The psalm today beautifully sings: “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul; the decree of the Lord is trustworthy giving wisdom to the simple.”

As a community of persons, we seem to have lost the sense of sin and redemption; of absolute truth and fear of the Lord. I think we are confused and perhaps lost in a haze of a lot of noise and distraction.

What is particularly needed today and is essential in the development of all spiritual and psychological lives is a good examination of conscience. A person should carry out a good examination of conscience everyday before God, oneself and the community in which one lives.

Teaching our young people and reminding ourselves how to examine their consciences will help them greatly in their understanding of self, of consequences, of responsibility, of sin and of redemption-always bringing things around hopefully and joyfully to Christ.

A good examination of conscience helps us strengthen our humility and conquer our pride. It gives us a solid perspective of who we are in relation to our God, which is our first priority in the Church.

Reflecting on the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes will help us measure how close we are to imitating the Way of Jesus; meditating on the Act of Contrition can show us how far we must go to reach perfection.

Remember the psalm again, “The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.”