NOW that we are in the season of
Lent, it’s good to
consider some facts of life that we tend to take lightly, if not to
ignore altogether. We need to confront the dark reality of our
sinfulness as well as the reassuring reality of God’s mercy.
These two realities should go together, and the Lenten
period is the good time to strengthen our conviction about the helpful
relationship these two should have with each other.
Whenever we feel the sting of our weaknesses and
sinfulness, together with their antecedents and consequences, their
causes and effects, let’s never forget to consider also God’s mercy
that is always given to us, and, in fact, given to us abundantly.
What we have to avoid is to get stuck with one while
ignoring the other. Our sinfulness should be viewed in the context of
divine mercy. And vice-versa: God’s mercy should be regarded in the
context of our unavoidable sinfulness.
And from there, let us develop the unshakable conviction
that no matter what sins we commit, no matter how ugly they are, there
is always hope. God’s mercy is never lacking.
We have to counter that common phenomenon of many people
drifting and plunging into despair, before falling into the worse
condition of hardened immorality and amorality, because they fail to
realize the constant availability of divine mercy.
It might be good to recall those gospel episodes where
Christ fraternized more with the publicans and sinners over those who
were self-righteous, although he was also concerned about the latter.
More specifically, let’s recall that parable of the two
men, one a Pharisee and the other a publican, who went to the temple
to pray. (cfr Lk 18,10ff) The former was proud of his accomplishments,
while the latter could hardly lift up his eyes towards heaven, but
simply struck his breast, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’
Christ said that the latter came out more justified than
the former. Let’s not forget that no sin, no evil can be unforgivable
to Christ who was and is willing to die on the cross, bearing all our
sins, so that we can find a way to our salvation through his own
resurrection.
May it be that while our sinfulness would have the
understandable effect of making us feel bad and sad, we should not
allow it to scandalize ourselves to the point of running away from
Christ rather than going to him contrite.
Let’s strengthen our conviction that Christ has a special
attraction to sinners, that he is ever willing to forgive us as long
as we show some signs of repentance that he himself, through his
grace, will stir in us.
Let’s play the part of Peter who, after denying Christ
three times, realized his mistake and wept bitterly in repentance.
Christ looked kindly on him and forgave him and even made him the
prince of the apostles.
Let’s avoid playing the part of Cain and Judas who, after
committing their crimes, ran away instead of going back to God
repentant. Of course, in saying this, I am at all judging that they
are in hell. That judgment belongs to God alone.
We can only judge based on what we know, and for sure we
do not know everything in their cases. God has the last word. What we
know is that God is always merciful with a mercy that is always
compatible with justice.
While we should try to be most aware of our sinfulness, we
should also try to strengthen our conviction about God’s mercy. That
we are sinful is not hard to see. We see our weaknesses and
vulnerabilities quite openly. Temptations are also abundant.
We should try our best to fight and cope with them as best
as we can, using all the means that Christ himself and the Church now
are giving us. We have a very precious treasure in fragile vessels of
clay. (cfr. 2 Cor 4,7) We may have a lot of talents and other
brilliant endowments, but let’s never forget that we have feet of
clay.
This realization should make us most careful and ever
vigilant, and should elicit in us great desires to follow Christ as
closely as possible and to learn the art and skills of spiritual
combat to tackle the unavoidable weaknesses, temptations and falls we
will have in life.
On top of all this, and since our best efforts may still
be found wanting, let’s never forget the abundant and ever-ready mercy
of God whenever we find ourselves in the worst scenarios in life.
consider some facts of life that we tend to take lightly, if not to
ignore altogether. We need to confront the dark reality of our
sinfulness as well as the reassuring reality of God’s mercy.
These two realities should go together, and the Lenten
period is the good time to strengthen our conviction about the helpful
relationship these two should have with each other.
Whenever we feel the sting of our weaknesses and
sinfulness, together with their antecedents and consequences, their
causes and effects, let’s never forget to consider also God’s mercy
that is always given to us, and, in fact, given to us abundantly.
What we have to avoid is to get stuck with one while
ignoring the other. Our sinfulness should be viewed in the context of
divine mercy. And vice-versa: God’s mercy should be regarded in the
context of our unavoidable sinfulness.
And from there, let us develop the unshakable conviction
that no matter what sins we commit, no matter how ugly they are, there
is always hope. God’s mercy is never lacking.
We have to counter that common phenomenon of many people
drifting and plunging into despair, before falling into the worse
condition of hardened immorality and amorality, because they fail to
realize the constant availability of divine mercy.
It might be good to recall those gospel episodes where
Christ fraternized more with the publicans and sinners over those who
were self-righteous, although he was also concerned about the latter.
More specifically, let’s recall that parable of the two
men, one a Pharisee and the other a publican, who went to the temple
to pray. (cfr Lk 18,10ff) The former was proud of his accomplishments,
while the latter could hardly lift up his eyes towards heaven, but
simply struck his breast, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’
Christ said that the latter came out more justified than
the former. Let’s not forget that no sin, no evil can be unforgivable
to Christ who was and is willing to die on the cross, bearing all our
sins, so that we can find a way to our salvation through his own
resurrection.
May it be that while our sinfulness would have the
understandable effect of making us feel bad and sad, we should not
allow it to scandalize ourselves to the point of running away from
Christ rather than going to him contrite.
Let’s strengthen our conviction that Christ has a special
attraction to sinners, that he is ever willing to forgive us as long
as we show some signs of repentance that he himself, through his
grace, will stir in us.
Let’s play the part of Peter who, after denying Christ
three times, realized his mistake and wept bitterly in repentance.
Christ looked kindly on him and forgave him and even made him the
prince of the apostles.
Let’s avoid playing the part of Cain and Judas who, after
committing their crimes, ran away instead of going back to God
repentant. Of course, in saying this, I am at all judging that they
are in hell. That judgment belongs to God alone.
We can only judge based on what we know, and for sure we
do not know everything in their cases. God has the last word. What we
know is that God is always merciful with a mercy that is always
compatible with justice.
While we should try to be most aware of our sinfulness, we
should also try to strengthen our conviction about God’s mercy. That
we are sinful is not hard to see. We see our weaknesses and
vulnerabilities quite openly. Temptations are also abundant.
We should try our best to fight and cope with them as best
as we can, using all the means that Christ himself and the Church now
are giving us. We have a very precious treasure in fragile vessels of
clay. (cfr. 2 Cor 4,7) We may have a lot of talents and other
brilliant endowments, but let’s never forget that we have feet of
clay.
This realization should make us most careful and ever
vigilant, and should elicit in us great desires to follow Christ as
closely as possible and to learn the art and skills of spiritual
combat to tackle the unavoidable weaknesses, temptations and falls we
will have in life.
On top of all this, and since our best efforts may still
be found wanting, let’s never forget the abundant and ever-ready mercy
of God whenever we find ourselves in the worst scenarios in life.
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