Sometimes a scripture passage will speak to your soul. This passage from the prophet Isaiah (used this past Lent on March 13th) really spoke to me. I would like to share some of my prayer, my conversation with God, as I reflected on this passage. I will quote the words of Isaiah in regular type, and put my own words in italics. Notice, I don’t include the entire passage. I focus here on just the words that stood out for me. Also, my words may be a little disjointed at times. What follows is not a thesis, but a simple conversation with God.

Thus says the Lord: Hold it right there, Lord. I see great power in these four little words. It’s Isaiah’s way of saying, “Listen up, people.” (I’m a people!) “The Lord has something important to say to you”… That’s why I’m praying with these words today, my Lord. I’m listening for something–anything–you might be saying to me today in this passage.

In a time of favor: Let me stop there again, God. Isn’t every time a time of favor? My faith and experience tell me there is no time when you cannot pour your love and grace down upon us… upon me! In good times and bad… when things are going my way…and NOT! When I have clarity of vision and when I’m inching my way in the fog...anytime, every time can be a time of your favor.

In a time of favor I answer you. I hate to quibble with you, my Beloved One, but I don’t always hear you answering me… Or maybe (if I’m more honest) your answer is not the answer I want to hear, so I close my ears… Or maybe your answer does not come in words at all, but in silence… at least for now. And your silence demands humble waiting from me… or simple trusting… And, as you know very well, God, I am not always good at waiting or trusting. You can blame that on my Creator! (hee! hee!)

On the day of salvation I help you; and I have kept you and given you a covenant to the people, to restore the land… Restore… Let’s stop there for a moment. So you, my gracious God, are a restorer. In fact you are THE Great Restorer! How consoling is that? I watch HGTV sometimes (as you know) and I love to see these two guys in Detroit take a falling-apart old house (roof caving in, floor boards missing, windows broken, foundation in need of repair) and transform it into a beautiful new affordable home for some lucky family. Slowly, they’re restoring those neighborhoods one house at a time. I’ve learned from them that it’s much harder to restore an old home than to build a new one from scratch. An old house sets limitations. It also evokes greater creativity and ingenuity on the part of the restorer. And creativity and ingenuity are two of your strong suits, dear Lord. With any restoration project, so much painstaking work is involved. But that’s you, dear God. You restore our souls painstakingly!

Saying to the prisoners, Come out! When I read these words I see images of individuals being released from prison–those who had been in prison 10, 20, 30 years–especially those sentenced for a crime they didn’t commit! What joy is on their faces… tears… hugs from family and friends. Or, I see images of the Allied forces in WW II freeing the prisoners in those awful, awful death camps… The prisoners look like walking skeletons, too weak even to rejoice. That’s how your love is ready to free all of us, dear Lord, even me. Wow! Please free me from habits and attitudes that imprison me and restrict my true freedom as a child of God.

To those in darkness, Show yourselves! What are some of the darknesses I need to be freed from, God? The darkness of fear… ignorance… pain… the feeling of abandonment… my past injuries… the lies that masquerade as truth… my personal shame… my hopelessness. Where do I start?… Where do we start, Lord?

Along the way they shall find pasture… They shall not hunger or thirst… God, I thank you for the nourishment you have given me throughout my life… the nourishment of Mom and Dad and my precious siblings.. the nourishment of growing up on a small farm… of a good education… of the Sisters of Notre Dame… the nourishment of daily scripture and Mass… the many courses I’ve taken, the retreats I’ve been privileged to make and lead, the countless books I’ve read…the nourishment of the people I have been honored to serve and those who served along side of me… and especially the nourishment of my friends… God, there is no end to the nourishment you provide for us along our earthly journey! How lucky and blessed we are… and I’ve been.

Nor shall the scorching wind or sun strike them. Beloved One, you are my shelter… my shield… I take refuge in your presence and love throughout all my days and nights.

For he who pities them leads them and guides them. God, you are my GPS! always pointing me in the right direction. And when I stray, help me to recalibrate my steps that lead back to you and to my final home.

I will cut a road through all my mountains and make my highways level. Beloved one, you’re a civil engineer too! How crazy is that? You always clear the way before me whether with a bulldozer, a machete, or one of my good friends.

Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? We know that the answer to that question is sometimes (tragically, sadly) yes, she can. And we know that men too can forget the children they have fathered. But that doesn’t negate all the countless men and women who have welcomed children into their lives and have done the hard, hard 24/7 work of being a good parent. I thank you, God, for all of them! I thank you also for those individuals who display a strong maternal/paternal instinct toward our young whether they have children of their own or not.

Even should she forget, I will never forget you. Really God? Never? Even when I forget you? How precious are these words to me. They mean you can never un-remember me, or un-remember us! You can never ask, “Who are you again?” You can never lose sight of us! You can never stop loving us–because that’s who you are: Love. Simple and beautiful and eternal love!

Reflection questions:

Did any words or phrases stand out for you in today’s reflection?

Would you add anything?

PS: Last week’s video was “I’ve got Joy!” By King and Country. An alert reader (Sr. Renetta) called my attention to the website for St. Dominic Church in Shaker Heights, OH. Their kids sang this song at the end of their Mass on Friday April 26–and they sang it with motions! It’s wonderful! Go to the parish website, click on live streaming Masses, and click on the Mass for April 26. It’s the final song for the Mass.

Today’s song is “I Will Never Forget You, My People,” written by Carey Landry. It is sung here by the Sunday 7 p.m. Choir.

I invite you to comment below on anything in today’s reflection. We love hearing from you!