Holy Spirit of God, teach me the righteousness born of faith in you…

 
Romans 4:13-22

 
Years ago, when I was first becoming acquainted as a Catholic Christian with sin, repentance and mercy, I kept the word ‘righteousness’ out of my vocabulary because in my experience as a Protest-ant believer, it was often used to condone unholy and in humane prejudices and activities. Righteousness in worldly terms is often thorny, hard, and merciless.  But as I have become acquainted with the Holy Family, I have discovered that the righteousness of God is far from any atrocities committed by individuals down through the ages, individuals (Catholic and Protestant!)  who assume the Name of God in vanity, and define sin, repentance, and mercy in their own terms. They trust not God, but their own powers and plans, projects and possessions, and take little time to become acquainted with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, by serving Him. The holy righteousness of God, however, is manifest in those who truly trust in God. It shines in the silent ponderings of Mother Mary, whose “Fiat” - ‘be it unto me according to your will’ and quiet courage and patience demonstrated so profoundly at the foot of the cross and in the shadows of the Acts of the Apostles, is clearly right. The righteousness of God is also characterized by the humble Joseph’s holy/wholly obedience to God’s surprising will – to marry his pregnant Mary, and a short time later to flee far from the “holy city” of Jerusalem to live with his family in exile in Egypt - the land his ancestors had been delivered from. The righteousness of God was also embodied by Christ Jesus Emanuel, Mary’s son, the sinless teacher of the Be-attitudes, friend, healer and baptizer of the sick, the poor, the lonely, the lepers, the prisoners and other outcasts of his days on earth – and Redeemer of the world who shed his body and blood on a Roman cross. I now long to be in the company of the Holy Family and ‘righteous’ in God’s eyes. Now like Mary, Joseph and Christ Jesus, I willingly pray each day so that I can  ‘stand firm, andput on the breastplate of righteousness’ (cf Eph 6:14) - a breastplate that protects my organs of inspiration and ‘coeur­-age’ (heartfulness) as my life unfolds.  Will I have faith like Jesus, Mary and Joseph to trust in God that gives birth to (holy, lively and life-giving) righteousness?  Holy Spirit of God teach me the (holy) righteousness born of faith in you.
 
Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honour me; to those who go the right way I will show the salvation of God.  (Psalm 50:23)
 
May the fire of your word consume our sins and its brightness illumine our hearts.
Psalm-prayer for Psalm 119:145-152, Shorter Christian Prayer,  Week III Saturday Morning.
Soli ad gloriam Dei
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