Just be quick to say sorry…

Fr. Roy Cimagala

WHAT wonderful and consoling words from Christ! “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.” (Lk 15,7)

We should remember these words always, etching them indelibly in our memory because we need to hear them all the time.

Truth is in spite of our best efforts to be good, we just can’t help but be bad. We get tempted, we fall into temptations, we commit mistakes, we fail, we sin. But the sacred heart of Christ is full of mercy which he gives us abundantly.

From there we can begin again, which is always what happens in our life. We just have to begin and begin again, never getting tired, since Christ never tires of us. This seems to be the law of our earthly life. We should not remain down all the time. We can and should always get up.

That we always sin is already quite known. St. John in his first letter said so. “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him (God) a liar, and His word is not in us.” (1,10) So, let’s just acknowledge our sinfulness and ask for forgiveness. Let’s avoid playing the hypocrite.

Besides, St. Paul vividly describes the constant inner struggle we all have between good and evil. From his Letter to the Romans, we read: “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate…I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin which dwells in my members.” (7,15ff.)

And again, we are told that we are actually ranged against powerful enemies. Not only do we have to contend with our wounded flesh, and the sinful allurements of the world. We also have to do battle with powerful spiritual enemies.

As St. Paul put it in his Letter to the Ephesians, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (6,12)

Let’s remember this fact of life, and not waste too much time lamenting and feeling bad because of our weakness and sinfulness. All we have to do is to be quick to say sorry, saying it from the heart no matter how repeatedly we have to do it. And from there, let’s continue the process of conversion and transformation, going to confession often, cultivating the virtues, sanctifying our work and ordinary duties, etc.

We have to learn to move on. We should not forget that with God nothing is impossible. This is a truth of faith that should sink deep in our consciousness and made to motivate, shape and direct our thoughts, plans, words and actions.

We have to reinforce this belief continually, especially when we are assailed by doubts, fears, questions, failures. In fact, we have to turn this belief into a formidable conviction, and market it as widely as possible for the good of all.

This is not at all engaging in a Pollyana attitude toward life. Yes, we need to be cheerful and optimistic all the time, but with the cheerfulness and optimism that is properly grounded.

We just have to make sure that the grounding is authentic.

It should be on God, on our faith, on our belief in the spiritual and supernatural realities that should go beyond the material, temporal and natural dimensions of our life.

Obviously this is easier said than done, and that is why we need to be patient and persevering in working out the many details we need to do to acquire a true belief and trust in God, and not get derailed into superstitions, which are a continuing threat to us.

We always have to remember that Christ came “to seek and to save what was lost.” He did not come to condemn, but to save. In other words, if we find ourselves condemned, it’s not because of him, but rather of us.

We should be quick to run to Christ, rather than running away from him. We acknowledge our mistakes, say sorry, do whatever may be needed to make up and then move on.

We have to learn to live with our weakness and sinfulness and also with the firm conviction of God’s abundant mercy. We do our part. God will always do his.

E-mail: roycimagala@gmail.com