Posted on 11/03/2022 7:59:09 AM PDT by fidelis
The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:1-2
How do you treat the sinners you encounter? Do you shun them, talk about them, ridicule them, pity them, or ignore them? Hopefully not! How should you treat the sinner? Jesus allowed them to draw near to Him and He was attentive to them. In fact, He was so merciful and kind to the sinner that He was harshly criticized by the Pharisees and scribes. How about you? Are you willing to associate with the sinner to the point that you open yourself up to criticism?
It’s quite easy to be harsh and critical toward those who “deserve it.” When we see someone clearly going astray, we can almost feel justified in pointing the finger and putting them down as if we were better than them or as if they were dirt. What an easy thing to do and what a mistake!
If we want to be like Jesus we must have a very different attitude toward them. We must act differently toward them than how we may feel like acting. Sin is ugly and dirty. It’s easy to be critical toward one who is caught in a cycle of sin. Yet if we do so, we are no different than the Pharisees and scribes of Jesus’ time. And we will most likely receive the same harsh treatment right back from Jesus for our lack of mercy.
It’s interesting that one of the only sins that Jesus consistently rebukes is that of judgmentalness and criticalness. It’s almost as if this sin shuts the door on God’s mercy in our lives.
Reflect, today, upon how you look at and treat those whose sins are somewhat manifest. Do you treat them with mercy? Or do you react with disdain and act with a judgmental heart? Recommit yourself to mercy and a complete lack of judgment. Judgment is Christ’s to give, not yours. You are called to mercy and compassion. If you can offer just that, you will be much more like our merciful Lord.
Lord of mercy, help me when I feel like being harsh and judgmental. Help me to turn an eye of compassion toward the sinner, seeing the goodness You put in their souls before seeing their sinful actions. Help me to leave judgment to You and embrace mercy instead. Jesus, I trust in You.
(Daily readings from the USCCB)
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O God and giver of all good gifts, you cleanse us from stain of sin and make us pure of heart through your Son Jesus Christ. Lead us to dwell with you in holiness in our everyday lives through constant growth in love for you and for all whose lives we touch, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
As are we all. I present myself as Exhibit A.
Don't mean it to be a post killer...
Not at all. It's one of my favorite Lewis quotes.
We should treat all persons with respect as as we are all made in the image of God. We should be willing to share God’s Truth for their benefit and for their eternal life.
However, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees quite often for their hypocrisy with their knowledge but lack of heart. Jesus knows our hearts and how we love God. Sometimes Jesus sought out sinners and helped them with their faith in God.
We too should seek out sinners by our Christian lives and our communication. We should avoid sin and not be influenced or followers of those that sin. We ask God to do the heavy lifting to turn their hearts so that they may accept God.
We should be willing tp accept the consequences from the world if we condemn sinful ways and support God’s Truth.
Delivering a sermon on Sunday, Fr. Seán Sheehy (Ireland(hsaid that there was “rampant sin” around and made damning remarks about the LGBT community and abortion.
The priest added: “God is also telling me you and today ‘look, you have a responsibility to seek out those who are lost, you have a responsibility to call people to an awareness of the fact — sin is destructive. Sin is detrimental and sin will lead us to Hell.
It comes Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne said the Sheehy’s views “do not represent the Christian position”.
In a statement on the Diocese of Kerry’s website, he said: “I am aware of the deep upset and hurt caused by the contents of the homilies in question delivered over the weekend.
“I apologise to all who were offended. The views expressed do not represent the Christian position.
He added: “The homily at a regular weekend parish Mass is not appropriate for such issues to be spoken of in such terms.
https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/kerry-priest-gives-controversial-sermon-28382571
Are we followers of the Bishop or the priest?
My opinion, Catholics should not support or vote for the democrat party with their evil ways and policies, including liberal progressive priests and bishops.
The point of the meditation, however, was as a personal application for our daily interactions with others. If we immediately blast with both barrels or, conversely, shun those in our lives whom we accurately perceive as living sinful lives, we will have little chance of converting them. In this, Jesus gives us an example. While he never failed to excoriate those in authority or influence as hypocrites and for being heartless, he never failed to reach out personally to individual sinners he met. It is a harder and sometimes frustrating way, but it is the way that Jesus modeled for us.
I agree that we should follow the example of Jesus.
We will win more hearts with our love of God and not by blasting.
Although it was perceived as blasting, the priest spoke God’s Truth for their benefit as if from Jesus.
“There are people who won’t like to hear what I am saying but the day you die, you will find out what I am saying is not what I invented, it’s not what I came up with, it’s what God is saying and the day you die you will find out that’s the truth.
“Our prayer for people is that it won’t be too late for people.”
While I agree that we will help God win sinners hearts with our living good Christian lives and our prayers.
There is a difference in blasting God’s Truth in a superior manner and presenting a civil exchange of God’s Truth vs. the untruth of the world.
I understand that many (with hardened hearts) do not want to engage in a civil discussion of the truth. It is still our responsibility , as best we can, not to cave but stand with Jesus and God’s Truth.
The problem is that there are very few priests, bishops and laity that present the Catholic faith based on the Truths that Jesus spoke.
We need to rebut and rebuke the offensive misstatements and apologies of the Catholic faith by the leaders. We need to support and encourage those that share God’s Truth, even if difficult for some to accept. They will be the losers by accepting sin and rejecting God.
As Catholics, we have a responsibility to share God’s Good News and how to achieve salvation with God.(Matthew 28: 19-20) As part off the Body of Christ, we need to do our part.
My main concern is that few will find the narrow gate. (Matthew (7: 13-14) While not trying to judge others, we can see that many, including family members, catholics, protestants, politicians, and many others are following the ways of the world and not the ways of Jesus,
All men are implicated in Adam's sin, as St. Paul affirms: "By one man's disobedience many (that is, all men) were made sinners": "sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned." The Apostle contrasts the universality of sin and death with the universality of salvation in Christ. "Then as one man's trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one man's act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men." (#402)
Because God creates through wisdom, his creation is ordered: "You have arranged all things by measure and number and weight." The universe, created in and by the eternal Word, the "image of the invisible God", is destined for and addressed to man, himself created in the "image of God" and called to a personal relationship with God (#299).
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