Lent 7 - Forgiveness

“Forgiveness is the name of love practiced among people who love poorly. The hard truth is that all people love poorly. We need to forgive and be forgiven every day, every hour increasingly. That is the great work of love among the fellowship of the weak that is the human family.”

― Henri J.M. Nouwen

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In the darkness

when pain awakes me

and I wander in the profound quiet

of deep night

the insistent throbbing

of my flesh is

echoed by the insistent aching

that sometimes permeates the soul

as one remembers

wounds given and wounds received

it is a time for regrets

and yet

not a time for lamentation

for although I have at times

loved poorly

I am well loved

and I can give and receive the

great work of love

I am forgiven

and I can forgive

and experience the deep reality

that is the fellowship of the weak

a fellowship created

and empower by Sacred Mercy

which is new every morning

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Psalm 30

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up

    and have not let my foes rejoice over me.

2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,

    and you have healed me.

3 O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;

    you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.[a]

4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,

    and give thanks to his holy name.[b]

5 For his anger is but for a moment,

    and his favor is for a lifetime.[c]

Weeping may tarry for the night,

    but joy comes with the morning.