The joy of being forgiven

Today we take a prayerful look at Psalm 32, which expresses the joy of being forgiven. This psalm is often called a “repentance psalm” and yet the mood is joyful. The psalmist begins in pain because he had not confessed his sin: I kept it secret and my frame was wasted. I groaned all day long for night and day your hand was heavy upon me. (vv. 3-4). Can you relate to that feeling, when the guilt of unconfessed sins is painful and oppressive.

The sinner repents and acknowledges his sins. The Hebrew verb here has a wide range of meanings: recognizes, becomes aware of, admits to, among others. Haven’t there been occasions in our lives where we have done something that we could not bring ourselves to believe was sinful, but as time passes and we grow in understanding and wisdom, we get to the point where, finally, we are able to acknowledge that we have sinned? Immediately 3 things happen according to this psalm:

acknowledgment --> confession --> forgiveness  (v. 5)

And then at long last, the psalmist is able to recover the happiness and joy that was lost by sinning, and he is able to proclaim the Lord’s goodness:

So let every good man pray to you

in the time of need.

The floods of water may reach high

but him they shall not reach.

You are my hiding place, O Lord;

you save me from distress.

(You surround me with cries of deliverance.) (v. 6-7)

And now it is the Lord who speaks of His care for His beloved children. Read these lines as a promise made explicitly to you:

I will instruct you and teach you

the way you should go;

I will give you counsel

with my eye upon you. (v. 8)

. . .

Many sorrows has the wicked

but he who trusts in the Lord,

loving mercy surrounds him. (v. 10)

A fitting verse for meditation during this Jubilee Year of Mercy.

God bless you!

If you love, then DO

Commentary on John 21:15-19, the Gospel for Friday of the 7^th Week of Easter (Year II):

I remember the time when I read this passage and it struck my emotions and I was given the gift of tears. (Well, actually, the damn broke!) To think of it. Peter had denied Jesus, had sinned horribly and in a way which humiliated him, as our sins so often do.

Jesus spoke not a word of reproach. I am reminded of the father’s actions in the parable of the prodigal son, who also spoke no reproach but rather embraced his son and dressed him in fine clothes and proclaimed a feast to celebrate his return.

Not a word of reproach to the miserable sinner. Just this: Do you love me?

I, a poor miserable sinner, stand before the Lord and confess my sins and He replies, Do you love me? And He askes this question knowing full well that yes, I do love Him, even when I go against His wishes and depart from His way and violate His commandments. Even when I do things that hurt others, or am insensitive to others’ needs or neglect to provide something that is needed, something that I easily could have given. Even with all of this, I know that I do indeed love Him. I have failed Him but I love Him.

That must certainly make sense to any parent with wayward children. That is also true when our friends might let us down. They still love us, but their love-capacity was on overload, or even turned off for a time.

Do you love me?

Do you love me?

Do you love me?

Three times the same question to Peter, and each positive answer from him wipes away his three horrible sins. He got the point clearly and was saddened by the third question because he understood why it was asked three times. He was convicted not by a judge, but by the love of the divine Lover.

Do you love him?

Jesus reply was very simple: Go and do something about it. Realize that every single person in the world is part of Jesus’ flock. Every nationality, every race, every circumstance. Do something for them, however that may be possible in your own personal world. Show your love by what you do.

Even the most simple of gestures. Remember that Jesus taught that if we give so much as a cup of water to someone who needs it, we have gained our reward in heaven. So don’t wait for some fantastic opportunity to make a grand gesture. Look for the simple things. Pray to become more attentive, because if you are like me, there are a thousand little needs that I pass by without even giving them a thought.

Lord, what shall I do?

He will answer this question for you just as he did for Peter. It may be something small and seemingly insignificant. It may be your very life? Just be attentive and all shall be well.

God bless you.

Feeble promises

Tuesday of Holy Week

The Gospel of the Day: John 13:21-23,36-38.

I will lay down my life for you. ß Peter’s promise to the Lord.

We who know what will happen soon look with pity on Peter’s promise—a promise he will not be able to keep. His heart is in the right place, but his human weakness will not provide the courage he would need to be able to make good on his promise. The ironic point, however, is that eventually Peter will lay down his life for his Lord, but a lot will have to happen until that moment comes to pass. Right now, Peter isn’t capable, isn’t strong enough, and although he does have a good heart, he doesn’t have the Holy Spirit yet, and he also hasn’t yet undergone the experience of bitter failure and the forgiveness that will follow.

So right now, Peter makes a feeble promise, not knowing what the future will bring.

Have you ever made a promise that you weren’t able to keep?  Think about it. Don’t beat yourself up, but look at your failure compassionately. What was operating at the time, despite your wish to be able to fulfill the promise? Have you prayed for forgiveness---now would be a very good time if you haven’t.

