A new spirit
From today’s Scripture: “I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts.”—Ez 36:26
This Scripture passage is applied not to individuals, but rather to the people as a whole, the citizens of Israel in exile. In many ways, our nation may benefit from a new heart and a new spirit. Polarization is a popular word, but sometimes can be a polite way to say “hatred.” Sometimes, people seem to hate people who do not agree with them.
I often do not sense a national mood of compassion and mercy toward people of various races, of immigrants and refugees, or the poor and many other groups. Yet this can change, if we repent of our own hardness of heart and allow God’s love to give us a heart transplant. A new spirit, the Holy Spirit, can bring fresh breath into a nation in need of mouthwash!
Let us pray: Dear Lord, may our nation repent of all attitudes contrary to your love, mercy, justice, and compassion. May I lead the way for national repentance by changing my own attitudes so I can see every person as a child of God and baptized person as my brother or sister in Christ.
Today’s author is Father Steve Pawelk, Second Vice President of Glenmary and Director of Glenmary’s novitiate program.