"Lord, if you wish you can make me clean"

[ncjohn]

In today’s gospel reading, Matthew 8:1-4, a leper approaches Jesus and says “Lord, if you wish you can make me clean.” Jesus responds to him “I will do it. Be made clean.”

How often in my life when I have become sickened by wallowing in my own sinfulness, have I called out those same words. And always he says to me “I will do it. Be made clean.” Yet in practicality, I will almost immediately in my actions respond “well, don’t make me quite THAT clean! There are those “special sins” I just really don’t want to give up!” The trust that he will replace those special sins with something far more important just doesn’t seem to be there.

Yet even then, knowing that I will fail shortly after asking for him to do all the work, he continues, time afer time, to say “I will do it. Be made clean.” He continues to do all the work even knowing I will fail to keep up my end of the “bargain” just as God has throughout history. It has been “our” story since the beginning: God gives us the rules; we break the rules; God breaks His rules and forgives us anyway, even knowing we’re going to repeat that pattern endlessly.

Scott Hahn commented at one point in a talk I heard that God’s “punishment” for our sins is to let us wallow in them until we just can’t stand it any more and finally cry to Him in desperation. “Father, if you wish it, You can make me clean.” And He always answers “I will do it.”

God seems more than able and willing to understand our human inadequacies; far more than we will allow to ourselves or each other. While I hope I will never presume upon His goodness and mercy, I am incredibly grateful for this God of infinite mercy and compassion. It is an amazing grace to know that He will continue to say “I will do it” each time I ask, and that my failure will cease to exist in His eyes.

Oh, that we could be like that with one another!

 

[utunumsint]

Amen to that.

This is what Volo Mundare means in my signature “I do wish it. Be clean.”

My thoughts on why he doesn’t immediately make us permanently clean is that he wants us to recognize his grace and mercy more and more, so that we can learn to become more open to this grace in our lives. So that we can recognize our own emptiness without his sustaining love.

And as you say, it teaches us to be merciful and loving to one another.

God bless,
Ut

 

[ncjohn]

Amen to that.

And as you say, it teaches us to be merciful and loving to one another.

I think that this may be the true meaning behind the parable of the sheep and goats, Matthew 25.

When we have learned to be merciful like that to one another–fed the hungry, visited the sick, etc–it is because we learned how to do that by having had mercy modeled to us and/or having experienced it ourselves. We do this as a way of “being” rather than a way of acting, as there is no other logical way to be at that point.

I think that is why you get that strange question in the parable: “When did we do these things for you Lord?” The clear implication that it wasn’t a conscious action of doing so to “work our way into heaven”, but just a way of being. We aren’t saved because we did these things; we’re saved because we have become Christlike enough that we are reflecting the face of Love itself by our new nature.

I believe that it was Gandhi that said “There is no way to peace; peace is the way.” As hard as it is, we truly have to cultivate a way of thinking that reflects that feeling.

Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut Ut; it kept my own reflection going on this.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Hi John:thumbsup: …I read your Opening Post earlier today and it reminded me of the daily struggle with self - and at times the moment by moment, second by second, struggle with self only to loose out in the end. It reminded me of the times when I thought I was at last getting somewhere, only to be set back firmly on my rear and reminded of who indeed I am. It reminded me of my life-dance - two steps forward, three back, one step forward, two steps forward, three back…and of He who is Lord of The Dance. My ex director (religious sister) sent me a card once at a time of struggle that read that sometimes our dreams seem to vanish into thin air, but that hope is still there buried deep in our hearts, and not to give up.
I just posted tomorrow’s meditation from that great work “Word Among Us” and it bought me a sense of hope and a renewed purpose to keep pushing onward, and I thought I would share it here:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=3859709&postcount=1

I believe that it was Gandhi that said “There is no way to peace; peace is the way.” As hard as it is, we truly have to cultivate a way of thinking that reflects that feeling.

Very true! Indeed Peace is a great criteria of the spiritual life and if it seems lost, then it is the time to start working to regain it and to hold it close as a great treasure and gift “My Peace I give to you”…not shall give, or will give…but give. We have it already … sometimes we can loose sight and awareness of it and then it is time to regain sight and awareness and walk always in Peace. Easier said than achieved, I know…but a great ideal and objective. I find personally that I most often loose Peace when I forget that I am indeed a sinner and daily prove that definition, and that He came for sinners for the righteous have no need of a doctor. Reen’s persistent image of The Good Shepherd is a wondrous one more than worth the contemplating and embracing…leaving all to seek that which is lost and on finding it carries it home on its shoulders and I think ever after has a tender love of the little weak and stumbling lamb…if I can only let myself be what I am, weak and stumbling.

Blessings and warm regards…Barb

 

[ncjohn]

Hi Barb,

It’s good to be in something of a reflective mood again, listening at least enough to hear the still, small voice. I guess it’s one of my own 2 steps forward, though I’m sure there will be some steps back to go with it too. Drat it!

Quote: Barb
I find personally that I most often loose Peace when I forget that I am indeed a sinner and daily prove that definition, and that He came for sinners for the righteous have no need of a doctor.

I know what you mean Barb. Any time I start thinking that it is ME with the wisdom rather than just being the instrument, I’ll quickly find my-self getting argumentative and losing my peace. It is why I have almost completely pulled out of the more contentious forums here, at least for the time beings, as I found my ego asserting itself too often in place of the prophetic message I had been able to proclaim for a while when the calling would come. In fact it pains me deeply when I find the spirituality forum being used to pose contentious or provocative questions, clearly posted to spur debate rather than reflection, since I see this area as the “safe haven” where one can come to refresh and reflect.

I guess we’ll see whether I can keep my spiritual ears open a little more for a bit. I am too easily drawn at times into the brambles of “life” that are produced by losing my focus and getting off the path.

Good to see you again Barb.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Hi Barb,

It’s good to be in something of a reflective mood again, listening at least enough to hear the still, small voice. I guess it’s one of my own 2 steps forward, though I’m sure there will be some steps back to go with it too. Drat it!

Quote: Barb
I find personally that I most often loose Peace when I forget that I am indeed a sinner and daily prove that definition, and that He came for sinners for the righteous have no need of a doctor.

I know what you mean Barb. Any time I start thinking that it is ME with the wisdom rather than just being the instrument, I’ll quickly find my-self getting argumentative and losing my peace. It is why I have almost completely pulled out of the more contentious forums here, at least for the time beings, as I found my ego asserting itself too often in place of the prophetic message I had been able to proclaim for a while when the calling would come. In fact it pains me deeply when I find the spirituality forum being used to pose contentious or provocative questions, clearly posted to spur debate rather than reflection, since I see this area as the “safe haven” where one can come to refresh and reflect.

I guess we’ll see whether I can keep my spiritual ears open a little more for a bit. I am too easily drawn at times into the brambles of “life” that are produced by losing my focus and getting off the path.

Good to see you again Barb.

Reading your Post, all I can say is that I know where you are coming from since I keep coming from the same place myself!

Our parish priest in the long ago told me that The Lord looks especially tenderly on those who know nothing but struggle in that two steps forward three steps back type of spiritual dance and probably will do so for life, refusing to give up. I hope so! If I reflect back on my life there have been victories, but I have no idea how, when, where or why - I just dont fight these same battles any more and that gives me hope for the current ones if I just hang in there and refuse to give up. Then too it has just come to mind that very encouraging saying - saints are sinners who don’t give up. I hope so on that score too! Ahhh hope! The Lord and His Grace most often are very humble and hidden workers, content to stay in the background…Blessings, John, and warm regards…cacha again sometime ‘on the rounds’ of these Forums:thumbsup: …Barb