What’s more, how did your experience of failure serve to purify you, to strengthen you, to make you more compassionate when faced with the weakness of others.

This might also be a time for you to look with compassion at anyone who may have broken a promise to you, and to forgive, even if you don’t fully understand what happened.

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Apply that to yourself and then to anyone who may have offended or hurt you. You will find peace if you can do this.

God bless you

Sin in the soul hurts the body

I am going to turn to the psalms frequently as the days go on, because the words of the psalms are effective invitations to deeper reflection and also to deeper prayer. Psalm 6, which we will consider today, is often called a Psalm of Repentance, of turning back to the Lord. It is in this sense that I read the following:

Return, Lord, rescue my soul. (Psalm 6:5; Grail translation)

Return, Lord: Several days ago we considered how the Lord is always in us and with us, and that when he seems far from us it is often because we have moved away, not Him. In this light, what does it mean to ask the Lord to return? Has the Lord gone away and we beg him to come back to us, or is it rather that we have moved away, and now we wake up and make ready to draw near again?

And how is it that we have moved away? Through sin, perhaps, or through entertaining certain temptations to sin? Or is it simply that our lives have once again gotten so distracted that we have forgotten that every moment of every day, we are walking with God?

And so I suggest that when we pray, Return, Lord, we are actually praying Help me to come back to you. Help me focus my awareness on you once again.

Rescue my soul: Read in the context of Psalm 6, a psalm of repentance for someone racked with guilt, we are asking the Lord to rescue us from bodily and spiritual pain. The Psalmist is sick and discouraged. Different translations say it differently:

Grail translation: Have mercy on me Lord, I have no strength; Lord heal me, my body is racked; my soul is racked with pain.

RSV translation: Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled. My soul is also troubled.

The revised New American Bible (the one used at Masses) is even more dramatic: Have pity on me, Lord, for I am weak; heal me, Lord, for my bones are trembling; in utter terror is my soul.

Notice the close correlation between the state of the soul and the state of the body. Have you found this to be true in your own life at times? Does being in a state of sin have its effect on your own health, your own body?

Conclusion: There are times in all of our lives when our sinfulness has brought us to our knees and we can identify with the words of the psalmist. If this is not such a time in your life, then pray it for someone who is suffering in body, mind or spirit because of guilt. At the same time, however, remember that this is the Year of Mercy, and that the Lord will lift you from your knees and forgive and restore you so that there will be no more pain, no more suffering.

And if necessary, go to confession to get the source of your own pain healed.

God bless you!

You will be made worthy

Today I return to the hymn I posted a few days ago (which is repeated at the end of this reflection). Today we look at the second verse:

We cannot fish the ocean’s depth with nets shrunk by fear.

We need the gift of greater faith when we your summons hear.

And, if we plead unworthiness for what your call demands,

Then may we trust you’ll cleanse and calm our soiled, unsteady hands.

Just the other day we read about Peter falling at Jesus’ feet and saying “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” Jesus didn’t even listen to his excuse—or rather, I should say, he looked beyond Peter’s excuse and could see just what sort of man Peter would become as a result of his discipleship and God’s grace.

Sometimes, I think, he looks beyond our excuses as well. When I first read this verse I couldn’t help thinking of Isaiah 6:1-8 which was the first reading the same day we read about Peter. Like Peter was fearful after hearing the Lord teach; Isaiah was given a vision of the glory of God, a vision that we recount when we sing the Sanctus at every Mass. His reaction was similar to Peter’s: “I am doomed! I am a man of unclean lips living among a people of unclean lips.” The Lord sent an angel to him with an ember from the altar and put it to his lips and declared that Isaiah was not cleansed and purged. Then the Lord asked, “Whom shall I send,” and Isaiah readily replied, “Send me.”

What is the basis or your unworthiness, your impurity, your sinfulness? Remember that God looks beyond all of that when He issues a summons to us, a summons that most often comes through the ordinary things in our lives, or a request for help from someone, or a need that we come to recognize as we grow in faith. Don’t let your excuses, or your Critic (see the reflections for 1/22 and 1/23) hold you back. Don’t let any of that “shrink your nets,” as the hymn so poetically says.

Answer the call. God will make you worthy. He will cleanse you. He will strengthen you. He will empower you. And in this, I speak from personal experience, from experiences that have happened over and over again in my life, in ways big and small.

God bless you.

The hymn:

From shallow waters call us, Lord, from safety near the shore,

And bid us launch upon the depths where faith is tested more.

Let not past failures hope destroy nor caution paralyze,

But help us follow where you lead and wait for Love’s surprise.

We cannot fish the ocean’s depths with nets shrunk small by fear.

We need the gift of greater faith when we your summons hear.

And, if we plead unworthiness from what your call demands,

Then may we trust you’ll cleanse and calm our soiled, unsteady hands.

