A GOD WHO IS MAD AFTER MERCY

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            Nothing is easier in all the world than attaining forgiveness from God. This is the biggest truth that we got to believe. God is more eager to give forgiveness than we to receive it. Many refuse to believe this. They constantly brood over how miserable and wretched they have been, wishing they had never sinned, wishing they had always kept a clean sheet.

            For Jesus, even though to sin is the greatest evil, to be a sinner is a value. Hate sin with all your heart and avoid it. But if you have sinned and repented, then you have reasons to rejoice, because there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (Lk. 15:7) Who can understand this kind of madness? That’s the crazy God we have.

            Then we may ask: Why not sin deliberately so that we shall receive even more grace? No, remember we are dealing here with a mystery that is beyond the comprehension of the human mind. It is important to maintain the truth of both these opposites. Hate sin and if you have sinned and repented, consider yourself very lucky indeed because grace is going to be poured into you in superabundant measure. “Where sin abounded; grace abounded all the more.”(Rom.5:20) The repentant sinner draws God to himself with greater force than a magnet.

            This is the good news Jesus proclaimed. The other stuff about being sorry and making a hundred penances for our sins is not good news at all. It is stale news. (Old Testament idea) We knew it all along without the preaching of Jesus. May we understand the merciful God we have so that we live our lives freely and joyfully.

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