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"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength."
- and
"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.
- Corrie, Ten Boom
(Notice what fears and anxieties you hold and surrender them all to the care of God.)
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AM 3:1-8; 4:11-12; PS 5:4B-6A, 6B-7,
8; MT 8:23-27
R. Lead me in your justice, Lord.
At dawn I bring my plea expectantly before you.
For you, O God, delight not in wickedness;
no evil man remains with you;
the arrogant may not stand in your sight.
You hate all evildoers;
you destroy all who speak
falsehood;
The bloodthirsty and the deceitful
the LORD abhors.
But I, because of your abundant mercy,
will enter
your house;
I will worship at your holy temple
in fear of you, O LORD.
USCCB Lectionary
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Reflection on the Scriptures |
We humans are so insecure when it comes to "how are we doing?" with God and life in general. I think we are also pretty childish in our relationship with God, I know that is true for me. It is easy to think about God's judgment when we read Old Testament lessons like the words in Amos today. "Prepare to meet your God" fills us with trepidation, and well it
should. We are all guilty of some "crimes." But Amos also reports that the Lord says, "I will deal with you in my own way." What does that mean? What hope is there for us? If we read further, we find that the Lord God has a plan for us, and God won't do anything without revealing it to us. Why should that give us comfort?
I think the readings for today are not
about God's judgment of our wickedness so much as they are about our relationship with God. God's plan for us is a relationship of security and joy. The readings today are about what God wants from us in that relationship and a call to focus on those expectations rather than focusing on our shortcomings. The Psalm for today helps us with that focus. If we ask expectantly for the Lord to lead us in justice, we will receive abundant mercy and can enter into the
Lord's holy temple. To be sure, we remain in fear, but it is more about respect that brings us into the presence of God than terror over punishment for our shortcomings.
- by Barbara Dilly
Creighton Online Ministries
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Selected Quotes from the Writings of St. Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)
Like hairs on the head, mortal man is joined to Jesus Christ, the head of all, but they are full of
transgressions and sins because of man's delight in the flesh. But the Church regenerates and purifies these from the unclean stench and filth of sin by penitence and confession, just as hair is cleansed from dew and drops, and as dust is shaken out and cleansed from wool.
- letter to the Abbot, c. 1166
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