The Ascension of the Lord

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since through the blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil, that is, his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy.

It is important to wash clean our consciences on a regular basis. We all need healing from sins. We all need to come to God with humble and contrite hearts. We all need to make good confessions to free ourselves from the wickedness and snares of the Devil. The sacrament of reconciliation is a great source of hope for all of us. There should be no fear of such a wonderfully freeing experience. Instead, we should go confidently into the confessional and speak to God from the depths of our souls and allow Him to wash away our sins and cleanse us of our iniquities. It was for this purpose that Jesus Christ came into the world and we would do well to make use of God’s Divine Mercy.

Do we seek God’s cleansing sacrament as frequently as we should? Do we allow God to work His Divine Mercy within us? How can we lead others to the sacrament of reconciliation?

O Lord, thank you for the cleansing waters that flowed from your wounds.

Amen.

Second Wednesday of Easter

The Lord hears the cry of the poor. I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad.

We are all called to be poor in spirit, which means to be humble before God and accepting of all the trials and sufferings we must bear in this world. It also means not lording it over others, but rather loving them as fellow children of our Heavenly Father. If we do these things, then we will be blessed and be able to enter into the Kingdom of God. It is in God that we gain glory, not in worldly successes. It is in God that we are lifted from our lowly places and given a place of honor at the Eternal Banquet. It is in God that we are made glad forever and ever.

Do we listen to the cries of the poor? How do we reflect God’s Glory to others? How can we cultivate humble and gracious hearts?

O Lord, hear our cries and help us to listen to the needs of others.

Amen.

Friday after Ash Wednesday

A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.

God will not spurn us if we come to Him with hearts that are contrite and humble. God wants us to come to Him and seek forgiveness for our sins and imperfections. He wants to shower us with His Mercy as an example of what we should for those who trespass against us. He wants to wipe out our offenses and wash away our guilt. He wants us to be cleansed of evil and filled with goodness and compassion.

How can we become humbler and more contrite in our hearts? What can we do to imitate God’s Mercy and Compassion in our own lives? How can we be as good as our Heavenly Father is good?

O Lord, grant us humble and contrite hearts.

Amen.