day twenty-four

NOVENA OF TRUST - Day Twenty-Four

"That You give me the grace to accept forgiveness and to forgive others. - Jesus, I trust in You."

As I pray a daily Novena of Trust for those we serve and interact with at Joseph's House, the Lord often places certain people or certain experiences upon my heart at each petition.

This petition always brings to mind those who are unable to forgive themselves or accept forgiveness from God, for choices they have made in the past. Their pain is great and can often be one of two types.

The pain that comes with the grace to know our sins can be pain of guilt or pain of true contrition. The pain of guilt will keep us in a place where we feel we are unworthy of forgiveness and unable to move forward; the pain of true contrition on the other hand, a gift from God, will lead us to ask forgiveness and accept forgiveness, moving forward in the light of Christ.

May we today allow the Holy Spirit into any pain and unforgiveness we hold on to. May we accept fully the forgiveness of God and others and may we forgive others as God forgives us!