THE ACCEPTABLE TIME

NOW IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME

Cast away from you all the sins you have committed

and make for yourself a new heart and a new spirit (EZ:18:31)

            During Lent the acclamation before the Gospel contains quotations like the one above instead of the normal Alleluia.  Many of them are one or two line statements that one could easily pass over without thought. That would be a mistake.  Instead, we would be wise to take them to heart, memorize them, and keep them in mind when we want to help someone find their way back to God or remind ourselves where the path is.

Even now, says the Lord, return to me with

Your whole heart for I am generous and merciful. (JL 2:12-13)

                  We tend to forget that God has been speaking to us since our creation.  Many people don’t understand that God is ever-present, unchanging, and above all simple in His pronouncements so that all can understand.  The images of God created over time by humans often obscure and overcomplicate our relationship with him, which makes God seem remote, angry, and fierce even.  But God deliberately spoke through human beings – the prophets -and it is those phrases that have encouraged, strengthened and motivated people down through the ages.  God speaks our language.

Behold, now is the acceptable time.

Behold, now is the day of salvation. (2Cor.6:2b)

                  God does not refer to Lent when he says now is the acceptable time.  God refers to today, this minute, this point in your life when you are in need of him.  To tell people to open the Bible and pick a random phrase is not nearly as effective as speaking the phrase to them with conviction. 

No power in the sky above or in the earth below-indeed,

nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate

 us from the love of God that is revealed

in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Rom 8:39)

            Hear the words of God, share them, bring comfort and peace to those who need it so desperately.  Don’t put it off thinking there will always be time.  You know that’s not true.  If there ever was a time when the people of God need to speak with conviction of the love of God.  This is it.

Blessings to you all,

Carol Lemelin OPA