Mercy and fullness of redemption

WHAT a consoling and reassuring psalm! It should always be

in our heart and on our lips. It is what gives light when darkness

descends on our life. It makes a life-stirring impulse when things

seem to be dead.

            Psalm 130,7 tells us where we can find this guaranteed

mercy and fullness of redemption. It is with God who has deigned to

become man and to assume all our sins, rendering death to them with

his own death on the cross, and conquering them with his resurrection.

            We should have no doubt whatsoever that on the part of

God, everything is already given to us so we can be what we ought to

be—children of God, sharers of God’s life. Any doubt in this regard

can only come from the devil.

            Whatever happens in our life, as long as we are open to

God’s will and ways, even if that openness is unarticulated, God’s

mercy will always have the last word. Our redemption is assured. God’s

will is clearly for our redemption, though we, free as we are, can

reject that divine will.

            Yes, we may die with sins still in our hearts, with

failures and weaknesses still unresolved, but as long as we are open

to God’s mercy by not blaspheming the Holy Spirit which is the only

sin that cannot be forgiven, our redemption would be at hand.

            Remember Christ just moments before giving up his spirit.

“Forgive them, Father,” he said, “for they know not what they are

doing.” (Lk 23,34) He even looked for excuses for those who crucified

him! And let’s also remember that we, with all our sins, contribute in

the end in the crucifixion of Christ.

            This does not mean that we do not do our part in our own

redemption. Christ himself has clearly told us what to do—from denying

ourselves and carrying our cross, to praying without ceasing, to

following the Church authorities, etc. What he wants us to do are

clearly spelled out in the commandments that he gave and the many

promptings and inspirations that can come to us like a wind that blows

from nowhere.

            We should avoid falling into presumption and even tempting

God. God wants us to give our all to him just as he gives his all also

to us. He has given us various instruments so we can attain the

fullness of our humanity, as attested by St. Paul when he said:

            “God gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,

evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the

saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of

Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the

knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of

the stature of the fullness of Christ…” (Eph 4,11-13)

            Let us take full advantage of everything that God has

given us not only for our redemption but also for the perfection of

our humanity. God wants us recovered in our fullness, not only

partially.

            Of course, in the gospel Christ once said that in our

struggle to enter heaven, we should be willing to lose an eye or an

arm if that should become necessary (cfr. Mt 18,8-9). But once we get

to heaven, everything that we lose here on earth due to our struggles

will be restored in full.

            Again, it’s good to repeat in our mind, heart and lips

that reassuring psalm of God’s mercy and the fullness of his

redemption so that we would always be motivated by God’s love in all

our earthly affairs, especially when we encounter difficulties,

setbacks, failures, and even temptations and sin.

            That would surely enliven our faith and keep us united

with God in all the events of our day.