its infancy. Offer your reflection on the readings for the seminarians and clergy in that region.
- Reflect on Stewardship: Spiritual growth should lead us to a "poverty of spirit" that makes us generous. Consider how your Lenten almsgiving can support the formation of local priests who will spend their lives bringing the sacraments to the faithful.
Conclusion: From the Word to the World
The daily readings of the USCCB provide us with the spiritual framework to grow in faith, but that growth is not an end in itself. It is a preparation for mission. As we journey through this Lenten season, let us be mindful of the servants who have not yet heard the King's message of mercy. Let us support the work of The Pontifical Mission Societies and the Society of St. Peter the Apostle, ensuring that every community has a shepherd to guide them.
Our growth in holiness is the world's gain. When we forgive "seventy-seven times," we mirror the heart of God, and when we support the formation of local clergy, we ensure that the light of the Gospel continues to shine in every corner of the globe.
– Fr. Deji