Sinner-friendly

WHILE we all have to pursue the long and winding road to sanctity, we have to remember that we also have to be sinner-friendly, but not sin-friendly. We have to be most careful with the distinction.

            It would be a disaster if in our earnest effort to be holy, we become monsters instead, because we become proud and vain, feeling ourselves superior to others, making rash judgments right and left, and reeking with self-righteousness.

            To be sure, it would not be true holiness if the struggle in our spiritual life takes away charity, understanding, patience and compassion towards others. The contrary should be true. Authentic sanctity should make us more charitable, merciful, understanding and patient towards others.

            This is what we see in Christ. Accused by the leading people of the time to be “a glutton and a wine drinker, a friend of publicans and sinners,” (Mt 11,19), he did not correct that impression, but rather went along with it.

            He fraternized with sinners. Zacchaeus, for example. Matthew was another one. When a woman, caught in adultery, was presented to him for condemnation, he refrained from doing so. Instead, he dismissed her with the simple admonition to sin no more.

            Right there on the cross, a thief crucified with him, simply begged, “Lord, remember me when you shall come into your kingdom.” And Christ, without further ado, readily saw the contrition and said, “Amen, this day you shall be with me in paradise.” (Lk 23,42-43)

            Jesus was very liberal with his mercy. He did not make unnecessary demands. He who taught his disciples to forgive others not only seven times, but seventy times seven—meaning always—practised what he preached. The parables of the lost coin, the lost sheep and the prodigal son can attest to this.

            More than that, he told his followers to love their enemies. For that precisely is the true character of charity. It’s when it’s given gratis et amore, without expecting any return, that its authenticity is shown, that is, that its divine origin and character is shown.

            This is most vividly expressed in his passion and death on the cross. With that, he assumed the sinfulness of all men, from the first to the last, without committing sin himself. In short, he made his very own self as the very expiation for our sins. He did not merely offer some things as ransom for our sin. He offered himself.

            That’s why, Christ declared that “no man has greater love than he who lays down his life for his friends.” (Jn 15,13)

            Christian life would not be complete if this infinite mercy of God is not preached and lived together with the rigor and discipline that following Christ also involves. We have to be careful in presenting the true essence of Christianity. While it has its very strict aspect, it also has its most lenient part. The two should go together.

            We need to reassure everyone that there is always hope regardless of whatever faults, mistakes and sins we commit. And in this task of reassuring everyone of hope, we cannot be passive, but rather proactive by reaching out to those who may not yet feel the urge to return to God.

            The gospel of hope, love and mercy should be spread far and wide, even in those areas where this good news is not yet welcome.

            This is the challenge we all have to confront. For sure, it can only be handled properly if we try our best to conform ourselves as intimately as possible to the mind, will and heart of Christ. There can be no other way.

            For this to happen, we need to pray and meditate on the living and eternal word of God, avail of the sacraments, study the catechism, develop and grow in the virtues, and fill ourselves with the holy zeal to bring others closer to God.

            This is how we can have a true encounter with the living Christ who often is caricaturized and disfigured by us through our inadequate effort to follow him closely. We many times reduce him to our own terms and schema because we fail to enter by the narrow gate, or we are averse to the sacrifice needed in following him.

            We have to have the living Christ before we can present and give him to others. Though there will always be obstacles along the way, we are assured that if we persevere and are willing to go all the way—even to our version of crucifixion—the truth and beauty of Christianity would simply be irresistible.