Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The experience of feeling guilty for having made a mistake or hurt someone is difficult to bear. Sometimes my own weaknesses or frustrations can get in the way of conveying a peacefulness or care for others that I would normally convey when ‘at my best’. Sometimes when I am challenged on my imperfections or failures at loving, I get defensive and am tempted to argue back. I can miss the opportunity to say I am sorry and to deepen my trust in God and relationship with the person I’ve hurt. I forget that through honest prayer, God’s love, acceptance and mercy are ever available.
What a comfort today’s words from Micah bring, that our God removes guilt and pardons sins. We are unconditionally loved by a faithful God. Allowing ourselves to experience God’s caring compassion, can transform us, so that we can, in turn, more compassionately share God’s care with others. What gift that our human failings and need for mercy is recognized when we gather to celebrate the Eucharist - by a time for asking for God’s forgiveness and mercy when we begin the Liturgy of the Word. This need is repeated with deep trust in the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world before Communion. Also, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Lenten season provide special times of facing our need for repentance, forgiveness and growth. Entering into these liturgical moments and seasons of confessing our sins, and relying on God’s transformative healing, empowers us for living the wonderful and challenging gift of being a true family - as daughters and sons of a faithful God, who trust the unbreakable bonds we share.
—Sr. Leanne Jablonski, FMI (Marianist Sister)