Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB
Simply Try
“The Lord never tires of forgiving, never!
It is we who tire of asking his forgiveness.” Pope Francis.
How refreshing it must have been for those tax collectors and prostitutes who had no hope until Jesus came along. We all know what it’s like to repeatedly try to please God or overcome a sinful pattern.
How many times have we failed to make the mark? How often do we go to confession with the best of intentions, and no sooner do we know it than we are back where we started, committing the same sin.
It can be very frustrating to say yes and mean yes, yet lack the strength or willpower to overcome our sinfulness. But aren’t we the ones Jesus comes to save? St. Teresa of Lisieux uses the metaphor of climbing a giant staircase of perfection.
And let’s not kid ourselves; none of us will always be perfect in this life. Realizing how difficult it is even to lift our foot to take that first step out of sinful behavior, St. Teresa tells us to simply try. She says, “Raise your little foot to scale the stairway of holiness.”
When we cannot even take that first step, she adds, “God requires you only to demonstrate your goodwill.” All we need to do is try. When God sees our small effort and its futility, he will descend the stairway, gather us into his arms, and take us to the heights. (Cited in Empty Hands, page 113)
St. Teresa of Calcutta said something similar: “God does not call us to be successful but to be faithful.” St. Teresa of the Little Flower was happy to remain small, and we don’t want to be too big for Jesus to lift. Jesus was drawn to the tax collectors and sinners because they were helpless and knew they needed a Savior.
They said “no” at first, but when they saw Jesus and felt his compassion in their hearts, their “no” became a “yes.” Pope Francis put it well when he said, “The Lord never tires of forgiving, never! It is we who tire of asking his forgiveness.” Pope’s quotes: Ask for forgiveness | National Catholic Reporter. https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/francis-chronicles/popes-quotes-ask-forgiveness
Love Your Neighbor!
Fr. Rick Pilger, IC
