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Echoes of Psalm 139

Director’s Reflection

Dear Companions on the Journey,

Some thoughts on the journey…

Read Psalm 139 and then read this “echo” of that psalm by Charles K. Robinson:

I know you. I created you. I am creating you. I have loved you from your mother’s womb. You have fled—as you now know—from my love.  But I love you nevertheless and not-the-less and however far you flee, it is I who sustain your very power of fleeing, and I will never finally let you go. I accept you as you are. You are forgiven. I know all your sufferings. I have always known them. Far beyond your understanding, when you suffer, I suffer. I also knew all of the little tricks by which you try to hide the ugliness you have made of your life from yourself and others.  But you are beautiful. You are beautiful more deeply within than you can see. You are beautiful because you yourself, in the unique one that only you are, reflect already something of the beauty of my holiness in a way which shall never end. You are beautiful also because I, and I alone, see the beauty you shall become. Through the transforming power of my love you shall become perfectly beautiful. You shall become perfectly beautiful in a  uniquely irreplaceable way, which neither you nor I will work out alone.  For we shall work it out together.

During this year, we Paulists observe Paulist Founder Isaac Hecker’s 200th anniversary.  From Hecker’s notes on the Holy Spirit:

Through the Holy Spirit the world was called out of chaos.
Through Him the patriarchs and prophets were inspired.
Through Him the way to the Incarnation was prepared.
Through Him the Church was established.
Through Him every Christian soul is regenerated.
Through Him all things receive their perfection and are glorified.
Through the Holy Spirit the martyrs received the strength to sustain triumphantly their sufferings.
Through Him the apostles of nations were filled with zeal and power to convert nations.
Through Him the innumerable litany of the Saints were sanctified.
Through the Holy Spirit we receive all that is Holy, Good, True, and Beautiful.

What do you think?

And let us pray for/with one another.
Michael
The Paulist Center