LOCKDOWN-3:16

NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART: SEVENTH DAY –

PLAGUED WITH DOUBT.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE Psalm 139:14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

REFLECTION FOR THE SEVENTH DAY Throughout history, humans have sought explanations for things that are beyond our normal control or understanding. While God is often credited as the sender of plagues – usually to teach some moral lesson – we tend to focus our wrath these days on human scapegoats.

It may be arguable whether Covid was humanity’s fault or just nature doing what it does, but the rest of the year’s horrors – increasing presidential authoritarianism, environmental destruction, racism, inequality, ignorance, violence and more – were very much human work.

Despite our failings, humanity still has the capacity to change the world around it for the better. The pandemic has shown how we are capable of looking out for each other during difficulty. We can be selfish, we can be egotistical, but we can be impressive.

In a year when a 99 year-old persuaded us to donate £20m by doing laps of his garden, when we hung up bunting to remember the battles fought by our grandparents and great-grandparents, and when we came out to our doorsteps each week to show our appreciation of health workers, our ability to show love and compassion for the sacrifices of others is evident.

TODAY’S PRAYER Lord, give us a consistent kindness and compassion for others. Keep us always tender-hearted even when the world delivers difficult blows and setbacks. Teach us how to live abundantly into the future as people of hope, greeting each new day with eagerness and excitement. And indelibly remind us that we are among your forgiven and beloved community.