The Scarlet Letter --- Remember that classic? I suppose many of us carry around letters of one sort or another from past sins or addictions. Some of us carry the letters for a lifetime. Sometimes the person we have hurt dies and we still drag the guilt of the hurt, the disagreement or the sin along with us, long after the person has entered into eternity. Sometimes we carry along a personal sin against ourselves, i.e., some pattern of behavior that we refuse to try to change, or some sin which we allowed to haunt us over and over again.
God tells us today through the Prophet Isaiah, that "Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool." (Is 1:10, 16-20)
Our sins have been bleached through the blood of Christ Crucified. Mercy has been unleashed for all time. There is no sin or addiction I can ever claim that is greater than the love of Christ poured out for me on the cross. It is unbelievable that I could be so loved by God, yet it is true.
I pray every day "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." Enough said. I need to take this to heart and begin to forgive as I have been forgiven.
Rather than weigh myself down today with the fact that I do not always forgive others as I have been forgiven, I am going to try another approach. I am going to concentrate on all the goodness and love God has poured upon me through the years. I am going to spend this day in gratitude to God for the mercy that has overflowed into my life over and over again . . . a mercy that is unending.
Tomorrow , I will begin to try to uncover small ways to be more forgiving towards others in my thoughts, words and deeds. This won't happen automatically. It will take effort, but a very good spiritual and personal challenge for Lent.
God tells us today through the Prophet Isaiah, that "Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool." (Is 1:10, 16-20)
Our sins have been bleached through the blood of Christ Crucified. Mercy has been unleashed for all time. There is no sin or addiction I can ever claim that is greater than the love of Christ poured out for me on the cross. It is unbelievable that I could be so loved by God, yet it is true.
I pray every day "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." Enough said. I need to take this to heart and begin to forgive as I have been forgiven.
Rather than weigh myself down today with the fact that I do not always forgive others as I have been forgiven, I am going to try another approach. I am going to concentrate on all the goodness and love God has poured upon me through the years. I am going to spend this day in gratitude to God for the mercy that has overflowed into my life over and over again . . . a mercy that is unending.
Tomorrow , I will begin to try to uncover small ways to be more forgiving towards others in my thoughts, words and deeds. This won't happen automatically. It will take effort, but a very good spiritual and personal challenge for Lent.
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