“Why don’t you remove that picture altogether, and not be giving practicing and collapsed Catholics palpitations in their secret hearts?” sez I. – p. 213, A Monk Swimming, Malachi McCourt

I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed to me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me.

Before they call I will answer while they are still speaking I will hear.

The just shall live be faith.

The God of Peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

Why shut the door? To leave behind

The workings of thy natural mind –

Discouragement, self-pity blind –

God’s light with those thou canst not find.

Enter thy secret place, and more –

Shut to the door, shut to the door.

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven…

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, NKIV

In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.

I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.

No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause.

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Remember, Lord, your mercy and love, for they are from of old.

Do not remember the sins of my youth An day my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.

Good and upright is the Lord; therefor he instructs sinners in his ways.

He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demand a of his covenant.

For the sake of your name, Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

Who then, are those who fear the Lord?

He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.

They will spend their days in prosperity, and their descendants will inherit the land.

The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.

My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and inflicted.

Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish.

Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.

See how numerous are my enemies and how fiercely they hate me!

Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.

May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you.

Deliver Israel, O God, from all their troubles!

“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.”

…saving faith will always manifest itself in loving deeds. The only thing that counts, … is faith expressing itself through love” (Galatians 5:6) pp. 91-92 Growing Slowly Wise, David Roper.