445th Meditation
“Restore us, O God of hosts; let thy face shine, that we may be saved!” (Ps 80:7).
It is the people of Israel who utter this prayer, imploring the Lord to change their destiny. They are in great distress because they have repeatedly turned away from God and been unfaithful to Him, and our Father has allowed them to feel the consequences: “Thou dost make us the scorn of our neighbors; and our enemies laugh among themselves” (v. 6).
Yet, and this is the crucial point, Israel appeals to God’s mercy:
“Turn again, O God of hosts! Have regard for this vine” (v. 14-15).
What would happen if the other peoples also turned to God? What would happen if the nations and their representatives prostrated themselves before the Lord, asking Him for forgiveness for all their mistakes and sins and pleading with Him: “Restore us, O God of hosts”?
Everything could change! A new beginning would be marked and the Spirit of the Lord would enlighten human beings once again. Then the dream of Eduardo Verástegui, candidate for the presidency of the Republic of Mexico, could come true:
“I dream of a Mexico that allows God to be at the centre of our nation”.
But there is no need to wait to see if this great dream will be fulfilled; rather, from now on we can secretly ask God’s forgiveness for the transgressions committed in the world and in the Church, and offer Him our love and fidelity in reparation. Our Father will be pleased to accept them. Indeed, through the blood of His Son, He forgives the sins of people if they sincerely repent and convert.
When God allows certain plagues, He uses them at the same time as an urgent call to conversion. But it is necessary to become aware of how erroneous many of the paths taken by humanity today are, to turn away from them and cry out: “We will never turn back from thee; give us life, and we will call on thy name” (v. 18).