God’s infinite mercy surpasses sin addiction
It takes faith because our tendency is to give up on people who are addicted to some habit of sin. Instead of giving up, pray. Remember how Jesus himself insisted on leaving the ninety-nine sheep who were healthy to go looking for the one that was lost. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
- Seeing the evil connected with drunk driving, most people feel like shouting: “Stop doing this!” However, we know that getting angry and shouting is not going to change them. If the Gospel says anything, it tells us to preach the message of grace.
- St Augustine could be preaching in some churches today and feel the need to say the same thing he said many centuries ago. Don’t be shocked that he would have to say the same thing. Look instead at his answer to the problem.
- This takes faith. This takes faith because our tendency is to give up on people who are addicted to some habit of sin. Instead of giving up, pray.
I HAVE SEEN dozens of accidents caused by drunk drivers running off the road out of control.
I once had to rush a man to the hospital at one o’clock on a Friday afternoon, thinking, “How can someone get drunk so early in the day?” Even when the drunk driver survives, we all look at the smash and think: “How stupid! How much suffering for no reason at all.”
Seeing the evil connected with drunk driving, most people feel like shouting: “Stop doing this!”
However, we know that getting angry and shouting is not going to change them. If the Gospel says anything, it tells us to preach the message of grace. All the laws in the world will not stop drunkenness, corruption or promiscuity.
LOST SHEEP
One of the greatest preachers of the early Church in Africa was St Augustine. He told christians not to despair, no matter how serious their sins were: “How many are there in this congregation who are crushed down under the weighty mass of some sinful habit! Perhaps some are hearing me to whom it may be said, “Do not get drunk with wine” and they say, “We feel incapable.”
There may be others, near me even now, who are unclean, and stained with lusts and crimes. We say to them, “Stop stealing, stop lusting, lest you perish.” They reply, “We cannot give up our habits.”
St Augustine could be preaching in some churches today and feel the need to say the same thing he said many centuries ago. Don’t be shocked that he would have to say the same thing. Look instead at his answer to the problem.
“O Lord, they are dead! Raise them from the dead.” St Augustine called on Jesus to use his power to change the hearts of those Christians.
This takes faith. This takes faith because our tendency is to give up on people who are addicted to some habit of sin. Instead of giving up, pray. Remember how Jesus himself insisted on leaving the ninety-nine sheep who were healthy to go looking for the one that was lost. What does Jesus say to the lost sheep: “The one who believes in me, even if he is dead, will live.” What does this mean, asks Augustine? Even great sinners can have their sins forgiven.
Does this mean that laws are useless? No. Does this mean that the one who caused harm can come and sit with the family of the victim and all will be forgotten? No. Some people belong in prison for their own good.
It may be the only way to wake them up and allow them to see the need for change. Even then, don’t count on the law to change them. Count on God’s grace.
