181st Meditation
“Who can detect his own failings? Wash away my hidden faults” (Ps 19:13).
With sincere self-knowledge, the psalmist confidently addresses the Heavenly Father, knowing well how easily man remains trapped in self-deception: “Who can detect his own failings?” He wants to make sure that nothing stands between him and his God, and thus gives us an example of how we can pray: “Wash away my hidden faults”.
We must place everything before our Father, so that He may shine His light even in those deepest parts of our hearts, of which we are not aware. Surely such a plea will please the Father, and He will not hesitate to pour the gentleness of His mercy into the limitations of our self-knowledge.
St. Joan of Arc was asked why she went to confession so often. She replied, “One can never purify the soul sufficiently.”
A pure heart does not want to tolerate absolutely anything that could cloud even the slightest purity. Every impurity -whether in thought, word or deed- is a torment to it, and the very thought that in its unconscious depths there might be hidden even the filthiness of sin, which displeases the Lord, prompts it to pray confidently, “Cleanse me from hidden faults.”
It is the Spirit of God Himself who awakens this supplication in the soul, thus drawing it to the Heart of the Father, because for the unification of love with Him all shadows must be dispelled. Then the beauty of God will blossom in the soul, to the joy of the Father and as a light for others in times of darkness.