March 9/First Wednesday of Lent
A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. ~ Ps 51.10
Acknowledging our mistakes, iniquities, transgressions, errors, sins — call them what you will — is hard work. To admit fault goes against the grain for many of us who think of ourselves as generally well-intentioned people, and who prefer to occupy the moral high ground. But sooner or later, we will come face to face with our own wrongdoing. It may be a friend or family member, or even a stranger, who points out our selfish action or our unkind word; at other times, we may come to it on our own in self-reflection, in quiet conversation with God. And when we do, when we bring ourselves to the point of uttering those humbling words — “I’m sorry; I was wrong; I have sinned” — we will then know the incredible freedom of God’s life-giving mercy. And that freedom is nowhere more beautifully expressed than in today’s psalm verse, a longtime favorite that has always embodied for me the “hinge” moment when we swing from the misery of sin to the joy of restoration and forgiveness. However quickly it may pass, it is a wonderful moment of spiritual renewal. But note this: it is a transformation wrought by God, not by us. The verb for “create” occurs in the Hebrew Bible only in reference to God’s actions, never human ones. It is not ours, but God’s prerogative to refresh our spirits and renew our hearts. As Quaker scholar and missionary Thomas Kelly observed, “God Himself works in our souls, in their deepest depths, taking increasing control as we are progressively willing to be prepared for His wonder. We cease trying to make ourselves the dictators and God the listener, and become the joyful listeners to Him, the Master who does all things.”
Wash my soul clean, gracious Lord, and refresh my spirit with your mercy and love. Amen.
For today’s readings, click here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030922.cfm
To hear Vokal Nord and Pratum Integrum sing “Cor mundum crea in me, Deus” by Giovanni Benedetto Platti, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDKzl96maCA
