Thursday 1 August 2024

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Today is Thursday 1 August, the feast of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, in the 17th week of Ordinary Time.

Paul Zach sings, ‘Create in Me’, a setting of Psalm 51.

Create in me a clean heart, O Lord

Create in me a clean heart, O Lord

Against you only I have sinned

Done evil in your sight

But you have shown me what I’ve done

With mercy in your eyes

Then wash my shame and guilt away

My weary soul renew

From all my sinning turn your face

Let me return to you

Create in me a clean heart, O Lord

Create in me a clean heart, O Lord

So I will give you what you ask

A humble, broken heart

A spirit burning down to ash

Within your flame, O God

And this will be your mercy, Lord

Transforming all of me

Til every act and every word

Your love and glory speaks

Create in me a clean heart, O Lord

Create in me a clean heart, O Lord

Have mercy on me

According to your endless love

Today’s reading is from the Prophet Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 18:1-6

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ‘Come, go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.’ So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him.

Then the word of the Lord came to me: Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the Lord. Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

This is one of the best-known images in the Old Testament. God as the potter and we as the clay. Even if you are aware of your own imperfection or brokenness, God cannot give up on you. God is always at work even when we are broken. Might you practice yielding a little more to God at work in you?

For a moment, might you let go of your own control of your life? Can you breathe out the tension of it? Can you breathe in your desire for God to work in you?

Take a few breaths doing this . . .

Listen again and let yourself rest in God’s loving hands . . .

Whatever is on your heart, share this with God, in whose hands you are held . . .

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.