If there is one thing that I have learned since becoming part of the Canção Nova (New Song) Community, it is the mercy of God. Indeed, that theme was brought up by Pope Benedict here in Rome during the celebrations for the end of the priest year. He cited St. John Vianney who taught that God’s mercy is like a mountain and our sins are like a grain of sand.

I am not sure that we Americans are fully aware of God’s mercy. Often times I hear of and even remember condemnations and the reminder that Hell was just waiting for us. I remember one Catholic telling me that he believed in re-incarnation because one cannot be good enough to get to Heaven in one lifetime. This is a grossly inaccurate  misinterpretation of Christ’s teaching.

Yet, here in the United States all school children learn Puritan preacher Jonathan Livingston’s 18th Century tome, Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God, which boasted of a God who held his congregation by a tiny thread over Hell. One flick of the Divine finger and all were lost. This however, is not the God that we know as Catholics.

Our God loves us and calls us to respond to his love. His mercy is endless. It is not there for our abuse, but for our healing and cleansing. Too many people in and out of the Catholic Church understand God as one who condemns. Yet, at the beginning of every mass we announce our sinfulness and proclaim our trust in God’s mercy. In fact, one of the words introducing the Kyrie are “You came to heal the contrite.” If we truly desire to turn from sin, God will heal us. If we fall back into sin, we can rest assured that when we turn back, He will be there. What counts is a desire to repent and our seeking to change our ways. Remember, if only perfect people were able to follow Christ, then His dying on the cross would be a waste of time.

Our faith is one of healing, growth and mercy. Over and over again, including in today’s gospel, Jesusproclaims His mercy for us. Yet, time and time again, I have to warn people of the greatest destroyer of our relationship with Christ, discouragement. This is voiced as: “I am too great a sinner to warrant God’s mercy.” The saints remind us that these are not the words of the humble, but of the prideful. It is a false humility that leads one into despair of salvation, which is a sin against the Holy Spirit.

Jesus reminds us in Today’s Gospel, that those who are ready to condemn the sinner, condemn themselves and those sinners who feel unable to receive God’s mercy are woefully mistaken. Jesus came to heal the contrite.

Seek the grace of contrition for your sins and the desire to turn your life around. Come before Christ and his Mother and ask for the Divine Healing. He is ever ready to bestow it upon you. Regardless of your sin. For it is not the sin that separates us from Christ, but the lack of contrition. It is the act of turning from sin that joins us to Him.

“You came to heal the contrite, Lord have mercy.”

God Bless You.

Father Robert J. Carr

Father Carr is the editor of this blog and the pastor of St. Benedict Parish in Somerville. He is an alliance member of the New Song (Canção Nova) Community. This week he is writing from Rome.