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40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II Monday in the Second Week of Lent, 06 March 2023 Daniel 9:4-10 >< +++ >< +++ >< Luke 6:36-38
O God, on this first working day in the second week of Lent, I imitate Daniel's prayer and confession of sins in the first reading:
“We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws. We have not obeyed your servants… we are shamefaced even to this day.”
Daniel 9:5-6, 7
It has been a long time, dear Father, when I have been bold and true enough to admit, to confess before you that indeed, I have SINNED, been WICKED... I have REBELLED and DEPARTED from your commandments... I have NOT OBEYED... and now SHAMEFACED. Dear God, for so long, I have followed the trend of this world, of this life, of "diluting" my sinfulness and culpability, of always looking for somebody else or something to blame for my sins and evil deed, of moving the lines of morality so as to feel less guilty, less sinful, not really bad when in fact, it is when we are most evil, when I am so far from you and shamefaced.
God, help me recover this being shamefaced; help us all for we have no more shame at all that we cover up our sins and evil; worst, O Lord, our lack of shame for our sins prevent us to a large degree in being merciful like you and tragically pushes us to being so judgmental of others sinfulness.
This Lent, O God, let us recover our sense of shame; let us be shamefaced in Jesus Christ your Son. Amen.
