In this week’s readings we find the themes of repentance and
mercy. In his letter to Timothy, Paul
tells us that he was once a blasphemer, persecutor and arrogant but because he
acted out of ignorance the grace of the Lord was abundant, along with faith and
love that is in Jesus Christ.
I challenge you all to bring joy in heaven by repenting of
your sins and praying for others to repent as well. In today’s Gospel reading we find out that
there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine
righteous people who have no need of repentance. So repent and bring joy in heaven.
We also know that the prayers of the righteous man avails
much (James 5:16) therefore once you’ve repented of your sins please pray for
others to do the same. We have a
beautiful example of this intercession in today’s first reading.
While Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount
Sinai God became displeased even angry at the multitudes at the base of the
mountain. You see, they had made a
golden calf and were worshipping it but Moses interceded for them. He asked God to have mercy on them and our
Lord “relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his
people.”
But are there sins just too heinous, or awful, that God
simply cannot forgive no matter how repentant we may be? No, there aren’t any. We can know this with certainty by looking at
the parable of the lost son. We see that
the worst possible sin one can make is to reject God and we see in this parable
(Luke 15:11-31) that God is not only prepared to forgive the wayward son but
that he is also waiting for his return.
We know this because we read in the parable that “while he was still a
long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with
compassion.”
And so bring joy in heaven by repenting of your sins and
praying for others to repent as well to bring even more joy in heaven.
God Bless
Nathan
Nathan
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