We are now entering into the First Week of the Spiritual Exercises!
This week includes the themes of sinfulness and God's mercy.
We are facing up to who we are - before God. How we see ourselves, how others see us and how God sees us are like three intersecting circles - at the intersection of the three is the truth of who I am before God and it is the complete truth.
God wants us to know the full truth about ourselves - even the ugly parts, not for tortuous reasons but to set us free and to prevent us from falling in the traps of the Evil One - to no longer deceive ourselves or fool ourselves into wishful, delusional thinking.
It is important because we come to recognise the patterns of sin in our lives, the uncomfortable truth that we are still prone to sin, because the greatest tactic and diabolical trap is sinful (Pharisaical) pride
Some people like to trick others. setting them up for a fall, creating a stumbling block, entrapping them, wanting their downfall. The Evil One works that way - he is malicious - it is the original meaning of the word 'scandal' - wanting to place an obstacle in another's way to trip them up and overcome them. He plays on our weakness so that we might even collaborate in our own downfall (again and again).
We reflect this week on sin in salvation history, in our own personal history, how Christ came to save us, and how much the Father loves us in His Son Jesus Christ who came to set us free.
What makes me unhappy is the awful truth of my sinful tendencies. The Evil One wants me to fixate on that.
What gives me joy and peace is the truth that I am loved and forgiven - and called to remain free and to set others free.
The Holy Spirit wants to give me love, joy, peace, patience, hope, forbearance, faithfulness, forgiveness, kindness.
No comments:
Post a Comment