We dare to launch on unknown seas and cast our nets abroad,

For you have bid us grasp by faith the promises of God.

O Christ, you crossed the same wide seas you send us now to sail;

Be present when we reach the depths with strength that does not fail!

For neither fear nor scorn nor death could turn you back to land.

You knew no storms could carry you beyond your Father’s hand.

Your cross seemed but a fragile craft upon an angry sea,

Till Easter dawn brought light and peace through Love that sets us free!

Herman G. Stuempfle, Jr. 1973-2007. © 2006, GIA Publications, Inc.

All rights reserved. Used with permission.

For permission for congregational copies or digital projection,

call onelicense.net at 1-800-663-1501

Muhammad on forgiveness

There are certain religious teachings that are common to most, if not all, spiritual traditions. An example: God is love. If you search the various traditions you’ll find the same teaching expressed in different ways. The name given for these teachings is perennial wisdom and there are several books available that offer texts and thoughts that are part of this perennial wisdom. One has to be careful, though, because the authors or editors of such books often have a decidedly bias against organized religion. An example: a book I’m reading is entitled Perennial Wisdom for the Spiritually Independent. ('Independent of what?' I have to ask.) As I read the book, which includes many quotations from the Old and New Testaments, I find things that help reinforce my own faith or help my prayer and meditation, and I simply leave the rest behind. (Which is the same thing you should be doing with these reflections: take what touches you and leave the rest.)

Anyway, I found a passage from the writings of Muhammed that touched me so deeply I’ve decided to share it with you. Notice, if you will, that we’ve already spoken about what it has to say, but the passage says it so beautifully that it has been an inspiration to me and perhaps to you as well. Here it is:

“O humans, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me,

     I shall forgive you for what you have done,

         and I shall not mind.

O humans, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky

     and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me,

         I would forgive you.

O humans, were you to come to Me

     with sins nearly as great as the earth,

     and were you then to face Me,

       I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great.”

from Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, quoted in Perennial Wisdom, p. 143

Never be discouraged

From the second reading on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord:

God saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

not because of any righteous deeds we had done,

but because of his mercy. (Titus 3:5)

It is all about the mercy of God through Jesus Christ, and it is good for us to reflect on this during this Year of Mercy.

We do not connect with the Lord through our good deeds and virtues---these, too, are gifts of his grace and mercy. Our connection with the Lord depends wholly on our awareness of our own iniquity and weakness. Trappist Abbot André Louf said it so beautifully in one of his talks about living in community:

“. . . we should identify ourselves with the others in our common frailty in order to reach, from this point of departure, the salvation given us by Jesus. De profundis—‘out of the depths.’ For this is the Good News, this is the Church, and nothing else. Jesus came for these sinners, these sinners that in fact we are, and not for the righteous that we thought we were, that we hoped to become or appear to be, secure at the heart of the Christian community. There is no Good News without the proclamation of the forgiveness of sin.”   (In the School of Contemplation, 2015, Liturgical Press, p. 44. The emphasis is mine.)

And to this I simply add: We must never be discouraged about what we discover about ourselves. Never be discouraged by our weaknesses or failings or bitter mistakes---especially as we grow in the spiritual life, because our own growth sometimes causes to look with dismay and even disgust at the follies and iniquities of our earlier lives.

The other day I knelt in prayer before the Manger asking God to remove a particular weakness from me, but when I heard the reading at Mass today I realized that what is most important is not the removal of a weakness as much as the mercy that such a weakness impels me to ask for.

As Saint Benedict put it: “Never lose hope in God’s mercy.” (Rule of St. Benedict 4:74)

He will complete His work for you

Once again we turn to the prophet Isaiah for our Advent meditation. This passage is filled with promise for all of us:

For just as from the heavens

the rain and snow come down

and do not return there

till they have watered the earth,

making it fertile and fruitful,

giving seed to him who sows

and bread to him who eats,

So shall my word be

that goes forth from my mouth;

it shall not return to me void,

but shall do my will,

achieving the end for which I sent it.  (Isaiah 55:10  NAB translation)

The interpretive key to this passage, for me, is my word, which reminds me of  the beginning of the Gospel of John: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.

The Word is Jesus Christ, come down from heaven.

He waters the earth: we are the earth, thirsting for God all the days of our lives. The water that Jesus brings is the living water that he promised to the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. He promises that if we drink of this water we shall never again thirst. Our thirst will be satisfied with the coming of the Lord. What is dry and cracked and barren in our lives will be made fertile, and bear fruit—perhaps things which you have never even imagined up until this point in your life.

Christ will come to do the will of the Father, and achieve the end for which He was sent: our salvation, our healing, His forgiveness, His grace and truth, His mercy and compassion, and His love for you which is so great that He died for you—you alone, if necessary.

