How Shall I Go to God?
It is with our sins that we go to God, for we have nothing else to go with that we can call our own. This is one of the lessons that we are so slow to learn; yet without learning this we cannot take one right step in that which we call a religious life…
Yes; pardon, peace, life, are all of them gifts, Divine gifts, brought down from heaven by the Son of God, presented personally to each needy sinner by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. They are not to be bought, but received; as [people] receive the sunshine, complete and sure and free… They are not to be claimed on the ground of fitness or goodness, but of need and unworthiness, of poverty and emptiness.
Horatius Bonar (1808-1889), “How Shall I Go to God?”
Mercy
“Oh, Mercy! … Wherever I turn my thoughts, I find nothing but mercy.”
St. Catherine of Siena, Dialogues 30
And in this life mercy and forgiveness are our path and keep leading us on to grace.…
[F]or through the working of grace our fearful failing is transformed into abundant, eternal comfort, and through the working of grace our shameful falling is transformed into high, noble rising, and through the working of grace our sorrowful dying is transformed into holy, blessed life.
Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love,
translated by Elizabeth Spearing
(London: Penguin, 1998), LT, 50, 48.
Now I find myself quite devoid of virtues, I can even say that I see none in me, and it seems to me that if the Good God called me to give an account of my deeds to him, I would find myself with empty hands, having no other recourse than his great Mercy. And with that I hope, I have confidence, and I abandon myself to his good pleasure with a calmness and a peace which nothing disturbs and which it seems to me that he alone can give.
Saint Thérèse Couderc, Letter to Mother de Larochenégly, August 7, 1867
My Weakness
My own failures are many. My capacity for weakness on days seems undiminished. I am an embarrassment to myself and yet I am loved so wonderfully. There is perhaps one difference that my experiences with God have given me. I no longer weep tears of shame. I cry tears of joy and wonder. I am amazed by God and His power to love me. He makes all things work together for good. I’m not much of a challenge to His genius and creativity.
Graham Cooke, “Making the Most of Failure”
Lent is a challange, growing up it was understood we sacrifice for Lent. Having a child sacrifice something has been difficult but with patience they understand. We do not go to church, but I instill in my children the education I rec’d as a child in religion and Lent is one of the events that I charish.
I am trying to get past the “presents” for Easter, but it seems that is what all the kids are raving about, treating it like another Holiday with gifts. But I do not want to and I feel that I am not sending the right message when I explain
any thoughts to a better explaination to a child ages 17 – 8?
thanks
Can I please beg of your prayers for a young girl called “Lanie Hallett” who is much in need of God’s mercy and grace
In Christ
Niamh Moloney
Dear JC,
Yes, Lent can be a challenge, especially for a child. As far as giving the right message to children, I would simply try to show them that both Lent and Easter are about God’s wonderful love for them.
By the way, I’m wondering why you no longer go to church.
Sister Rose
Dear Niamh,
We will certainly hold Lanie in our prayer.
Sister Rose