NEW BEGINNINGS (2)

NEW BEGINNINGS (2)

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

Be in your prayer space, follow the usual steps and settle into silence.

Take a couple of gentle, slow and deep breaths…becoming aware of your breath going in and out… stay focused on this breath of life……

Breathe in all that is of God and from God…all that is true, honest, pure, admirable, noble, decent, virtuous, worthy of praise, good, loving, kind – all that deserves respect..

Breathe out all that is not of God and from God……..

Settle into silence, into peacefulness, into profound silence, into pure joy. Keep listening in quietness, stillness and serenity.

Come to that place, that space within, that place of deep silence – Solitude…to just being here and now, without having to accomplish something.

Now from the depth of your heart begin to wish your mind well……

For all the harm I have done to myself, knowingly or unknowingly, I forgive myself……

For all the harm I have done to others knowingly or unknowingly I ask forgiveness……

For all the harm others have done to me, knowingly or unknowingly, I forgive them…..

Keep saying these words in your heart for some time

Begin Again…

Cleanse me from my hidden faults……

Restrain me from wanton (undisciplined, self-indulgent, hard to control, presumptuous) sins and let them not rule over me………..

May I be blameless and innocent……

May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart find favor before you, O Lord… (Ps. 19:14-15)

Keep saying these words in your heart for some time

Our last meditation was on the special name God has for each of us. God chose us and calls us by name and continues to call us in this place, at this moment. We continue to reflect on the name that God has for us.

DEAR LORD, SOMETIMES, I FEEL DEFINED BY THOSE ASPECTS OF ME

THAT FEEL WEEK AND VULNERABLE. SPEAK, LORD, YOUR WORD, WHICH WILL DEFINE ME. GIVE ME THAT NAME WHICH WILL IDENTIFY ME. AMEN.

God gives us a new name: Forgiven and Graced! Listen to him calling you!

Your offences, your sins, I remember no more! (Isaiah 43:25)

As far as the east is from the west, So far has he put our transgressions! (Ps. 103:12)

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. And he was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods but he could never hit the target. And getting a little discouraged; he headed back to dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma’s pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let fly, hit the duck square in the head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved. In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile, only to see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch that day grandma said, “Sally, let’s wash the dishes.” But Sally said, “Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today, didn’t you Johnny?” And then she whispered to him, “Remember, the duck?” So Johnny did the dishes. Later Grandpa asked if the children, wanted to go Fishing, and Grandma said, “I’m sorry, I need Sally to help make supper.” But Sally smiled and said, “Well, that’s all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help.” And she whispered again, “Remember, the duck?” So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally’s, he finally couldn’t stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he killed the duck. She knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, “Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing. But because I love you, I forgave you. But I was just wondering how long would you let Sally make a slave of you.”

I don’t know what’s in your past. I don’t know what one sin the enemy keeps throwing up in your face. But whatever it is, I want you to know something. Jesus Christ was standing at the window. And He saw the whole thing. But because He loves you, He has forgiven you. Perhaps He’s wondering how long you’ll let the enemy make a slave out of you. The great thing about God is that He not only forgives, but He forgets. (MICAH 7:19) He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. God Bless You.

BE STILL FOR A FEW MOMENTS

The kindness of the Lord is from eternity to eternity,

Toward those who fear him. Ps.103:17

Yahweh knows what we are made of;

Yahweh remembers that we are dust. Ps. 103:14

Anyone who has ever done cleaning knows that dust must be handled carefully, even delicately. If not, it easily breaks up and scatters. The Psalmist reminds us that God relates to people gently, tenderly. God handles us delicately. God knows that we are soft, fragile, vulnerable, easily broken – much like a dust ball.

When we are discouraged and feeling, deeply, the pressures of life, it is good to remember: God knows how much we can handle – God knows what we are made of. With God all things become possible.

Remember…    God pardons all your iniquities, heals all your ills…..

God redeems your life from destruction…..

God crowns you with kindness and compassion….. Ps.103:3-5

SO, there is no reason for…

Memories to stay damaged……

Resentments to grow…………………

Joy to be stifled……………………………..

Past to be hurting………………………………..

Future to be fearful…………………………………….

Guilt and shame to build up inside……………….

Many place more trust in the absolution of the priest than in the compassion of God. This is what Perugin, an Italian painter of the Middle Ages was tempted to do when he was dying. He decided that he would not go to confession if, in his fear, he was seeking to save his skin. That would be sacrilege and an insult to God.

His wife, who knew nothing of the man’s inner disposition, once asked him if he did not fear to die un-confessed. Perugin replied, “Look at it this way, my dear: My profession is to paint and I have excelled as a painter. God’s profession is to forgive and if he is good at his profession, as I have been at mine, I see no reason to be afraid”.

Prayer of devotee to the Lord Vishnu…..

Lord, I ask you to pardon me for three major sins:

First, I went on pilgrimage to your many shrines, oblivious of your presence everywhere;

Second, I so often cried to you for help, forgetting that you are more concerned than I am about my welfare;

And finally, here I am asking for forgiveness when I know that our sins are forgiven before we commit them.

Gently, reflectively, prayerfully read the following story…..

As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls. Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles. An Angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life. But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in everyday life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all. I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened. My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air.

Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn’t had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness, and death, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me. And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.

I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes. Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, “Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.” May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through.

Now slowly, gently raise your quilt to the light. Let the light shine through and heal and fill the holes. Allow the light of Jesus to touch, to embrace, to fill, to heal, and transform your life, your whole self into his image!

Remember……..    God pardons all your iniquities, heals all your ills.

God redeems your life from destruction.

God crowns you with kindness and compassion….. Ps.103:3-5

Fr. Gus Tharappel, msfs