Loving with His Heart
"Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin…Who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency, and will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt? You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins; You will show faithfulness." (Micah 7:18-20)
"Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin…Who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency, and will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt? You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins; You will show faithfulness." (Micah 7:18-20)
Father, as I read the parable of the Prodigal Son, the words in today’s first reading from Micah, echoes in my heart: “Who is there like you…” Father, you are so compassionate, so merciful, so eager to come after us and bring us back into your embrace? You eagerly awaited the return of your wayward son and at first sight of him you ran to him. You did not wait for an apology; you embraced him before he could even say a word. He then confesses his sin to you expecting nothing from you and instead you restored him to full sonship, removed his guilt and shame and celebrated his homecoming. Incomprehensible!
Then your older son sins against you too. He berates you, judges you, refuses to come to you, and you come out to get him, to reason with him, to include him in the celebration. To boot, you bless him with the promise that all you have is his?
I don’t understand your love for me either. You send your beloved Son, Jesus, to ransom me. You repeatedly forgive my ingratitude and sins and you draw me back into your loving embrace. When I go to confession and pour out my heart to you, you never recriminate me. Instead, you wipe my soul clean in the Blood of Jesus and make me new. You draw me into communion with Jesus in the Eucharist that we may be one.
Truly, there is no one like you, Father. Grant me the grace to forgive and love myself and others with your compassionate and merciful heart. Make me merciful as you are merciful.
How often do I speak to God, the Father, heart to heart?
How often do I frequent the sacraments of Confession and the Eucharist and let the Lord forgive my sins and love me into wholeness and union with him through his Son, Jesus Christ?
Father, thank you for your passionate and merciful love that never gives up on me. In the Name of Jesus Christ, your Son, grant me the grace to love others as you love me. Amen.
Alicia Goodwin is the Director of the Marian Servants of Divine Providence®, a Public Association of the Faithful of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, and a community of Spirit-filled men and women guiding God’s people to healing, freedom and purpose in Christ through healing prayer, spiritual direction, and retreats. Their Cenacle of Our Lady of Divine Providence School of Spiritual Direction® offers certification for spiritual directors in association with Franciscan University of Steubenville. They are located at Our Lady of Divine Providence House of Prayer® by Old Tampa Bay in Clearwater, FL. where all are welcome to attend Masses, Adoration and special speaker events. Alicia holds a Master’s in Theological Studies from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX and a B.A. in Languages and Linguistics from Florida Atlantic University. She and her husband Lee have 3 children, 4 grandchildren and one adorable great grandchild. For more information on the Marian Servants please visit www.divineprovidence.org.
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