The Passion of Christ

 

Passion of Christ Part XII

Tear your hearts not your clothes 

   God relented because Moses pleaded to our Lord. In this lent season we should pray to our lord for forgiveness of our sins. Exodus 32:11–14 (NJB): Moses tried to pacify Yahweh his God. ‘Yahweh,’ he said, ‘why should your anger blaze at your people, whom you have brought out of Egypt by your great power and mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, “He brought them out with evil intention, to slaughter them in the mountains and wipe them off the face of the earth?” Give up your burning wrath; relent over this disaster intended for your people. 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to whom you swore by your very self and made this promise: “I shall make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven, and this whole country of which I have spoken, I shall give to your descendants, and it will be their heritage for ever.” ’ 14 Yahweh then relented over the disaster which he had intended to inflict on his people. 

   We are so blessed that the Church has given us many seasons and many holidays of obligations to remind us, how to worship our Lord, how we obey His commandments, how we believe in Him and His Eternal presence in Eucharist. Moreover many saints are remembered in the Church Calendar of Feast days. The examinations of our conscience is very important and test ourselves whether we are in His presence or not. Genesis 17:1 (NJB): When Abram was ninety-nine years old Yahweh appeared to him and said, ‘I am El Shaddai. Live in my presence, be perfect,  God asked Abraham to be in the presence of God. God relented when Jonah preached the Word of our Lord to the Ninevites. Jonah 3:4–10 (NJB): Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city and then proclaimed, ‘Only forty days more and Nineveh will be overthrown.’ 5 And the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least. 6 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth and sat down in ashes. 7 He then had it proclaimed throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his nobles, as follows: ‘No person or animal, herd or flock, may eat anything; they may not graze, they may not drink any water. 8 All must put on sackcloth and call on God with all their might; and let everyone renounce his evil ways and violent behaviour. 9 Who knows? Perhaps God will change his mind and relent and renounce his burning wrath, so that we shall not perish.’ 10 God saw their efforts to renounce their evil ways. God relented about the disaster which he had threatened to bring on them, and did not bring it. Why because the people of Nineveh repented and the king proclaimed and declared fasting for forty days along with the citizens of the country. 

  We should tear heart or should have or deep repentance to overcome our misdeeds and sins. Cry to our Lord to get forgiveness for our sins. He will pour on us  His mercy and grace to believe in Him. Joel 2:13 (NJB): Tear your hearts and not your clothes, and come back to Yahweh your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in faithful love, and he relents about inflicting disaster.