This weekend at the Cathedral, many volunteers will be planting bulbs, sweeping, and doing a basic spring cleaning of our grounds and beds. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELP! While our property is being beautified, it might be good to do a spiritual spring cleaning as well.
1) Let the Son Shine In:This one is my favorite part of spiritual spring cleaning. What God wants most from us is friendship. He wants to be involved in the big and small moments of our life. Let’s open our lives, let God shine into every part, and we’ll experience daily refreshment of spirit! “God … is the one who invited you into this wonderful friendship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:9
2) Deep Clean: Every spring my Ma made us take apart all the windows to scrub even where we couldn’t see. Spiritual cleansing goes beyond what others see and hear, too. When our hearts get clean, our language should follow – not just bad language, but also negative talk, complaining, and pessimism that contradict our Faith. “The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45
3) Get Rid of Old Baggage: Any sin will weigh us down, but bitterness is like old junk in the attic we can’t part with; we don’t even realize how it is hindering our life. Rituals can help us let go of it, so take a walk, light a candle, or visit a chapel. “Therefore … let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress” Hebrews 12:1
4) Stop the Garbage. We must feed on the Word of God instead of the garbage of this world. Get a good spiritual book, or get the Good Book and pre-read the scriptures that will be proclaimed at Mass. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2
5) Let God Himself Do the Polishing: Sin will destroy our life, our peace, and even our health. Make time for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It’s a beautiful gift. “While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long….Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’, and you forgave the guilt of my sin.” Psalm 32:3-5
6) Enjoy it: Jesus wants us to enjoy ourselves, and learn to have some fun. God made us for His pleasure! “Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them.’” Psalm 126:2
God Bless,
Fr. J.J.