Love, Mercy & Forgiveness
He not only receives and pardons those adversaries,
those blasphemers, those persistent enemies of His name,
provided they do penance for their offence
and acknowledge the crime committed
but He admits them to the reward of the kingdom of heaven.” St. Cyprian
Why would a scandalous woman touch the Rabbi’s feet, kiss them and anoint them with ointment? Such were the words of Simon the Pharisee who invited Jesus to his home. He invited the Teacher to dine with him at table but he was far away from salvation.
This teaches us that the comfort obtained by a one may often prove serviceable to another; just as wells would be used by the company who came after. This table gave an opportunity to comfort for mourner, turned the sinner to the righteous one and it has been a well digged by a pilgrim for himself, but has proved quite as useful to others.
We notice this in the Psalms, such as that beginning, “Why art you cast down, O my soul why groan within me, hope in God still my savior and my God?” Indeed, great are the works of the Lord. Travelers have been delighted to see the footprint of man on a barren shore, and we love to see the waymarks of pilgrims while passing through the vale of tears.
The pilgrims dig the well, but, strange enough, it fills from the top instead of the bottom. We use the means, but the blessing does not spring from the means. We dig a well, but heaven fills it with rain. The horse is prepared against the day of battle, but safety is of the Lord. The table is filled with supper’s delight but below is filled with tears that has experienced total forgiveness from an inexhaustible fount of grace. The means are connected with the end, but they do not of themselves produce it. See here the rain fills the pools, so that the wells become useful as reservoirs for the water; labour is not lost, but yet it does not supersede divine help. Such was the Pharisee who welcomed Jesus to his home but was far from salvation. A practical proof of our gratitude is a thanksgiving to the Lord who wipes away our away our tears and reconcile us to himself.
Grace, mercy and forgiveness may well be compared to rain for its purity, for its refreshing and vivifying influence, for its coming alone from above, and for the sovereignty with which it is given or withheld. May we have showers of blessing, and may the wells that has been dug, be filled with water! Oh, what are means and ordinances without the smile of heaven! What is the essence of unction without the function? They are as clouds without rain, and pools without water. O God of love, open the windows of heaven and shower your blessings upon us
Quotes from Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian
Cornelius: “There is one God and one Christ and but one episcopal chair, originally founded on Peter, by the Lord’s authority. There cannot, therefore, be set up another altar or another priesthood. Whatever any man in his rage or rashness shall appoint, in defiance of the divine institution, must be a spurious, profane and sacrilegious ordinance” (St. Cyprian, The Unity of the Catholic Church).
Cyprian: “You cannot have God for your Father if you do not have the Church for your mother…. God is one and Christ is one, and his Church is one; one is the faith, and one is the people cemented together by harmony into the strong unity of a body…. If we are the heirs of Christ, let us abide in the peace of Christ; if we are the sons of God, let us be lovers of peace” (St. Cyprian, The Unity of the Catholic Church.
Saints Cornelius and Cyprian -Pray for us.