And then, having achieved all of this, He will return to the Father. And your life will never again be the same.

And so, no matter where you are at this point in time—whether you are standing at the peak of a mountain which you have struggled to climb or whether you are lost in a pit or in a valley of near-despair, consider this passage and realize that Jesus Christ is being sent into the world—and to you—to achieve His Father’s purpose for you in your life.

Some of you may already have had evidence of this in your life; some of you may be waiting for the gift to touch you and transform you. All of you—no, all of us—are once again promised a great and wonderful gift.

Celebrate the coming of this gift, and your Advent will be blessed. And your Christmas will be filled with a delight that no one can take from you.  God bless you!

Tomorrow will be my last post for 2015, and I will resume posting again on January 3, 2016. Thank you for reading these reflections and thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Please spread the word, post these reflections on your own timelines, and send me email addresses for my mailing list.

Thank you so much.

Speak tenderly to yourself

Every Advent I like to spend some prayerful time reading and re-reading a section of the book of the prophet Isaiah, chapters 46-55, which are often referred to as  “The Book of Consolation.”  If you haven’t discovered this beautiful section of the Bible, perhaps this Advent you can explore its riches.

Isaiah 40:1-2  immediately sets the tone: Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to [Jerusalem] and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

Once again, I encourage you to make the scriptural passages more personal and direct by changing the words in brackets to your own name.

Just a few things to notice from these opening verses:

·         The prophet is to speak tenderly. This is particularly important because so often we speak to ourselves in ways that are not tender, don’t we? Perhaps today you can spend some time speaking tenderly to yourself, and then as a result, perhaps you can find ways to speak tenderly to those around you.

·         “[her] warfare is ended.” Your warfare is ended. Where and how are you at war? With yourself? with others? The voice which speaks tenderly puts an end to the wars we wage.

·         “[her] iniquity is pardoned. Certainly, for serious matters we need to have recourse to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, but there are so many other matters in our life that God pardons almost before we even ask.

·         “that [she] has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” Historically, this addresses the exile of Israel which they were enduring at the time the passage was written. If we personalize it, however, we might think of the consequences of our sins of both omission and commission. When we sin, we are the ones who get hurt in one way or another, either immediately or in the long term. The passage might be saying to us, “OK. Enough of that.” Let the tender voice of the Lord reach through our darkness and bring light and healing where we need it the most.

We’ll continue with our reading of The Book of Consolation next time.

Blessed Advent to you.

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night

Today we consider the 6^th verse of O Come, O come, Emmanuel:

O come, O Dayspring from on high,

And cheer us by your drawing nigh;

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,

And death’s dark shadow put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel will come to you,

O [Israel].

The word Dayspring evokes the closing lines of a prayer known as the Benedictus, which is sung in monasteries and convents and in the Liturgy of the Hours every morning at the end of Morning Prayer.

The Benedictus is better known as the Canticle of Zechariah, the prophecy of the father of John the Baptist when his lips were opened and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. It begins like this,

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and brought redemption to his people.

The canticle goes on to speak of John the Baptist and his role in preparing the people for the coming of the Lord:

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

to give his people knowledge of salvation

through the forgiveness of their sins,

because of the tender mercy of our God

by which the daybreak from on high will visit us

to shine on those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow,

to guide our feet into the path of peace.  (Luke 1:76-79)

 Can you see how the words of the Benedictus inspired today’s verse from the Advent hymn?

In all of this, I believe the key words are forgiveness, and  tender mercy. And in this, perhaps the verse (and the Benedictus) challenges us to ask for forgiveness for our sins, either through the Sacrament of Reconciliation (most especially) or in our regular daily prayer. Could you perhaps focus on some sin, temptation or weakness that calls down upon you “the gloomy clouds of night”?

It is time for that night to come to an end. Focus on the light offered through the Advent hymn, verse 6, and also in the Benedictus. Be very specific in your prayer, and gently but ruthlessly honest in your examination of conscience. And may you know the coming of the Light as you are guided by Our Lord to move you into the path of peace.

Blessed Advent to you.

All Souls' Day: Why we pray for the dead

I have my own personalized way of explaining the necessity of a final purification after death, and why it is important for us to pray for the dead. I offer it here for what it is worth.

Let’s start with a question: If you were to die tonight in your sleep, are you ready to enter heaven and the presence of God completely purified without any stain or blemish, with all things settled in your life? Are you completely reconciled to the people in your life? Are you free from your weaknesses and from your failings? Are all of your sins forgiven and are you free from the burden of guilt that we all carry with us for whatever reasons there may be?

You were created in the image and likeness of God (see posts from June 2014 for more discussion of this). Is that image clear and clean and spotless?

Or do you need more time?

That, in a nutshell, is my explanation.

If I die tonight, please pray for me. I’d appreciate it and I know I need it.