Sr. Gail’s Reflections

Quote for March 2013

 

“Return, O Israel.  Let us return to the Lord our God;

For we have stumbled in our iniquity, and fallen in our sin.

Take with you words, cry unto Him, ‘Receive us, O Lord; remove from us our guilt;

And we shall offer to you what is good, and never more shall say ‘Our God’

To the work our hands have made.

I will love you freely says the Lord

And I will heal you of your faithlessness.

I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in mercy and in steadfast love.

For I will sow you as a fruitful field

And I will bless you as a growing tree;

And you shall prosper as a well watered garden

If you would but return to me,

If you would but return to me.

Return, return, O Israel.”

                        Paul Beckman

 

Reflection

 This quote is actually a song written by an old friend of the Servants of God’s Love which we use every year during the season of Lent.  I felt inspired to share it with all of you because it so strongly reflects the deep and steadfast love with which the Lord holds us, his desire to bless us and help us to prosper in our lives.   I believe it invites us to an examination of conscience in those words, “we…never more shall say ‘Our God’ to the work our hands have made.”  It is difficult for most of us to not take more credit than our due in our accomplishments.  When we do so we make those accomplishments our gods.  They become all important – especially that they remain and increase as accomplishments.  I cannot tell you how many times I have said something like this to the Lord, “I don’t want to be a Pharisee in my life, but as soon as I am little enough, would you make me great?”  Think about it.  Greatness has been something of a god for me.  It’s somewhat humiliating to admit, but it’s true.  Each of us has that particular area of temptation in our lives.  It may not be greatness for you, but it is something – if you will allow yourself to perceive it.  The Lord so desires that we trust Him, that we trust that steadfast love, that He has our good in mind, that only in and through Him will that good be realized.  Look at what He says in the rest of the song.  All of these images are taken from the prophets, words He has spoken to His people.  You and I are His people.  This Lent let us pray for the grace to surrender our lives, our hopes, our futures more fully to Him who desires our supreme joy and happiness – life with Him forever.