Exposed

Adam and Eve

"Then the eyes of both were opened" (Genesis 3:7). They were exposed. When they heard the voice of God on the evening breeze, Eve and Adam hid themselves. From the One who had formed them, from the One who had given them life, they fled. 1

In their shame, in their sin, they hid their faces and refused to look upon the One who had created them, thus distancing themselves from God.2

Much like Eve and Adam, we have all experienced the shame of sin in our lives. This shame leads us to distancing ourselves from God and from one another. This shame leads us to sew  our own fig leaves together and to hide our selves from the life God has planned for us, from the gifts He wants to share with us.

Yet, we know that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God except our own refusal to acknowledge our sinfulness and to turn away from it.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and did not hide my iniquity; I said I will confess my sins to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilty of my sin.

Therefore, let all who are faithful offer prayer to you; at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them. ~Psalm 32: 5-6

 "Dear children! My prayer today is for
all of you who seek the grace of conversion. You knock on the
door of my heart, but without hope and prayer, in sin, and
without the Sacrament of Reconciliation with God. Leave sin and
decide, little children, for holiness. Only in this way can I
help you, hear your prayers and seek intercession before the Most
High. Thank you for having responded to my call."    BVM, Medjugorje, Message of May 25, 2011     

Notes: 1,2,   the In the Sanctuary of Woman, A Companion For Reflection and Prayer, Jan L. Richardson

Accept the Light

“If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.
 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell fire .  Matthew 18:8

What leads us to sin? For each of us it is something different. For some of us it is the sin of pride, for some of us it is unforgivness, for some of us it may be various forms of addiction.

Jesus knows us well. Therefore, he uses forceful language when he urges us to choose a life that will endure, rather than an unending death that leads us to  separation.  The choice we are called to make is the choice of conformity. Jesus asks us to conform our will to the will of Our Heavenly Father. He calls us to wholeness.

"Dear Children, Today I call you with prayer and fasting to clear the path in which my Son will enter into your hearts. Accept me as a mother and a messenger of God's love and His desire for your salvation. Free yourself of everything from the past which burdens you, that gives you a sense of guilt, that which previously led you astray in error and darkness. Accept the light. Be born anew in the righteousness of my Son. Thank you." BVM  June 2, 2010 Message

Thank you for the sacraments you bless me with, especially the sacrament of reconciliation which allows me to free myself from binding guilt and draws me back to your light. Amen 

Like the Falling Rain, Cleanse Me Lord

Standing on my front porch, I watch the morning rain fall from the sky.

It trickles through the nearby trees, cleansing the dirt from the leaves, as it makes its way to the thirsty ground below.

The air is chilly, but the smell of the wet soil is so fresh.
I begin to think of my soul, and realize that it has been a while since I have made a good confession.


I look at my watch and see that I have time to get to morning mass.
Scurrying upstairs to put on shoes and grab my keys, off I go.

The church is dimly lit, but filled with the warmth of God’s loving presence.


Many people have made their way to church this particular morning, all wanting to spend a little time with the Lord before they start their day.

In the first reading, the Lord tells Samuel, “Not as man sees does God see, because he sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.”

These words touch me deeply and I repeat them to myself as I walk up to receive Him in the Eucharist.

Mass has ended and I noticed an elderly priest sitting in the very last pew. Walking over to him, I ask him if he would hear my confession, he says “Of course”.

I’ve never been very good at face to face confession, maybe because I come from the era of behind the screen and that is where my comfort is, but the priest is so welcoming that I am instantly at ease. When I finish he says those wonderful words, “I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”


I feel so joyous. I hug him and almost dance out the door.

Driving home, I once again think about those leaves that have been washed with the rain and I thank God for washing me too!


DearLord,

I have so far to go, but with the help of the sacraments you offer, may I learn to see others as You see them and not by appearance. Open the door to my heart that I might look outside with eyes of love.

Amen