Pause for Prayer: TUESDAY 6/17

From the gospel at mass today:

 

    "For if you love those who love you, 

        what reward will you have?
    Don't the tax collectors do the same?
    And if you greet your brothers and sisters only,
        what's unusual about that?
    Don't the pagans do the same?
    So be perfect, 

        just as your heavenly Father is perfect."

 

I'm screwed, Lord.

 

Sometimes I fail to love even those

    - who love me...

 

Sometimes I don't even meet the standards

    you set for tax collectors and pagans!

 

And sometimes 

    I don't greet my brothers and sisters

    peaceably or graciously or warmly.

 

Me, perfect?

Me, as perfect as our Father in heaven?

 

And in the present political climate?

 

Like I said, Lord: I'm screwed!

 

So I have to come to you 

    to ask for your mercy, your forgiveness, 

for all the times and all the ways

    I've failed to love so many people in my life...

 

Have mercy on me, Lord!

 

And give me the grace I need, 

    day by day,

to open myself

    - first to your merciful pardon -

and then to learning to live,

    working to love, trying to love,

        stretching myself to love

    those who love me

        - and even those who don't...

 

Amen. 

 

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