Ash Wednesday: “Longing for Mercy” Finger Painting: Ronald Raab, CSC 2016
Click here for a short article on Pope Francis’ Lenten message for this Year of Mercy
I painted this piece with my fingers last week. The painting expresses my own desire for the love and compassion of Jesus as well as the desire that I experience from so many people with whom I minister. So many people wait to be loved just as they are, to be anointed with mercy and given another chance to live fully in human skin. Lent invites us to explore love in Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. Here is a litany of prayer based on the Sunday Lenten scriptures:
Litany for Lent 2016 Cycle C
The Year of Mercy
Text: Ronald Raab, CSC
Response: Have mercy on me, Jesus, have mercy
(Ash Wednesday)
When you invite me to pray with all my heart
When you show me how to fast from harmful ways
When you model for me how to give to others
When you call me to repentance and belief in you
When you challenge me to reform my life
(First Sunday of Lent)
When sin leads me into the lonely desert
When doubt shows me my nakedness
When addiction wraps me in lust and misfortune
When power takes over my soul and future
When greed fills my days and my nights
(Second Sunday of Lent)
When I live in darkness and mistrust
When I cannot lift my head to see your face
When I want to remain only in the past
When I cannot envision your glory and love
When I am overcome with sleep and depression
(Third Sunday of Lent C)
When I feed on only violence and hardship
When I bear hopelessness and destruction
When I destroy new life because of my cynicism and apathy
When I bear only weeds and division in my life
When l transplant my life into negativity and sadness
(Third Sunday Cycle A) OPTION
When you tell me all that I have ever done
When you look me in the eyes and receive me as I am
When you understand the truth of me
When you show me how to live differently
When you reveal love and satisfaction to me
(Fourth Sunday of Lent C)
When I squander my life and my soul
When I run far from you in the day and in the night
When I mistrust my life and my family
When I can no longer be trust with your grace and care for me
When I hesitate to come home to your mercy and forgiveness
(Fourth Sunday of Lent Cycle A) OPTION
When I am blind to your real presence and your mercy
When I am blind to those who love and care for me
When I am blind to the love you offer my heart
When I am blind to the path you have for my future
When I am blind to the miracles of new life and forgiveness
(Fifth Sunday of Lent Cycle C)
When I do not feel worthy of your love
When I am confused about my past and my future
When I doubt that you care for me and protect me
When I cannot forgive myself and other people
When I am first to condemn myself and even my friends
(Fifth Sunday of Lent Cycle A) OPTION
When I am cast down from sin and shame
When I see only death and resistance for my future
When I am dead and putrid in my guilt and ignorance
When I do not trust your presence for me
When I cannot imagine the new life that awaits me
(Palm Sunday of Lent Cycle C)
When I am accused of wrongdoing and injustice
When I cannot die to self and live in your love
When I am confused about my journey to you
When I would rather live in comfort and put my trust in you
When I truly desire your love and mercy
(For any Sunday or any use during the Year of Mercy)
When I cannot trust that you care for me
When I feel unworthy of your love for me
When I cannot forgive my past or trust my decisions
When I cannot look up from my path of self-righteousness
When I have lost my way and cannot find you
When I cannot find my place within the Church
When I hide the truth of my life and misuse my gifts
When I cannot trust others who believe in you
When I hold back my voice and talents
When I hesitate to live in the love you have for me
When I fear your judgment of my life and sin
When I give up on your mercy and question your presence
When I am too tired to care for my own life
When I am dejected by others and intimidated by you
When I give up on my talents and future
When I hold you responsible for war and violence
When I blame you for my ill health and financial misfortune
When I do not trust your care for my family
When I am not certain you exist in my uncomfortable life
When I do not know if you really exist in our violent world
When I cannot find you in my sickness and lack of breath
When I ache for your tender care in my fever and tiredness
When I am tired by the journey and exhausted from starting over
When I search in the decay of my attitude and the crumbling of my faith
When I wait alone in the nighttime of my death
When I yearn for the Shepherd of my soul
When I seek the Light living in my own darkness
When I am hungry for the Bread of Life
When I finally understand my connection to the Vine of Life
When I wait for the revival of my life in the Holy Spirit
When the dust settles from my search for you
When I tire of running after everything but you
When I am exhausted from my fear that I hold in my body
When the path opens up for my life in you
When we finally see each other face to face
When I feel I have to pull myself up with my own bootstraps
When I think I have to save my own life
When I am certain I am not good enough
When I blame myself for how my life has turned out
When I hold on to fear and grasp only sorrow
Broken But Not Divided 