E&W 6-22-14

Sacred Story

Encouragements & Wisdom: June 22, 2014

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Encouragements and Wisdom: June 22, 2014 (PDF).

E & W reflections are additional helps for your Sacred Story prayer journey. Reflect on them at week’s beginning or outside of your 15-minute prayer periods.

The Affirmations

Christ, who is close to the brokenhearted, restores my lost innocence.

As we have mentioned many times, the tragic story of innocence lost, opens us to a world of shame, violence, betrayal and death takes history by storm. Great artists through the ages have depicted the shame of our first parents covering their nakedness, cowering in fear as they leave Paradise.

A recent news report in the USA described a 23-year old male who announced that he was still a virgin. Many reactions on social media described it as “brave” for this young man to be known as a virgin. It is ironic to consider that in earlier eras, the situation was reversed – it would be far more risky to publically profess one’s loss of innocence! It is important to note that one of the antonyms of “innocence” is “knowledge.” The fact that professing innocence today is considered an act of bravery demonstrates how the “knowledge” of good and evil has permeated society.

But the mercy and forgiveness of Christ does not end with the mending of hearts broken by the original fall. Christ’s mercy and forgiveness will restore our lost innocence and make us once again true children of the Father. The height of Jesus’ redemptive work in making a “new heavens and a new earth” is the restoration and glorification of humanity. We must now commit ourselves wholeheartedly to this new knowledge of love.

Lord Jesus Christ, you have paid the price for the world’s lost innocence. We praise you more than ever, because in your love you have restored us to friendship with the Father. May we always praise you and labor with you,
by living in the true knowledge of love, in
Creation, Presence, Memory, Mercy and Eternity.

Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.

(Ps 127:12-13)

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Pope Francis celebrates Corpus Christi 2013