Meditation is an ideal way to pray. Using God's word (Lectio Divina) allows me to hear, listen and reflect on what the Lord wants to say to me - to one of his disciples - just like He did two thousand years ago.
The best time to reflect is at the beginning of the day and for at least 15 to 30 minutes.
Prior to going to sleep, read the Mass readings for the next day and then, in the morning, reflect on the Meditation offered on this website.
I hope these daily meditations allow you to know, love and imitate the Lord in a more meaningful way.
God bless you!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Mt 9:1-8 Take Heart, Your Sins are Forgiven



Take Heart, Your Sins are Forgiven

The greatest truth ever spoken came from Peter, “You are the son of the living God.” Today, we have the greatest love ever spoken, “take heart, my child; your sins are forgiven.” With the greatest words ever spoken comes the greatest attack ever made. “This man is blaspheming!” Why is it, from the very beginning, Christ, and Christianity, is always attacked? Why must we fight tooth and nail for ever single soul? Why is believing in God so difficult? Why does love require so much convincing? Because it demands what the world truly lacks: forgiveness.

Forgiveness is the first fruit of love. Love your neighbor really means forgive your neighbor, which in turn means love your enemy! It is a path that few of us have the courage to take. For this reason, the Lord, knowing our thoughts and those of the scribes, says, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?”

Why do we allow our hearts to turn into stone? Does this not kill the person? “Man truly does not live on bread alone, but on every word of forgiveness that comes from the mouth of God.” To forgive your neighbor means to “give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses.” The two are connected. One cannot live without the other. So we ask the Lord to “lead us not into temptation” – to not allow us to think or act in a way, shape, or form, contrary to this. Otherwise, we are dead. Death by sin, and dead to grace. This is what happened to the People of God. The prophet Amos reminds them of the consequences of sin and their inability to seek forgiveness.

The Lord leads the way. He leads by reaching out and giving to us what we truly need – not what we want. The paralytic wanted to walk. Our Lord forgave his sins. In the end, he got both! Forgiveness opens the door to a new life; allows man to break from the past. “Our history does not have to determine our destiny.” (Andy Andrews)
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4 comments:

  1. AnonymousJuly 1, 2010 at 11:09 AM

    Father,
    Could you include the Scripture text with your meditation. It would make it easier to have it all in one place.

    I never heard this before.
    "Forgiveness is the first fruit of love."
    It's an answer to a prayer "where to start when love isn't easy?"

    I hope you have the second step in a future blog!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ceci ArreolaJuly 1, 2010 at 4:04 PM

    This is a link for the daily mass readings:
    Www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJuly 2, 2010 at 2:00 AM

    thank you, but not having to flip back and forth would be helpful.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Captivated by GraceJuly 2, 2010 at 6:43 PM

    If you click on the actual scripture verse at the beginning, it should open a new window. :)

    ReplyDelete

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