Wednesday, November 4, 2021
Memorial of St. Charles Borromeo
Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy, we pray with Psalm 27:
Our scripture passages are all about confidence in our salvation.
Do you have that confidence?
Do you ever wonder if you’re going to get to heaven?
Maybe even worry about it a little?
If so, today’s readings are for you.
Paul tells the faithful:
For if we live, we live for the Lord,
and if we die, we die for the Lord;
so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
And Jesus, using the symbol of a lost sheep, counsels the critical Pharisees:
I tell you, in just the same way
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous people
who have no need of repentance.
Key to both readings is the call to a repentant, Christian life.
Our beautiful Responsorial Psalm captures the joy of the repentant sinner, the very ones for whom Christ died. It’s a beautiful psalm. We might want to just slowly relish it in our prayer today.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
We might want to turn toward
the searching Shepherd of today’s Gospel
while praying this Psalm of repentance and faith.
Poetry: The Shepherd Boy Sings in the Valley of Humiliation – John Bunyan (1628–1688), a Christian writer and preacher, most famous for The Pilgrim’s Progress.
He that is down needs fear no fall,
He that is low, no pride;
He that is humble ever shall
Have God to be his guide.I am content with what I have,
Little be it or much:
And, Lord, contentment still I crave,
Because Thou savest such.Fullness to such a burden is
That go on pilgrimage:
Here little, and hereafter bliss,
Is best from age to age.
Music: In the Land of the Living – Eric Becker
Lavish Mercy 