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40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday in the Fifth Week of Lent, 30 March 2023
Genesis 17:3-9   >>> +++ <<<.  John 8:51-59

Your words today,
dear God our Father
remind me of my venial sins,
the most common sins I take for granted
because they are "small", too little and 
not fatal like mortal sins.
Unfortunately, there is something sinister
with venial sins being the most common of sins,
repetitious to the point we get discouraged
and even depressed of the need for
conversion,
to break free from
our cycle of venial sins.

"For what?"
"Para que?"
"Ganun din naman, uulit din!"

Abraham was already 99 years old
when You, O God, formalized with him
Your covenant to become the father of all nations; 
how good he was not discouraged 
to the point of being depressed, 
giving up Your plans, Father,
waiting for Isaac's birth
because he was very old,
perhaps even sinful.

Merciful Father,
forgive me when I act like
the people who tried stoning Jesus 
when He said "before Abraham came to be, 
I AM" (John 8:58); don't let me get to that
point that whatever You say would mean nothing
to me because of my repetitious venial sins;
do not let me be discouraged, God,
because discouragement indicates
I trust more myself than You, O Lord.
Amen.