Homily for Wednesday of the 1st Week of Lent

Today's Psalm response comes from one of my favorites, Psalm 51. At times, during the Sacrament of Reconciliation, I assign the praying of this Psalm to people as a form of penance.

While Psalm 51 reflects on the sinful nature of humanity, it is ultimately a Psalm of hope. It reassures us that a truly repentant heart will never be ignored by God. The Psalm conveys the message that a person can be cleansed of their sins and made anew in the deepest parts of their soul.

Moreover, it stresses that nothing can merit God's forgiveness more than a genuinely contrite and humble spirit. No offering or action, no matter how grand, can earn God's merciful attention more than a sincere expression of remorse for our sins.