Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
In my role as a counselor and spiritual director, it is not uncommon for the issue of shame to arise. It’s a normal human emotion, but it’s also one of the more challenging ones. One that I know from both personal and professional experience can be not only challenging, but complicated. Healthy shame serves a purpose and is useful; whereas, unhealthy shame can be harmful and debilitating.
Today’s reading from Ezekiel, I would say, focuses on a healthy shame. First of all, a little context is needed for these readings. This chapter (16) from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel is known as The Faithless Spouse in which the author uses symbolic imagery for God’s relationship to the Israelites. God is angry at the people of Jerusalem for breaking the covenant God had made with them. The author harshly compares them to a wife who has basically made herself a prostitute. And yet God remains faithful to them, remembering and even re-establishing the covenant – but not without shame for how they have turned away, “...that you may be utterly silenced for shame when I pardon you for all you have done, says the Lord God.” (vs 63)
When we have willfully sinned, intentionally turned away from God, chosen to harden our hearts and refused to listen to the One who has created us and unconditionally loves us, then we have good reason to be ashamed. Isn’t shame in response to wrong-doing what helps us realize we are in need of repentance and forgiveness? It helps bring us back to God, if we don’t let it paralyze us and keep us away in fear.
Today’s responsorial response from Isaiah, “You have turned from your anger,” also reminds us that our God is patient and merciful. “On that day, you will say: I give you thanks, O Lord; though you have been angry with me, your anger has abated, and you have consoled me.” (12:1)
Remembering that “God indeed is (our) savior,” let us be “confident and unafraid” to turn to the One who is always ready and waiting to receive us back again, healing us from all our shame.
~Eileen Miller