Collect taken from Twenty-Seventh Week of Ordinary Time.
Collect: Almighty ever-living God, who in the abundance of your kindness surpass the merits and the desires of those who entreat you, pour out your mercy upon us to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask. Through our Lord Jesus Christ…
“Almighty ever-living God, who in the abundance of your kindness surpass the merits and the desires of those who entreat you,”
-We must acknowledge that we can never earn or merit the kind of Love and generosity God shows to us. Not only that, God wants to give us infinitely more than we can even begin to want to receive.
“pour out your mercy upon us to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask.”
– After highlighting God’s abundance, we beg that generosity on our imperfections. In particular, we acknowledge our fear of admitting the seriousness of sin and our fear to entrust our desires to God. In other words, God’s abundance is just one more reason we ought to fully surrender to His will.
Questions & Advice: Do you consciously or unconsciously place limits on God? What does your conscience dread? What are you afraid to ask?
Read about conscience in the Catechism (1776-82). In your daily prayer, today and even everyday, start with reflecting on what pains your conscience and ask for forgiveness. Then, consider your greatest desire and ask God to fulfill and surpass that desire. Then, give thanks to God for his munificence.
