Monday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
How wonderful it is to know that the Lord desires each one of us. Not only does He desire us in our brokenness and pain, but He does not leave us there. Sirach describes life away from God as already being dead. He says in today’s first reading, “To the penitent God provides a way back.” He goes on to say, “No more can the dead give praise than those who have never lived; You who are alive and well shall praise and glorify God in his mercies. How great the mercy of the LORD, his forgiveness of those who return to him!” In this passage, Sirach is describing how God wants to unite His heart with ours. By describing life away from God as being dead, Sirach is telling us that only with God can we have life. However, it is only when we turn to Him in glory and praise that we inherit this life. The moral of this passage is that it is never too late. So often the devil tries to convince us that we are broken and or undeserving of God’s love. That could not be farther from the truth. Sirach emphasized that point when he said, “How great the mercy of the LORD, his forgiveness of those who return to him!” Not only should we turn from our sin and bring our brokenness to God but also should rejoice knowing of His forgiveness and mercy. That is because we were not created for sin and shame. Rather, we were created out of love to dwell in God’s abundant mercy and forgiveness. In Him, we can fully live.
Reflection by Mark, seminarian
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections