Plenteous Redemption

 “With you is forgiveness...and plenteous redemption." Psalm 130:4,7

Asking forgiveness is hard. As a Catholic, I am supposed to confess to a priest at least once a year. But every time I go, I recite the same litany of sins!

It is such an awesome thing that God's second name is forgiveness! And with Him is plenteous, bountiful, redemption! That means that for as many times as we go to God, through a priest, or just direct to God Himself, He is ready and willing to forgive us and we can be as white as snow! He knows what we are made of - Psalm 103:14 says that he knows our frame, and He knows we are dust!

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

Cardinal John Henry Newman, an English Catholic theologian who was formerly an Anglican priest, coined the term “aboriginal vicar of Christ” to describe the conscience. God gave us this wonderful gift of an innate, internal voice within us that discerns right from wrong almost like a gps saying ‘go here’ or don’t go here’. It’s a direct, personal connection to God’s will. But we have to listen. It’s like when the prophet Elijah encountered the “still, small voice” of God in Kings 9:12. God does not speak in power but subtly, gently, and only usually when we take the time to attentively listen. 

Bishop Robert Barron tells the amusing story of the actor Shia LaBeouf when he first met him in a Capuchin monastery in California. Shia was immersing himself in the daily life of the friars in preparation for the movie about Padre Pio he was making. The Bishop had just finished giving a talk to the deacons when the actor sat next to him in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel just off of the main church. They were silent for a while, until Shia asked, “I'm just kind of wondering what what's going on here. Are you waiting for Him to come out?” 

When we listen to God, we need some sort of expectation He will speak. Yes, we’re waiting for Him like a friend we can sit with in comfortable companionship. We can tell Him anything! “Speak Lord, your servant is listening!”