An Easy Way to Become a Saint - August 16

Continued from yesterday...

Chapter 4. God's Greatest Proof of Love

God's especial love was shown to Sinners

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 arid 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.

Covered with shame they pushed her forward before Our Lord and denounced her.

Our Blessed Saviour 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!...

[Continued tomorrow]
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From An Easy Way to Become a Saint
by E. D. M. (1949)
The Catholic Printing Press
Lisbon, Portugal
With Ecclesiastical Approbation
13th June 1949