You probably think you’re a pretty big sinner. I know I do. I mean, I think I’m a pretty big sinner, not you! St. Paul knew that he was a big sinner. But he also knew that, through his conversion to Christ, he was an example of God’s goodness.
In our Gospel reading from Luke 6, Jesus talks about bearing fruit. “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”
Many folks think that they can fool the whole world. While they may appear all good, underneath the appearance is a rotten tree. And though they may be able to pull the wool over people’s eyes for a time, eventually the truth will come to light. And it will come through their fruits. Of course, that tree is our heart. If our hearts are not true, pure, seeking God’s will, then our fruit will not be good.
Father, give us humble, holy, true and pure hearts today. May we bear good fruit, that you may be glorified. Amen.
I love Paul’s message today; I also agree with you that “I’m a pretty big sinner” and some of us might have difficulty forgiving ourselves.
I still had some trouble letting go even after a priest told me that to not forgive myself, after God had forgiven me, was a sin of pride; that I was placing myself above Him.
What really helped was an experience shared by a good friend. She felt she had lost her connection to God. She went on a mini-retreat and had Confession with an elderly monk. She reported that, after her Confession, he asked her if she felt forgiven. When she expressed that she did, he retorted “No you don’t.” He asked her again, she affirmed that she did, and he again rejected her answer. He conveyed that he could still see the tension in her face. He then explained that absolution restored her to the innocence and purity she had when she was a newly Baptized baby. She exclaimed that at that moment, she felt a huge weight lifted from her – and he just smiled and blessed her!
I remind myself of her story every time I go to Confession. It makes all the difference!
God bless you Gus!