Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

“If I find favor with you, O LORD, do come along in our company. This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins, and receive us as your own.” So Moses stayed there with the LORD for forty days and forty nights, without eating any food or drinking any water, and he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.

We are a stiff-necked people, too. We have imperfections that we do not seek to rid ourselves of. We have wickedness and sins we constantly fall into. We fail to do good when opportunities present themselves. We fall short in our faith. We falter in our hope. We lack in our love of God and others. And yet, God is still with us, He still loves us, He is willing to pardon our wickedness and receive us as His Own Children. He wants to be our Heavenly Father, Beloved Brother, and Holy Spirit, writing His commandments, teachings, and inspirations upon our hearts. All we have to do is accept Him into our lives by bending our stiff necks and dying to our sinful selves so we can rise as holy and unique incarnations of Christ.

 What are the imperfections, wickedness, and sins we need to be pardoned for? How can we rid ourselves of these failings and become more perfect children of God? What can we do to ensure that God’s commandments, teachings, and inspirations stay with us always?

O Lord, come along in our company and receive us as your own.

Amen.