1st Week of Lent 2019 - Monday - Holy Compunction

The readings and prayers of the first half of Lent are aimed at arousing in us the disposition of compunction. There’s a word you might not have heard for a while: compunction. Actually, the prayer of blessing before the dismissal on Ash Wednesday used that word, “Pour out a spirit of compunction, O God, on those who bow before your majesty.”

Compunction comes from the word puncture.  It is something that pierces us.  It pierces through our illusions, it pierces through the haze of our self-delusions and lack of recollection and our failure to repent.

Compunction is the profound realization of the effect of our sins—we offend God with our sins, our self-indulgent behavior has real damaging effect on our relationships. Our sins are real missed opportunities to grow in holiness.  Compunction is a real reminder of time wasted by our laziness, and how often we have turned to worldly things to fill our hearts instead of engaging in the works of the Spirit

Just like a pin stuck in a balloon causes the balloon to deflate, so too, holy compunction deflates our inflated egos, it pierces through our self-deceptions and brings us to sorrow for our failures to live faithfully as disciples of Jesus.

Compunction: a great word—knowledge of our sinfulness, sorrow for our sins, repentance, the desire for God’s mercy, the desire for deeper conversion, all wrapped up into one word.

Examining our conscience in light of the commandments, such as those who read this morning from Leviticus should bring us to compunction: “Have I stolen, have I defrauded another, have I born hatred for my neighbor, and loved my neighbor.”  Compunction moves us to repentance for not seeking to be holy, as God is holy.

Likewise, the reading from Matthew’s Gospel should move us to compunction: acknowledgement and repentance for turning away from the calls of the hungry, the thirsty, the imprisoned, and the sick. Failures for which we will be judged.

May our Lenten prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, may bring us to compunction, and ready our hearts to bear the cross with Jesus, to die with him, that we may rise with him and be judged worthy of eternal life for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the season of Lent may bring the most hardened hearts to repentance and bring purification from sin and selfishness to all people.

For those preparing for baptism and the Easter sacraments, that they may continue to conform themselves to Christ through fervent prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

That we may generously respond to all those in need: the sick, the suffering, the homeless, the imprisoned, and victims of violence.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy.