Some time ago, I met a man who admitted to me (not in confession) that a certain pattern of sin was destroying his life. I asked him if he went to mass and he said no, because he was such a sinner.

I had to point out to him that mass is for people such as himself, those struggling with sin: all forms of sinners. Indeed, I added, that is the first thing we do at mass, after the greeting, we acknowledge that we are  sinners. I encouraged him to go to mass.

Yet, how many people do not go to mass because they feel that church is for “good” people. What is worse is they feel when things go wrong in their lives that this is God’s way of punishing them.

God does not work that way. He does not focus on our sins, but on the intentions of our Heart. We can see this clearly in today’s first reading.

This is a famous story, in  fact Jesus cites this woman as a contrast against the obstinate of heart of his day. We are looking at the widow of Zarephath, she is a pagan woman living with her son in ancient Israel during the reign of the spineless Ahab and his wicked, pagan queen Jezebel. There is a drought and many have no food, however, she shares with Elijah some of her food. As a reward, she is told that her jar of flour will never go dry. Her son dies soon after and she complains to Elijah that this might be because of her sinfulness. Elijah calls upon God to raise her son. He does.

We never learn of her sins, but we learn that her sins aside, God does not punish her because of her sins, but blesses her through Elijah in her righteousness. For God does not focus on her sins, but on the intentions of her heart.

Jesus taught that he came for sinners, so why do people believe that if you are going to approach Jesus or His church you must be sinless? Indeed, he describes the sinner as like the patient of a doctor. To say you must be sinless to approach Jesus is to say you must be healthy before you go to the hospital. That is a ridiculous idea. Jesus wants to touch our sinfulness and bring His forgiveness upon it, even if we are caught in a pattern of the same sin. He tells us not to give up, but to approach him anyway.

But how many do not attend our churches because they feel they are too great sinners to attend. Worse yet, how many actually promote that idea that you have to be sinless to approach Jesus. Unfortunately, the internet is filled with angry Catholics who would make Caiaphas appear kind in their destructive attitude toward the sinner. It is they who will meet a condemning Jesus. He says that Himself when he warns the pharisees that the prostitutes and tax collectors will enter Heaven before them, for the prostitutes and the tax collectors will repent, the pharisees never do. Those who refuse to repent will be left out of salvation, but sinners, regardless of their sin, will always be welcome if they are repentant of their sins. This is the prime difference, the repentant sinner seeks Christ. The prideful self-righteous one sees no need for Christ in His life.

The problem is that the closer we come to Christ, the more we become aware of our sinfulness for we realize other sins that we commit that we were not mindful of before. So we are never sinless, but we are never without the mercy, love and compassion of God. Therefore, we must never think that we are being punished by God for our sinfulness. Indeed, if God’s discipline leads us not into condemnation but into His arms we should welcome it, but his discipline is neither condemnation nor punishment, it is correction in love.

Abraham Lincoln said it best when he said that “I have found few people who have  no vices who indeed have any virtues.” It is the honest and contrite sinner who is  invited to Heaven.

We must end the message to others that they must be sinless to enter our Church, we do not welcome everyone, indeed, if you are perfect we have no place for you here. We welcome repentant sinners for it is repentant sinners who find Christ; the sinless never do. If you feel you have no sin then you lied at the beginning of mass. However, if you lied at the beginning of mass then you did in fact sin, which means you do belong here.

God does not focus on our sins, but on the intentions in our heart and if our intentions are rooted in love of God and neighbor, our reward will be great, even if we are weak. If we feel we have not need for His grace, we will never find Him.

Fr. James Alberione tells the story of hearing the voice of God tell him to be sorry for his sins and from that point God  will enlighten Him. So it is with us, be sorry for your sins and you will be swimming in the grace of God, be blind to your sins and you will never know him, no matter how good you think you are.

Sinners are welcome here, all others may find themselves a church that welcomes their kind, but this is not that Church.

God bless you,

Fr. Robert J Carr

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