Psalm 130 is considered by many to be the best of the Penitential Psalms…..and perhaps no line is more captivating than this one, (at least in my opinion):
If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? vs. 3
Many devout, well-meaning people are often lulled into a sense that they do not sin much, and therefore don’t have much to ask for from God in terms of forgiveness. Man judges words and actions and has no way of assessing intentions and understanding. If only we could see ourselves the way God sees us, if only we could examine our minds, intentions and thoughts the way God is able to. If only we could glance at the record-book of sins of commission and omission. The lack of awareness of personal faults and shortcomings is one of the oldest tools in the toolkit of the enemy of our souls.
Who can stand blameless in his own righteousness before a Holy God? By the time the human Christ could declare, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. -Mark 10:18, is this not a reminder of the wretchedness of our flesh? Yet, it was the sacrifice of this spotless Lamb that released the grace which serves as a bridge over the gulf existing between our sinful selves and the Holy God.
The more we understand God and His righteousness, the more we grow in sensitivity to the nuances and things that are distasteful Him in our own lives. This keeps us in a position of humility, always in need of divine grace, and less likely to be critical of the sins of others. Thanks be to Jesus Christ, we are no longer judged solely by our works and failures if we seek God under the cloak of His righteousness. Praise be to the Divine Mercy, we have confidence to approach the Throne of Grace.
May the Holy Spirit open our spiritual eyes and illuminate our minds so that we can always understand our perpetual need for God’s mercy and grace. Amen.
Hilltop Thoughts, Valley Strengths 