Humbled Heart

~~~ Isaiah 58:1-9a ~~~ Psalm 51 ~~~ Matthew 9:14-15 ~~~

 

Instead of fasting and walking around in sack cloth do something charitable for others.

Instead of 'showing off' how you are afflicting yourself share with others...

reach out to those less fortunate.

If you do something to help others God will be more pleased.

 

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed;
Your vindication shall go before you,
and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,
you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!

God cares more about your naked honesty with him than

all the external actions of 'chest beating' you can perform.

He is not interested in whether or not you look the part.

 

When you are helping others; that is when your light will shine forth.

When you are thinking of others your problems begin to fade into the background.

Soon what you thought was of utter importance has passed.

 

Then you are able to hear God say, Here I am.

I am here for you. I have heard your cry for help.

 

 

 

A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

You can maintain a humble and contrite heart without marking yourself with ashes,

 fasting or inflicting corporal punishment on your body.

 

Seeking forgiveness from God with a sincere heart is of utmost importance.

 

My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

 

The prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi comes to mind.

Let me be an instrument of Peace.

 

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.


O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

 

Be aware of the Lord's presence in your life today.