Forgive us our sins

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Ever notice how many of the Rosary prayers are plural, rather than singular?

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name….

Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

I have to confess that I’ve always thought of this as me talking about myself, along with others who are also talking about themselves. But there may be a different way.

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Journey

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It’s so discouraging to realize how inclined we are to sin and depravity. I guess this is the universal battle of what it means to be human.

Why did God set it up this way?

I’m starting to recognize that it’s about using my life to learn, to discover, to overcome, and to become the potential God has put within me.

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Blind

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I was part of an RCIA team for many years, and absolutely loved the weeks which led up to the Easter Vigil initiation of our new church members. It’s always a very emotional time.

If the priest chooses, he can use three Gospel readings from Church Year A for the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays of Lent. These are three particularly deep and powerful stories of Jesus’ ministry while on earth.

On this 4th Sunday of Lent, the RCIA reading is of the man born blind. It’s something I can related to very much this year.

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Us

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I firmly believe that we’re here to help each other.

There are many times when it feels like I’m on a lonely journey, it’s about ME finding my holy path and getting to heaven. But Jesus made it clear that it’s not just about loving God, but loving each other.

Love your enemies and do good to them,
and lend expecting nothing back;
then your reward will be great
and you will be children of the Most High,
for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Luke 27:37
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Lead us to heaven

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This is Good Shepherd Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Easter. We don’t tend to think very deeply about the term Shepherd, treating it as just one of the many names we use for Christ.

But we are the sheep in this metaphor. And sheep aren’t, well, very honored. We view them as rather dumb.

Which is actually appropriate. When it comes to spiritual wisdom, we tend to rate rather poorly. Well, maybe it’s just me.

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