March 9 Prayer

March 9 Prayer

We begin the day with an openness in the heart
To bless the Lord with all of our beings.

“It is His love alone that gives worth to all things.” Theresa of Avila
It is his mercy that sets us free.

Peter, the bold and brash follower of Jesus asks him one day;
‘How many times must I forgive another fellow believer
who keeps on offending me?
Surely seven times in one day is enough.’

The Number of perfection, of God’s created order.
But, No that is not enough…
It’s a number of time that never ends.

Because love never ends and
mercy always extends forgiveness.

This is beyond us of course and
that is why we need to forgive
Again and again,
Ourselves, our half heartedness
Our hiding from the truth.
What our part is in the matter….

‘ Love does not stay idle.’ writes St. Catherine of Sienna

This is the time for us to ask, where am I standing still?
Where am I withholding my whole heart
from God and from another?

If we take a moment to ask this question now
someone will appear that is waiting for
you to forgive them,
again.

It is hard when the offense is from a brother
or sister who is a follower of Christ.
We expect more from each other,
from the church we love.

So that is why we must start here
and let God’s spirit stir us with mercy.

So go ahead and forgive the offense against you.
Let mercy flood your heart to soften it’s broken edges
and warm it into flesh, alive with blood
to every part that is idle.

Let His love that knows no end begin again in you
It starts today when we enter each moment
with another human being.
In thought or deed we are asked to forgive
and we will be free.

‘ We bless the Lord with our whole beings.
Jesus we humble ourselves and ask for you to forgive us
for holding back our love.
Show us who we have held hostage
in our unforgiveness and judgments.

We offer to you both parts of our hearts
so that you will make us whole.
Again we come to forgive so we are forgiven.

By your grace and mercy we move with humility
a little closer to your glory.

May we bless you in all things today and
show your worth by how we love one another.

‘For You are gracious and merciful and full of compassion!’

In Jesus holy and sacred name we pray,
Amen
Matt.18:21-35, Ez.36:26, Joel 2:12-13
DB