Return to the Lord July 14

Piety
Let us pray: Lord, you created us with clean hearts. We went out into the world like sheep in the midst of wolves and our hearts were corrupted and soiled. Soiled by our actions that strayed from our mission. They were soiled by thoughts that coveted money and material goods. Soiled by our words that gossiped about our neighbors.

Lord, we know we can not cleanse ourselves without your grace. Today, we turn to you and ask you to renew your Spirit in us. Cleanse us from our faults and always dwell within us so we are never out of your presence again. Amen.

Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/071406.shtml

“Return to the LORD.” Hosea 14:3

When you rush out to the mailbox to see what news the postal service delivers to you the advertisers have the biggest envelops and flyers. These colorful works scream “SALE!” Midsummer Sale. Early Fall Sale. Pre-Christmas Sale.

Some of the smallest envelopes we get have invitations in them. Although they are usually small, they are sufficiently elegant for the occasions. Frequently the important invitations are on paper or cardstock that is beige or off-white in color. They ask for our presence at a wedding, a party or a celebration. Not too flashy and not commanding our attention like the colorful catalogs telling us how to save a penny if we spend a twenty.

Today, God sends us an invitation to come back…to return to our rightful place. What belongs to God? What is good comes from God and belongs to God.

What belongs to the world? What is separated from God belongs to the world. God created everything good. However, in separating from God, corruption comes into the picture and threatens to harm all the original goodness of God’s creation.

No matter the separation, we have a great invitation back into the Garden Party today. No matter what we have done, no matter how we have turned our back to the Lord or worshipped “the work of our own hands,” we are invited back to the Lord.

We are orphans seeking the love of a new parent. When we turn back, we will find that the Lord still loves us freely like He always did even when we were stumbling down the wrong path.

I will be like the dew for Israel:he shall blossom like the lily;He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar,and put forth his shoots.His splendor shall be like the olive treeand his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar.Again they shall dwell in his shadeand raise grain;They shall blossom like the vine,and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon. Hosea 14:6-8

Action

Invite and Accept.

Who or what separates you from God? From those you love? Maybe it is just physical distance. Maybe there is some emotional distance in the relationship.

Today, can you invite someone back to a closer relationship with you?

What is in your mailbox? Do you find an invitation to you from someone else, asking you to come back? Accept. Say yes.