Lent, Sin, and Forgiveness

In a nano second we can turn away from God’s Goodness, reject His Presence, fall quickly, and once the clouds of attraction drift away our focus should be on the Mercy God so quickly and freely gives us.  

This is a story that repeats itself in the lives of most if not all human hearts, constantly.  Fear not we are told, for even the just man falls seven times a day (Prv: 24: 16) but overcomes these falls.  However, it is with faith in God and the hand of God that he rises above these faults.  

See the poem “The Hound of Heaven” “I fled Him, down the nights and down the days; I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways of my own mind; and in the midst of tears I hid from Him, and under running laughter…….Shade of His hand , outstretched caressingly!  Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest, I am He Whom thou seeks!  Thou dravest love from thee, who dravest Me.”  (Past tense of drive). 

Think for a moment the real purpose of the tragic walk on the Via Dolorosa to Calvary, the vicious manner of nails being driven through His flesh to support his body, and the words, “It is finished” as Jesus died on the tree of life.  

Was this all for just that moment you or I turned away in a nano second?  Could there be a little more that at times escapes our sense of reality?  In the farthest thoughts of our finite minds God created a world that because of sin did not become the creation God wanted, but knew that through human initiative man would struggle to finally understand the gift of Free Will.  Without that gift we could never appreciate the Beatific Vision and would wander aimlessly in eternity without God’s Presence.  

The Paschal Mystery became the ultimate gift the Father would create so man could understand His Infinite Marcy and forever share with the Lamb who was sacrificed for you and me.  

If you are looking for a real reason why during Lent, reflect on the Paschal Mystery and how like the Hound of Heaven God will not forsake any of us, regardless of the many faults we may succumb to.  

Remember where sin prevails, Grace prevails even more.  “My Grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” Jesus told Paul.  (2 Cor. 12: 9).  

Ralph B. Hathaway, Lent 2019