God always offers us forgiveness

THAT’S true. Whatever situation or predicament we are in,

even if we find ourselves in the worst possible scenario, morally

speaking, God is always willing to forgive us. It’s just for us to ask

for it.

            We should not delay in asking for that forgiveness. If God

is quick to forgive, let us also be quick to ask for forgiveness. And

then focus again on what we are supposed to be doing, as God and

everybody else want it.

            We should not waste time feeling sad and depressed, or

complaining and reacting in some wild, irrational way because of our

sins and mistakes. Time, we have to remember, is a very precious

resource given to us. Every minute and second should be used to be

productive and fruitful.

            That God is always willing to forgive us no matter what,

is beyond doubt. His mercy is abiding and is forever. There is nothing

that can’t be tackled by it. He is not scandalized by anything. His

mercy can take on anything. Not even our most grievous mistakes and

most stupid blunders can frustrate it.

            Let’s remember that God in Christ and now in the Holy

Spirit not only preached what is right and wrong, what is good and

evil, but also assumed all the sinfulness of man by offering his life

on the cross. He came to save, not to condemn. He was slow to anger,

quick to forgive. We should be happy and feel reassured with this

wonderful truth of our faith.

            Let’s remember that Christ was open to everyone, even to

the most vile men who repented. He only had hard words on those who

refused to acknowledge his divinity in spite of all the evidence

shown. In short, on those who refused to live by faith which is a gift

given to all of us. Or on those who are self-righteous.

            In one episode, he clearly spelled out his attitude of

mercy by saying that it is the sick, meaning the sinner, who needs the

doctor. That’s why he went with those who were generally considered

then as public sinners, a fact that elicited criticism from the

leading men of that time.

            Let’s follow the observation of St. Paul who once said

that where sin has abounded, the grace of God has abounded even more.

Paraphrasing that statement, we can say that no matter how miserable

we may be in our weaknesses and sinfulness, the mercy of God will

always be available and in abundance.

            In one juncture, Christ was asked how many times should a

person be forgiven, seven times? Seven times in the culture of that

time meant many times. Christ replied, not only seven times, but

seventy times seven. Meaning, again in the culture of that time,

always or as often as needed. There’s no limit to divine mercy.

          It might be good to call to mind the example of the

repentant thief who managed to be forgiven just before passing away.

And most especially, those famous words of Christ, “Forgive them,

Father, for they know not what they do.”

            We need to reassure everyone, especially those penitents

in the throes of despair, that there is always hope, because God

always forgives and that it is not yet the end of the world.