Theme
Discovering my constant need of Gods forgiving love and the freedom it brings me.
Grace/Desire
With Gods continual love and protection embracing me, I ask to feel the sorrow of sin in my life, and to know more and more deeply the renewing and healing power of Gods love in my life.
Prayer Material for the Week
1. Prayer of Consideration - Meditation On Our sins: Supplement Part A
2. Prayer of Consideration - Meditation On Our sins: Supplement Part B
3. Prayer of Consideration - A Meditation on Hell.
Jesus said, Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more
Fear him who after he has killed you, has the power to cast into hell. (Luke 17:27,30)
4. Prayer of Consideration - The Blind See
5. Prayer of Consideration - Jesus Still on the Cross.
Romans 5:6-11 Jesus died for us in our sin; we can trust Him.
6. Prayer of Consideration - Praying on the Last Judgment.
Reflect on how this applies to me.
Jesus said, People were eating and drinking, marrying wives and husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and the Flood came and destroyed them all
It will be the same when the day comes for the Son of Man to be revealed. (Luke 17:27,30)
7. Prayer of Consideration - Heaven at Hand
Background material for this week: What is Sin? Bradley, S.J.
Prayer For This Week
Holy God, I grieve for what I have done and left undone.
Holy God, I grieve that I have made myself disordered and my life unfocused.
Holy God, I grieve over sins horror on the earth and the vanity and emptiness of human affairs.
Holy God, draw me to Your holy self.
For Further Reflection and Consideration
First:
A long tradition names seven temptations to sins with which we all struggle: covetous, lust, pride, anger, gluttony, entity, and sloth. How specifically are these present in my life? What contributes to my being more critical of others shortcomings and less adept at recognizing my own? In what way may I be blinded to addictive patterns in my life which inflict harm on myself or others? What are the secrets that have power over me and I'm afraid to name? In what relationships do I need to express God's mercy and forgiveness to others? Is there anyone I need to forgive or from whom I need to ask forgiveness? I know God forgives me; do I have trouble forgiving myself?
Second:
We live our lives within the context of struggle between good and evil. The sin situation is so mysterious that God, out of love, must reveal its presence because we are blind to the subtle ways it penetrates human life. So blind are we to its presence that we continually attempt to do battle with the evil by ourselves without Gods help. Often we attempt to fix ourselves before we allow God to accept us with a forgiving love. Such an attempt always fails because:
without me you can do nothing! (Jn 15:5)
Love consists in this: not that we have loved God, but that God has loved us
(1Jn 4:10)
-- John Veltri, S.J., Orientations
I am called to be fully human; I am called to live in Christ Jesus; I am called to cooperate with others in fulfilling Gods desire for humanity. These calls presume the freedom to hear the call and then the freedom to respond to the call and then the strength to carry it out. Such freedom is beyond my own achievement it is Gods gift. God frees me from all those biases and prejudices and possessions that make me deaf to the Spirits call; God frees me FOR cooperating with others in developing Gods reign. God gives me the ability to carry out this effort.
1. Ezekiel 36:25-32 I will give you a new heart. You shall be my people and I will be your God.
2. John 8:31-45 God is the Father of Truth; Satan, of lies.
3. Ephesians 2: 1-10 We were dead in sin, and He came to save us.
4. James 1: 13-18 Wrongful desiring gives birth to sin and sin, to death.
5. 1 Corinthians 13: 1-7 Without love, I am a hollow gong.
6. Romans 7: 14-25 Wretched man that I am! Who can save me?