Let us set thing right

Come now, let us set things right, says the Lord.

Isaiah spoke the cry of God’s heart. As God looked at his people, he saw “misdeeds,” “evil,” and the desolation that such attitudes bring upon any people. Moved by what he saw, he called the prophet Isaiah to speak: “Let us set things right!”. Come and be cleansed, he pleaded; come and receive healing, restoration, freedom.

Let us set things right.

This was the refrain even when our first parents fell into sin. God did not give up on them. Instead, he promised salvation. And from that moment on, in human suffering and war, in faithlessness and rebellion, in exile and slavery, God’s call remained constant: Return to me. Allow me to remove the walls that separate us. Let me forgive and wash you clean.

God’s desire remains the same today. In fact, you don’t have to wait for a special time to reconcile with the Lord. You can come to him every day and set things right. All you need to do is take time each evening to review your day and seek the Lord’s forgiveness for any sins you may have committed. Before you go to bed, reflect on your thoughts and actions that day and bring to the Lord any ways in which you have missed the mark. If something serious comes up, you can tell the Lord about it and make sure you get to Confession as soon as possible. It is a freeing experience to clear the decks every evening. It can even help you get a good night’s sleep!

There’s no time like the present to start. Quiet your heart, and listen closely. You will hear the Lord calling you, urging you, Come, let us set things right.

Sometimes we think that Lent is all about our turning back to the Lord in repentance. But Lent is also about God reaching out to us, offering us a torrent of healing love and merciful grace. It’s about God doing everything in his power to set things right with us. Remember this when you examine your conscience: God is seeking you, always ready to heal and forgive.