Holy Spirit of God, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be always acceptable to you, my Strength and my Redeemer…

Psalm 19 & Mark 7:14-23
During the COVID years we learned that washing hands saves lives. Even in Jesus’ times hand washing was significant – ritual handwashing was a sign of religious fervor and Pilate used the metaphor of washing his hands to try and absolve himself of the Sin of the centuries. But Jesus shows us a different dynamic to be ‘religious’ and to become pure from sin.  It is what comes out of a person that defiles! He then goes on to list 12 heinous sins – everything from fornication (think- the ‘Me too’ movement these days), deceit (how do I try to cover up my own shame?) and slander (another word for gossip and dissing another), to name but a few. Indeed, my words are the outward sign of the invisible bitter, biting or blatantly untrue thoughts that end up wounding others or giving birth to sinful actions that turn me away from the gaze of our merciful Father, and fill my being with the ‘garbage’ of shame, self-deprecation and ‘me-itis’.  In order to break the cycle of ‘stinkin’ thinkin’, I need to practice thought-washing, by bringing every thought, every word – whether by voice or by keyboard, and yes, every action, into the Light of the Life and Love of God as expressed through Christ Jesus, before I let it loose in the world; or prodigal that I am, return home to my Father saying, Against you, Father, I have sinned and done that which is ‘evil’ (a.k.a. hurried and un-thoughtful ) in your sight.  While I trust God’s forgiveness, I hope that, into my seventh decade as I am, I am finally learning to think, speak and act wisely as befits a beloved daughter of Creator God, endowed with the Holy Spirit of God as I am. Going forward through Lent will I take time to let my thoughts, words and deeds be washed from the virus of evil that is pandemic to humanity, to be awash with the Light, the Love and the Life of Christ Jesus? Holy Spirit of God, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be always acceptable to you, my Strength and my Redeemer.
 
Let me know again the joy of your help; with a spirit of fervor sustain me.    (Psalm 51:12)
 
Never be in a hurry, do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever; even if your whole world seems upset.
St. Fedelis of Sigmaringen
 
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