4th Sunday of Lent Year C (Laetare Sunday): Joshua 5:9-12, Psalm 33(34):2-7, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Luke 15:1-3,11-32
Shame is a feeling of embarrassment, humiliation or worthlessness caused by self evaluation of having done or experienced something dishonorable, immoral or improper. Even though the feeling of shame helps to keep our excesses in check so that we don’t act against norms in the society, but extreme shame places one in bondage of guilt and limits one’s potential to grow both physically and spiritually.
Do you know extreme shame can lead to despair, self-condemnation, unrepentance, lack of progress or innovation and even suicide? Don’t you know the devil can manipulate shame to one’s destruction? Are you not aware that the feeling that you’re always right (perfectionist) and cannot make mistake is a type of deadly shame you must get rid of?
Every 4th Sunday of Lent, traditionally called Laetare Sunday, the church calls us to rejoice (from the Latin word laetare which means to rejoice). Why rejoice in the mood of Lent? We should rejoice because God determines to take away our shame! But this cannot be achieved without your cooperation! To know what is demanded of you, continue reading slowly…
Joshua 5:9-12
The Lord said to Joshua, ‘Today I have taken the shame of Egypt away from you.’ The Israelites pitched their camp at Gilgal and kept the Passover there on the fourteenth day of the month, at evening in the plain of Jericho. On the morrow of the Passover they tasted the produce of that country, unleavened bread and roasted ears of corn, that same day. From that time, from their first eating of the produce of that country, the manna stopped falling. And having manna no longer, the Israelites fed from that year onwards on what the land of Canaan yielded.
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
1. Child of God the Word of God you just read recalls the experience of the Israelites as they entered Canaan- the promised land. God tells them He has taken away from them shame of Egypt! What is the shame of Egypt? It is nothing but the shame of slavery, of wandering like fugitives in the desert, the shame of living in tents like nomads rather than in comfortable houses, the shame of poverty and eating from hand to mouth, the shame of insecurity, etc.
This shame was responsible for their stunted growth, slow progress, arrogance, feeling of inferiority complex and fear before the Egyptians and the surrounding nations as they journeyed through the desert. By settling them on the promised land where they can build decent houses, eat decent food and live decently, etc God removes their shame.
2. Shame normally comes after self-evaluation of our lives. For God to remove our shame, we must identify it and resolve to confront it, then His grace will perfect us. Identifying our shame is a conscious act you must do: you must ‘come back’ to your senses like the prodigal son who after living a life of waste and sin, came to his senses (cf. Lk 15:17-20). You must resolve to confront the shame by accepting whatever consequences your actions might have brought your way. Lastly, invoke the help of God to perfect your resolution. God never fails at this point. He does wonders, and His wonders are always surprising, like the surprise response of the Father of the prodigal son who said:
“Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it; we are going to have a feast, a celebration, because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found” – Lk 15:23-24
Signs you have a deadly (extreme) shame
Do a quick self-evaluation now!
If you see yourself:
- Wanting to have the last word in every discussion
- Not sharing your thoughts or feelings because you are afraid to be embarrassed
- Being afraid to look inappropriate or stupid
- Being more worried about failure than doing something immoral
- Being a perfectionist
- Feeling like an outsider or that you are different or left out
- Feeling suspicious or like you can’t trust others
- Wanting to shut people out or withdraw from correction
- Feeling that you can’t be your true self
- Trying to hide yourself or be inconspicuous
- Losing your identity
- Feeling inadequate
- Feelings of regret
- Feeling dishonorable
- You give hot responses as defense or attack others to deflect attention from yourself
TASK
If you accuse yourself of any of these, then ask God in prayer to give you the virtue of humility so as to accept behaviours to avoid or repair shame like: apologies, avoiding conflicts, and accepting mistakes or faults.
I Pray for you: whatever be the cause of your shame (sickness, poverty, financial problems, inability to pay your bills, etc), that have caused you to lose faith in God, made you arrogant and unrepentant, wasteful, caused stunted growth in your life, both physically and Spiritually, I command it to be rolled away now, and your confidence reinstated now, in Jesus name. Amen.
I declare the Word of God of Isaiah 61:7 over you:
Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours, In Jesus name. Amen
Instead of shame I will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace I will rejoice in my inheritance. And so I will inherit a double portion in my land, and everlasting joy will be Mine, In Jesus name. Amen 🙏
Amen and Amen! 🙏
Another wonderful piece from this Priest of the Most High God. Your writings are thought provoking and unique. God bless you more and more and Happy birthday in advance.
I pray for the virtue of humility.Thank you Fr for the blessing,I receive in Jesus name Amen
Amen, thank you father for this reflection, you have really spoken to many of us directly & indirectly. May the Lord grant us the spirit of humility 🙏