We are assured of divine mercy
ZACCHAEUS is a gospel character whose beautiful story (Luke 19:1-10) endears him to many of us. He actually typifies us who like him also have our own defects and sins, and yet in spite of those, continue to hold a deep admiration and love for God.
Our sinfulness, defects, and errors should not separate us from God. If anything at all, they should bring us closer to him, assured that God's mercy will never be lacking.
These two realities about our sinfulness and God's mercy always should go together. We should always strengthen our conviction about the helpful relationship these two should have with each other in our life.
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 need to avoid is to get stuck with one while ignoring the other. Our sinfulness should be viewed in the context of divine mercy and that 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 can take on anything.
Let's strengthen our conviction that Christ has a special attraction to sinners. He is ever willing to forgive us as long as we show some signs of repentance. 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 not at all judging that they are in hell. That judgment belongs to God alone.
We just have to make sure that we do not get spoiled by God abundant mercy, because even if his love and mercy is eternal, his justice is never sacrificed. His mercy and justice always go together, in proportions, if we have to speak in human terms, that are just right.
That divine justice unleashes its power precisely when with all the infinite goodness of God, we fail to return good with good, love with love. Instead, we allow ourselves to get spoiled.
Let's not forget that getting spoiled is a human choice. It's not part of God's plan and will for us. But since our freedom is a real freedom, and not just an imitation, we also have the power to return good with evil, love with hatred.
It's important therefore that we realize very deeply that our true freedom is when it is lived with God, not outside of him. It is lived when, instead of fleeing from him like a fugitive when we commit sin, we go to him to ask for forgiveness and change our life.
Let us also hope that God's mercy would rub off on us too. We have to learn to be forgiving, because Christ clearly told us that it is when we forgive others that we ourselves can also be forgiven.
"If you will forgive men their offences, your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offences. But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your offences" (Matthew 6:14-15).
We have to be clear that his injunction is meant for everyone, and not only for a few whom we may consider to be religiously inclined. That's why when asked how many times we should forgive, he said not only seven times, but seventy times seven, meaning always.
That's also why he easily forgave the woman caught in adultery. And to those whom he cured of their illnesses, it was actually the forgiveness of their sins that he was more interested in.
To top it all, Christ allowed himself to die on the cross as a way to forgive all of our sins, and to convert our sins through his resurrection as a way to our own redemption. What he did for us he also expects, nay, commands that we also do for everybody else. How beautiful our world would be if we can transmit the very mercy of God to one another! Let's be ever hopeful and train ourselves to be merciful like God.
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