Today’s gospel passage makes it clear that all of us need to repent of something! None of us is better than anyone else. And none is worse than anyone else at the core. We can make ourselves more pleasing in the sight of God by our good deeds, and we can make ourselves less pleasing by our misdeeds. But essentially, God looks at all of us as sinners, and weak, oftentimes misguided and difficult to communicate with children.
And he is right.
The message of the gospel passage is actually: God’s great MERCY! He does not delight in the death of the wicked, but takes great pleasure in his conversion that he may live. Having God look upon us ALL as sinners is then a good thing! a very good thing! For the blood of Christ then has merit for us! Our very sinfulness can be transformed into newness of life.
In the first reading today St. Paul tells the Romans not to glory and wallow in the sinfulness that can overwhelm us if we live according to the dictates and animal needs of the body; but rather to glory and celebrate life in the Holy Spirit which comes to us in the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation - and is strengthened each and every time we celebrate and receive Eucharist.
The very same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us! This means a radical newness of life is available even for our mortal bodies and souls here on earth; and fullness of life and love in eternity for ever.
Lord, we are the people who long to see you face!
Look upon us with mercy and forgive us our sins!
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