Reflection from Psalm No. 25
REPENTANCE
All my heart goes out to you,
Dont fail me, Lord, for I am trusting you.
After the degradation of defeat
I look to you for kindness and support.
Dont let my sinfulness triumph,
My failures gain the victory over me.
Bring light to the darkness in my heart,
Some reason for my very being.
Have you kept a record of my misdeeds?
Then overlook my youthful sins,
How many they are!
Oh, forgive them for the honour of your name.
Look upon my emptiness and loneliness,
Consider kindly my afflictions and despair.
Remember the never ending presence,
Of human fragility, unwholesome passion.
Relieve this heart of mine of its burden,
Deliver me from my distress.
Look kindly in judgement on my sin,
My grevious sin.
O Lord of mercy,
I realise my guilt is great,
Heal those who humbly reach out to you.
See my sorrows.
Feel my pain.
Forgive my sins.
Restore me to yourself.
Watch over me
Lest I fall again.
‘Remember, O Lord, your mercy and faithful love,
For they are from the beginning of the world.’
[Psalm 25:6]
Glory be…
This reflection was composed by Fr Kevin Lyon, a priest of the Dublin Diocese, and flows from his praying the psalms. Published in the book: Psalm-Prayers for every mood, reproduced with permission from the author and publishers: Columba Press, www.columba.ie