There are many ways that guilt can infiltrate our lives. Many times, because of circumstances in our lives beyond our control, we've been made to feel guilty for things we never should have felt guilty for in the first place! For things that weren't our fault, for being judged a certain way, criticized unjustly, etc.We all carry some form of guilt for things that we have done wrong, all of which can be forgiven and purified! But I think for most of us, the guilt and shame we carry that we have no business carrying can be the hardest to eradicate, the hardest to trust God with, the hardest to believe he actually wants to and will free us of; we struggle to really believe in his love for us and that no shadow of guilt or shame can be cast further than the light of his grace.
Whether you're carrying guilt from past sins and failings, or guilt that is completely undeserved but that you can't seem to let go of, or a combination of the two, this post is a poetic reflection on today's (Tuesday, July 24th) first reading from Micah. First, the reading:
Micah 7:14-15, 18-20
Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, that dwells apart in a woodland, in the midst of Carmel. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old; As in the days when you came from the land of Egypt, show us wonderful signs.
Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance; Who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency, And will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt? You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins; You will show your faithfulness to Jacob, and grace to Abraham, As you have sworn to our fathers from days of old.
The Word of the Lord
Poetic Reflection on this Reading from Micah
What Does God Do With Our Guilt?
I come to you God,
over and over again,
Unsure of who I am,
ashamed of who I've been.
The guilt, the shame, the tears I bring,
You say they have no place;
You tell me that you take them,
make them new, replace with grace.
Yet still I doubt your goodness,
and try to hide from you my face.
Why don't I believe you God,
and all you say is true?
Why is it easier to believe the lies
than cling to the words of you?
You remove our guilt
and pardon our sin,
yet we stay in that space,
letting guilt and shame win.
You God tell us one thing,
yet we believe another,
denying ourselves the freedom
we believe is for some other.
You come in and tell us again
that we deserve your love.
We inherit the Kingdom of your peace
you've already fit it for us like a glove.
You break through the lies
and your anger is abated;
you yearn to bring us rest,
you see our face and are elated.
You delight in us,
you grant us grace,
you delight in gazing
... on our face.
On us you have compassion
over and over again,
treading underfoot our guilt,
as if it had never been.
You cast away our sinfulness
and by this show your faithfulness.
Restore O God, my joyfulness,
That I may walk in blamelessness!
