Come back to me with all your heart (Hosea 14:1)
Song Come Back to Me (Gregory Norbet)
All sing: Long have I waited for your coming home to me and living deeply our new life.
A Thought ‘Jesus in the confessional is not a dry cleaner. Confession is an encounter with Jesus, with this Jesus who waits for us, who waits for us just as we are.’ (Pope Francis)
Reflection One Christ the Bridge (St. Catherine of Siena)
I have made a bridge of my Word…I gave you a bridge, my Son, so that you could cross over the river, without being drowned…I want you to look at the bridge and notice its greatness… the bridge has walls and a roof of mercy …it stretches from heaven to earth, joining the earth of your humanity with the greatness of God…so the height stooped to the earth of your humanity, bridging the gulf between us and rebuilding the road…my Son’s having made of himself a bridge for you would not bring you to life unless you make your way along that bridge.
Action
You might consider starting the journey of reconciliation by approaching one person who you have offended recently or in the past and with whom you want to make up. If that is not possible, for whatever reason, you might write a letter of apology even if you never send it.
Daily Prayer O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you…`
Song: Bridge Over Troubled Waters ( Paul Simon )
Prayer Let us pray,
All say: Compassionate and loving God,
Open our hearts to the grace of forgiveness that flows so generously from yours.
May your patient love and acceptance encourage us to take the first step along the bridge of reconciliation.
Sustain us on that journey especially when we are tempted to give up. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.