25 February 2013: grace of repentance.

25 February 2013: grace of repentance

During Lent we are called to repentance.  We are called to let go of our sinful ways and be transformed in God's mercy.  The first step is to acknowledge that we are in the wrong.

We have sinned, been wicked and done evil;
we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws.

This is tricky, because we often hear this as if God is speaking to us in condemnation.  Actually, he is  desperately seeking that we return to him.  He is our advocate and he longs to set us free as soon as we turn to him.  It is we ourselves, conniving with the world and the enemy who prevent our freedom.  If we can't experience how much God wants to set us free we won't be able to turn to him with our whole hearts.  It isn't about what we've done because who God is matters still more than anything we've done.  He loves us unconditionally.  Since he is Father he wants us to become like him so that his unconditional love springs forth in our hearts.

Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name’s sake.

But there is a great paradox.  We experience God's forgiveness and mercy more and more as our hearts are conformed to his heart:

Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.

We might otherwise think that be forgiven would come first but the Our Father agrees: "as we forgive those who trespass against us."  Our forgiveness of others itself finds its source in the grace of God.  When we experience the freedom to truly forgive and be giving and merciful we begin to experience these things from the LORD.  This is because our ego has to step aside for God to work in us, and once he is working in us and begins to be the driving force in our lives we will experience all the gifts which are his by right.  We never know blessedness apart from union.  We can experience this more and more as we grow in relationship with him.

For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you.”

Never lose sight of our great hope:

Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
through all generations we will declare your praise.