Meditations

Life-Giving Pain Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am weak. Psalm 6 verse 2 Dear God, I cannot offer anything that could cause you to have mercy on me, except my unworthiness. Look and see how much I need your help, and reach out to help me. I am aware of my need, and, Lord, I am happy to be aware of it, if that awareness helps me keep mistrusting myself. You have afflicted my flesh in order to purify it. You have broken my body to heal my soul. With Life-Giving Pain you are tearing me away from corrupt pleasures. My physical suffering afflicts me deeply, yet I was blithely untroubled by the illness of my soul, which had fallen prey to vain ambition, to the burning fever of raging passions. I was sick, and I did not believe I was. My sickness was so great that I was not even aware of it. I was like a man with a high fever, who mistakes the burning of his fever for the flush of good health. How blessed is my sickness, because it is opening my eyes and changing my heart.