Tag Archive for ‘forgiveness’
From the back pew: The back nine, and tidying up the scorecard
Mark Steele, who describes himself as the most ordinary of Catholics, writes: Some months ago I received from an old motorcycling days’ Guyanese colleague now resident in Canada, a wonderfully written piece with a golfing flavour called ‘The back nine holes’ which served as a motivation factor for this latest effort. It is actually linked […]
Making Amends
One of the great things about the 12-step program to which I alluded when I wrote about my addiction some time ago is the necessity to make amends to people I have hurt or neglected or bad-mouthed. Or even, as I discovered recently, making amends to people about whom I have long held resentment but […]
Thursday 4 July
Genesis 22: 1-19, Ps. 115, Matthew 9: 1-8 Being brought to light Oh, how our sinfulness paralyses our love! As disciples we need to reflect on this fact. Sometimes we need fellow travellers to bring us to a place where we can overcome sin and ask for forgiveness. Family or community members are good at […]
Vestments and Liturgical Colours
In my community we had a discussion about the colour used on Pentecost Sunday. The Holy Spirit seems to be elusive when it comes to symbols – wind has no colour, doves are white, but flames are portrayed as red. From staring at fires, I know that flames can be all sorts of colours from […]
Thursday 23 May
Ecclesiasticus 5:1-8, Ps 1, Mark 9:41-50 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off The idea of having surgery to remove disease in commonplace – we expect surgeons to cure us, even if it means amputation. Cutting sin from our hearts is similar, and necessary for the health of our souls. We must […]
Tuesday 7 May
Acts 16:22-24, Ps 138, John 16:5-11 Pray for Others One of Christ’s aims in leaving the Holy Spirit to look after us was to provide comfort, not just for those he was leaving behind, but also for those not yet born. Through the faith the Holy Spirit engenders we know we can ask God’s forgiveness […]
Saturday 9 March
Psalm 51, Hosea 5:15-6:6, Luke 18:9-14 When repentance meets forgiveness This is David’s prayer, his confession of sin and his plea for God’s forgiveness. David names his sin – transgression, iniquity, sin, evil. He declares, ‘Against you, you only, have I sinned’ (v. 4). The heart of the sin matter is always sin against God. […]
Saturday 2 March
Psalm 103:1-12, Micah 7:14-20, Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 Bless the Lord Psalm 103 is one of the most beloved of all the psalms. The psalm is wrapped in an envelope of blessing. The cry ‘Bless the LORD, O my soul’ (NRSV) begins and ends the psalm. The word ‘bless’ originally meant to bend the knee before, […]
Monday 25 February
Daniel 9:4-10, Ps.79, Luke 6:36-38 The Generosity of God The love and generosity of our God knows no limits – unless we ourselves impose them. If we are compassionate, non-judgemental and forgiving, not only to others but (often the most difficult) towards ourselves, then we will be open to receive all that God wants to […]
Saturday 16 February
Isaiah 58:9-14, Ps.86, Luke 5:27-32 Improbable friends Tax collectors, in Jesus’ time, were some of the most disliked and distrusted members of society. They weren’t poor (anything but} but drunk or disreputable. They made their money by cheating their fellow countrymen and by serving the occupying power, the Romans. It’s hard to find an exact […]
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