By Zoe Cannon
Gratitude for the Gift of Faith
“If my people, who are called by name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will forgive their sins and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
The world is full of information with more questions than answers. No worries, God provides truth! St. Teresa of Avila wrote in her treatise, “The Interior Castle,” that we should be aware of who we really are from the divine perspective, from the eyes of God, the author of all truth. She affirms that humility is essential to advance spiritual maturity. The practice of prayer and reflection are necessary in achieving perfect union with God, and the journey can be transformative.
Nurturing a loving, healthy relationship is the core message in the teachings of Jesus. We need one another to achieve our heavenly goal. We live in the Kingdom of God, his creation, the Church, the vineyard, the universe, the world, heaven and Earth. God provides everything we need to be nourished by his truth.
St. Augustine said: “People are afraid of dying, but they are not concerned about sinning.” We fail to understand what eternal life means if we are not worried about offending God. Asking for forgiveness and forgiving one another is a central theme in scripture. In his living and dying, Jesus demonstrated the importance of forgiveness. Even on the cross, Jesus said, “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23: 34).
In the Our Father prayer, we ask God to “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and to lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” These are not just rote words, but a genuine appeal for help to avoid sin.
If the need to resolve wrongdoing is not mutually expressed, ask God for strength and grace to make healing possible. The sacrament of reconciliation sets us free from torment and hardness of heart. Even the smallest regret is changed by our willingness to forgive.
The Book of Daniel 9:9 reads: “To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him.” Willful disobedience to God is a real problem in our culture. Left unchecked, we create a chasm of indifference. The confusion makes relationships challenging because no one wants to be told they have offended God.
Peace begins by acknowledging our need for God, and our desire to have perfect union with him. A summary from the Catechism of the Catholic Church on conversion, confession, penance or reconciliation can be read in paragraphs 1480 through 1498: “The sinner wounds God’s honor and love, and the spiritual well-being of the Church — to the eyes of faith no evil is graver than sin — to return to communion with God after having lost it through sin is a process born of the grace of God. Conversion touches the past and the future and is nourished by hope in God’s mercy. “
Life is good because God is good, without him, there is no truth! Heal your soul, your relationships and our nation during these tough times. Thank your priest for the gift of his ministry and sacraments, because our transformative journey is made easier with them! Amen!