No mess is too big

Readings for Tuesday March 2, 2010

First Reading: Isaiah 1:10,16-20
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 50
Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12


Come now, let us set things right, says the LORD: Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; Though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool. If you are willing, and obey, you shall eat the good things of the land; But if you refuse and resist, the sword shall consume you: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken! (Is 1:18-20)

The other day I was trying very carefully to reach across our kitchen counter to pick up a hot pan, little did I know it that my sleeve was about ready to get caught on our wine rack. When it did get caught, it knocked over our wine rack sending one of the bottles (naturally my wife's favorite) sliding across the counter and onto the kitchen floor ... instant mess! I felt awful, not only did I ruin this bottle of wine, but I made a huge mess in the kitchen with glass and wine everywhere, and on top of that we were just getting ready to sit down to eat dinner. So instead of starting dinner, we decided to start the clean up. Once we got most of the big pieces picked up, we then proceeded to dinner. After we ate, came the job of doing the heavy duty cleaning. We swept and mopped, we pulled out appliances and cleaned under them and tried our best to make sure that every piece of glass was picked up and every drop of wine was mopped up. In the end, even though what had seemed like a huge disaster and massive mess, ended up being something that was very manageable to clean up.

As we read the first reading from Isaiah today, we see that God is also pretty good at cleaning up messes, and we are talking about big messes that we create in our lives. When reading from the prophet we see such beautiful words to tell the people that there is no mess that is too big for God. It says, "Come now, let us set things right ... though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; though they may be crimson red, they may become white as wool." The Lord isn't interested in where we have been and what we have done, His love and mercy are so abundant, and He is a forgiving Father who just wants His children with Him. No matter what we have done, the Lord wants to help us clean up our mess. He wants to take this life that we have made a ruin of and help us pick up all the broken pieces, sweep it out, and make things new again ... "white as snow."

I can tell you from experience, that there truly is no mess that is too big for the Lord to clean up. I spent most of my life not knowing the Lord and following my own ways. I spent many years creating quite a mess, but by His wonderful grace I was made new and now the journey that I am on today is not about making messes but rather setting things right. Now matter what we have done, or where we have been, it is never too late to turn to Him and to let Him help you set things right.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for all that you have blessed us with in our lives. Lord, you are so good to us, and we praise you for the great gifts in our lives. Thank you for your love and mercy, which you pour out freely to us. Lord, you always forgive us of our sins, help us to forgive others in this same way. Lord, you are our everlasting God, we place all of our hope and trust in you, for all that you offer is good. Help us stay on your path until the end when we can be with you in heaven. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.