"You hate nothing you have made"

During each Sunday of Lent, our pastor prays a specific collect* before we hear the Epistle. Along with its comforting embrace, this prayer invariably sends a convicting wallop to my heart.

“Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent, create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee—the God of all mercy—perfect remission and forgiveness, through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

…God, you hate nothing that you have made…

But in commendable fervor to protect our freedom, children, and prosperity, we

• detest corporate moguls;
• despise people of other faiths;
• loathe right-wing moralists;
• damn a black, liberal president;
• curse militant extremists;
• disdain street bums and welfare moms.

…you forgive the sins of all them that are penitent…

But in honorable belief that justice should be done, we

• refuse to forgive those who offend our sensibilities;
• desire revenge on those who mistreat or slander us;
• suspect that ‘sinners’ cannot really change;
• write off certain people as unpardonable even by God;

In our denial that repentance is crucial to life, we

• resist asking God to forgive us;
• avoid making amends to people we have offended;
• put off changing harmful habits;
• refuse to forgive ourselves.

…create and make in us new and contrite hearts…

O God, soften the hearts of everyone, and replace our

• abhorrence with love;
• vengeance with pardon;
• judgmentalism with humility;
• xenophobia with hospitality;
• arrogance with wisdom;
• disquiet with reliance on You.

…that we worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness…

O God, reveal to us the depths of our diseased ways

and help us to stop refusing to face the truth.

…that we may obtain of you—the God of all mercy—…

O Lord, you promise mercy to all who are willing to turn to you;

pry open our clenched fists to receive your boundless compassion.

…perfect remission and forgiveness…

O Father, release us from the unbearable blame due us for devastating our world;

forgive us for trampling on your love, as we forgive those who trample on our rights.

…through Jesus Christ our Lord.

O Creator of us all, even as you hung on the Cross,

indeed, you hated nothing that you had made.

*A brief prayer used in Western liturgical churches.