Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest

Moses stood there with the LORD and proclaimed his name, "LORD." Thus the LORD passed before him and cried out, "The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity, continuing his kindness for a thousand generations, and forgiving wickedness and crime and sin; yet not declaring the guilty guiltless, but punishing children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation for their fathers' wickedness!" Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship.

God is willing to accompany us on our life journeys even when we are not perfect. He is willing to pardon us and receive us as His own children. He knows we are not guiltless and yet He loves us nonetheless. He wants to be with us, always, and we should want Him with us, too. We should start each day bowing to God and asking Him, like Moses, to come along in our company. And if we do this, we shall find Him in our midst wherever we go and whenever we most need.

Do we invite God to be with us every day? How can we become better people? Are we willing to pardon others as God pardons us?

O Lord, pardon us and receive us as your own.

Amen.