Welcome, sinners!

WITH the papal declaration of the Jubilee Year of Mercy,

and especially if set in the context of this wonderful Christmas

season, what seems to readily come to mind is Christ telling us,

Welcome, sinners! Be not afraid.

            He seems to say, I have come to save you, not to condemn

and punish you. I have come to give you comfort and joy, not to simply

give you a hard time. I want you happy, not sad. I have come to love

you and to show how to love, not to hate and be afraid.

            He seems to say, I am your God, your Creator and Father. I

am your friend, your buddy. Come! Don’t feel shy toward me. Do not

worry so much about your sins and all the negativities of your life. I

understand you completely.

            He seems to say, Your sins certainly offend me. They break

my heart. But as your father, I know how to take your offenses. I am

not scandalized by them. They, in fact, make me love you more. And I

will give you a way of how to make up for your offenses. Do not be

afraid. Just do your best with me.

            He seems to say, I want you to be my children as I have

intended you to be. I want you to be like me, full of love, goodness

and mercy, since you are my image and likeness. It may take time and a

lot of effort for you to learn all this, but I am patient. I will

never grow tired if you take a long time.

            He seems to say, I want you to spread that love, goodness

and mercy around. Give special attention to those most in need,

whether materially, spiritually or morally. Don’t be afraid to go into

the deep. I assure you that you will catch a lot more of fish there,

even in the worst of times.

            He seems to say, Now that it’s Christmas, and I appear to

you as a child, hug me, kiss me, carry me in your arms, and grow with

me, live with me in both your good times and bad. I am your way, your

truth, your life. I am your guide, your comfort and rest when you are

tired, your healer when you are sick, your forgiver when you fall into

sin.

            He seems to say, Learn to be humble, because that is how

you can find me. Never be proud, much less, self-righteous, because

that can only cut you from me. You’ll end up seeing only bad things in

others and good things only in yourself—a funny anomaly.

            He seems to say, Don’t be afraid of the pains, sorrows and

suffering that may come your way in your earthly sojourn. I am always

around and in control of things. I know how to derive good from evil.

Just stick by me and trust me.

            He seems to say, Those sufferings will always be for your

own good, for your purification, for the atonement of sins, yours and

those of others. Nothing happens without my permission. And if I

permit them, it’s for some good purpose. Remember the story of Job,

the story of Joseph sold by his own brothers, and my own crucifixion.

            He seems to say, Try to follow me as closely as possible.

I am making myself completely available and accessible to you. I am

near you. In fact, I am at the very core of your being, at the very

center of your heart. I am the voice in your conscience.

            He seems to say, I am also around you. Wherever you look,

however you find yourself in, I am there. Everything around you, big

or small, special or ordinary, joyful or sorrowful, can lead you to

me, if you care.

            He seems to say, I am especially present and most

accessible to you in the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist. I

have made you part of my body which is the Church. You and I are

actually together all the time. I am with you always. But try to be

with me also. That’s because I don’t impose myself on you.

            He seems to say, in the Holy Eucharist, I make myself a

bread for you to eat, so I can enter into your life even physically.

In confession, I am most happy to always bestow forgiveness on you. In

the gospels, catechism, etc. you will find my living word. The Holy

Spirit will take care of all this. Just try not to abuse my goodness.

            So, welcome, my dear sinners!