Contrition Day

I hate my sins that show on Judgment Day,
when we stand bare before the world and God,
and show our shame for every evil way,
as with His beauty everyone is awed.

Then we will be so sorry, so contrite,
not ever wanting to do sin again,
and wishing all our flaws were out of sight,
and that on earth we'd been more sorry then.

And yet, although God's perfect justice rules,
His perfect mercy too comes into play,
and though His justice damns us sinful fools,
we'll win His mercy some mysterious way.

O God, help me not risk so much, I pray,
by sinning less and sorrowing more today.

                         -- by Pete Voelz      5/06