Advent XIII

A dire strait, indeed, it is that calls out to heaven, "Lord, be merciful to me a sinner."  'Tis a strait so dire that naught can bring deliverance but the Holy Son of God whose lips uttered from that terrible wooden cross, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."  There on that cross, forgiveness offered, yet, still not forgiveness received.  There is a world of difference.  It is the difference between wholeness and brokenness, life and death, heaven and hell. As necessary as breath is this divine forgiveness offered by the Dying Holy One on that hill where the evil one prematurely claimed victory,

Only the heart broken by hopelessness cries out, "Lord, be merciful to me a sinner."  When such cry is heard in heaven by divine ears and heart, it is never a cry from the pages of ritual.  It is the cry of the desperate heart.  When the words of repentance are truly thrown out to heaven, forgiveness offered becomes forgiveness received.  It is a mysterious divine transaction that transforms sinful broken humankind like you and me into the saints of God fit to dwell in the Kingdom and its heavenly spaces.

There is no cause for delay.  The hours are slipping by toward that moment when the hours are no more.  As precious as life is, it becomes a wasted thing when lived simply to gratify the ego within us instead of as something to serve the eternal purposes of the Creator who gives the gift. Grace and mercy opens the door.   Repentance is that first painful honest step which ushers us inside where the air is filled with forgiveness.  Be bold.  Enter now.  Breathe deeply.