Member Log InPerhaps a bit early with this reflection, yet time (the last I checked) continues to move in only one direction. Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent will soon be here.
Psalm 51 is a prayer of repentance. Known also as “The Miserere”, it was the prayer of David after his affair with Bathsheba. It is well that we should consider it for ourselves from time to time.
Have mercy on me, God, in your goodness; in your abundant compassion blot out my offense. (Ps 51:3)
It’s so easy to get bound by our sinful nature. We make a mistake and hold it against ourselves forever. Someone we love makes what we think is a mistake, and we hold it against them forever. We forget to acknowledge God’s infinite mercy and constant forgiveness in both circumstances. Even when moral questions/sinfulness are not involved, we can feel bad about a certain situation, perhaps how we handled a conflict or managed a task at work. Worse, we may have done everything well, at least to the best of our ability, and still the resolution of matters at hand may be uncomfortable. We can beat ourselves over the head for failures and uncomfortable resolutions until the cows come home, and we’re left only with bruised heads and cows that have no one to tend to them!
These are times when we must come out of ourselves, acknowledge our heavenly Father’s infinite love for us, and beg His mercy. Then we must allow ourselves to appreciate and receive that for which we’ve asked: His love and mercy. We must be quiet, listen and open our hearts.
A clean heart create for me, God; renew in me a steadfast spirit. (Ps 51:12)
Lord, help me to think of You more than I think of my problems. Help me to know that, in loving You, I do all that you ask of me. Help me not to worry about software problems, cutting and pasting, finances, difficult people, and a painful relationship, among other things. Make my heart clean: if I think more about the food I eat (or don’t eat), the problems of others, the mistakes I’ve made, the messes I’ve created, than I think of You and your love for me, my heart is not clean. Help me to know that I can focus my energy on loving and serving You, and trust that You will provide all else. Help me to know that, in loving You, I will always do my best work. Make me steadfast, O God. Give me courage and conviction. Help me to persevere when I feel like quitting.
Cast me not from Your presence, take not Your Spirit from me. (Ps 51:13)
Lord, help me to know that it is Your Spirit that animates my soul. When it seems that You are far away from me, help me to know that the distance exists not because You have withdrawn, but because I have failed to remember that You live in me. Help me to see You in those around me, to know that your Spirit animates their souls as well. Do not judge me in my sinfulness, Lord. Give me the will to be willing to try again!
Restore my joy in your salvation. (Ps 51:14)
Lent is a wonderful time of prayer, reflection, and preparation. God’s way of letting us know of His love for us was to send His Son. In 2005, in the season of Lent, I saw “The Passion of the Christ” for the first time. I was moved completely by the scourging. Shattered, actually. I still cannot contemplate the scene, knowing that His suffering was likely greater than that portrayed, without experiencing emotions, mostly, of overwhelming unworthiness and gratitude. I find it hard to accept that He suffered so much for my sake. Christ is the thread of the tapestry of our lives. Because of Christ we can know true joy amid the worst of suffering. Just as the joy of the first Christmas in Bethlehem led inevitably to the suffering at the scourging pillar, in the events that happened on Calvary, and the glory of the Resurrection, because of God’s gift of Love, we can rejoice even in our suffering. God brings joy always. God blesses us abundantly!
Make it a purposeful Lent. May you know the joy of His love as you do so!
