God’s Especial Love Was Shown to Sinners

From An Easy Way to Become a Saint by Fr. Paul O’Sullivan

The common fear that presents itself to most minds is that we are weak and sinful, full of faults and defects. How then can we be saints?

Our Lord, answering this objection, tells us that He came on Earth, not for the just, but for sinners. He showed His friendship for sinners so clearly that His enemies in derision called Him “the friend of sinners.”

He tells us, “There shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner that doth penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need not penance.” (Lk. 15:7).

He assures us that if our sins are as red as scarlet He will make them as white as snow. This He is doing every day.

He chose for His Apostles sinners, rude, weak men. St. Peter denied Him; St. Thomas refused to believe in His Resurrection; all, with the exception of John, abandoned Him in His Passion. St. Paul was a fierce persecutor of the Church and sought to destroy His work.

Yet these weak and sinful men He made so strong that they glorified in suffering for Him. In the face of every danger and difficulty they divided the whole world between them, as mighty conquerors, destroying paganism with all its horrors and implanting in its place Christian civilization.

How touching was His pardon of the poor woman taken in the commission of adultery. The Jews sought to force Jesus to condemn her to a cruel death, which was the penalty established by the law for the crime that she had committed.

They pushed her, covered with shame, forward before Our Lord and denounced her. Our Blessed Savior said to her accusers: “Let him among you who is without sin cast the first stone at her.” Full of confusion, they slunk away.

Then Jesus said to the sinner: “Woman, has anyone condemned thee?”

She replied, “No, Lord.”

“Neither shall I. Go in peace. Sin no more.” She left His presence overflowing with love for Him.

This is what He says to us each time we go to Confession, but alas, we are not so grateful as she was!

How lovingly He defended Magdalen who, in the house of the proud Pharisee, kissed His feet and washed them with her tears and wiped them with her beautiful hair.

And the Pharisee who had invited Him, seeing it, spoke within himself, saying: “This man, if he were a prophet, would know surely who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, that she is a sinner. ”

And Jesus answering, said to him, “Simon, I have somewhat to say to thee.”

But he said: “Master, say it.”

“A certain creditor had two debtors, the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And whereas they had not wherewith to pay, he forgave them both. Which therefore of the two loveth him most? ”

Simon answering, said: “I suppose that he to whom he forgave most.”

And Jesus said to him: “Thou hast judged rightly. ”

And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon, “Dost thou see this woman? I entered into thy house, thou gavest me no water for my feet; but she with tears hath washed my feet, and with her hair hath wiped them. ”

Thou gavest me no kiss, but she, since she came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint, but she with ointments hath anointed my feet. Wherefore I say to thee: Many sins are forgiven her, because she hath loved much . . . ”

And he said to the woman, “Thy faith hath made thee safe, in peace.” (Luke 7:39-50).

OUR MANY SINS, OUR FAULTS, OUR WEAKNESSES

Seeing then God’s infinite goodness and mercy for even the greatest sinners, let us banish our foolish fears and doubts. No matter how weak we are, God’s grace will make us strong. Let us have boundless confidence in God’s mercy!

Nothing pleases Him more than to pardon us, to purify us, to give us His friendship. Bear ever in mind His divine assurance, “If your sins be as scarlet, they shall be made white as snow.” (Is. 1:18).

“Let not your imperfections discourage you; your God does not despise you because you are imperfect and infirm; on the contrary, He loves you because you desire to cure your ills. He will come to your assistance and make you more perfect than you would have dared to hope, and adorned by His own hand, your beauty will be unequalled, like His own goodness.” Divine Intimacy

“If going to Mass and taking Communion has become just another routine for you, don’t assume that indifference is an ordinary part of growing mature in the Faith. On the contrary: your love of Communion should be growing stronger. You can strengthen it now with this wise book from a little-known saint, Peter Julian Eymard.” (afflink) http://amzn.to/2rI62fc

Time is something that we do not have a lot of and is gone right when we use it. Many waste time, which is not a virtuous thing to do. What is our goal?

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This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support.

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