Forgiveness, Mercy, and Inspiration On the Rocks

At Mass on the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, children inspired us with Martina McBride’s song Anyway about building, dreaming, believing, singing, loving, and most of all praying.  McBride attributed her inspiration in part to a poem that Mother Teresa had hung in a children’s home in Calcutta, that was inspired by a list of Paradoxical Commandments written by Kent Keith.

These “paradoxical” commandments include kindness, honesty, happiness, goodness, helping others, and loving.  Inspiration can come from anywhere, from songs and poems, from children and adults, and flows freely from one person to the next.

Father Fred pointed out some symbols of St. Peter. Looking around the church, I noticed the stained-glass window on the east side of the church, the one of Jesus handing St. Peter the keys to the Kingdom.  Although I have frequently gazed at this window, I had never noticed that this window hangs directly over the confessional.

Matthew 16:13-19 speaks to this event and to the forgiveness of sins.  “I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Doors during ancient times were often secured by leather ties, hence the Gospel writers used this figure of speech.  As you prepare to “loose the ties that bind” you in Reconciliation this Lent, consider all the earthly attachments that currently bind you to habits or attitudes that take you away from God.

Do you spend an excessive amount of time reading, watching TV, or playing video games?  Could you spend this time more productively in dreaming, believing, building, singing, loving, and praying?  Would spending more time with God attending Mass and praying inspire you to more kindness, honesty, goodness, and works of mercy?

Our statue of St. Peter sits in the midst of a rock garden.  Stop by to see the rock upon which the Church is built.  Inspiration can come from any place even among the rocks.  Be inspired.  Be inspiring.  It may not always be easy.  But do it anyway!

At Mass on the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, children inspired us with Martina McBride’s song Anyway about building, dreaming, believing, singing, loving, and most of all praying.  McBride attributed her inspiration in part to a poem that Mother Teresa had hung in a children’s home in Calcutta, that was inspired by a list of Paradoxical Commandments written by Kent Keith.

These “paradoxical” commandments include kindness, honesty, happiness, goodness, helping others, and loving.  Inspiration can come from anywhere, from songs and poems, from children and adults, and flows freely from one person to the next.

Father Fred pointed out some symbols of St. Peter. Looking around the church, I noticed the stained-glass window on the east side of the church, the one of Jesus handing St. Peter the keys to the Kingdom.  Although I have frequently gazed at this window, I had never noticed that this window hangs directly over the confessional.

Matthew 16:13-19 speaks to this event and to the forgiveness of sins.  “I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Doors during ancient times were often secured by leather ties, hence the Gospel writers used this figure of speech.  As you prepare to “loose the ties that bind” you in Reconciliation this Lent, consider all the earthly attachments that currently bind you to habits or attitudes that take you away from God.

Do you spend an excessive amount of time reading, watching TV, or playing video games?  Could you spend this time more productively in dreaming, believing, building, singing, loving, and praying?  Would spending more time with God attending Mass and praying inspire you to more kindness, honesty, goodness, and works of mercy?

Our statue of St. Peter sits in the midst of a rock garden.  Stop by to see the rock upon which the Church is built.  Inspiration can come from any place even among the rocks.  Be inspired.  Be inspiring.  It may not always be easy.  But do it anyway!