I can’t deny it. I am a sinner. Despite my best intentions, I continue to sin. Like the person that wrote Psalm 39, I tell myself: “I’ll be careful not to sin by what I say, and I’ll muzzle my mouth when evil people are near.” But despite my best efforts, even though “I kept completely silent”, “it did no good, and I hurt even worse”.
Has that ever happened to you? Have you ever faced up to sin, even confessed and repented of it, only to fall back into it?
Have you made promises: “I won’t ever do that again!” Only to fail?
The saddest part is that when we do that, we actually deny God’s mercy – we are in denial – we are sinning in the face of grace. How can we possibly expect the Lord to forgive us when we are so blatant?
The good news is that He keeps on loving us despite our worst efforts. It is sad that we do what we do in the presence of God! But it is so good to know that we can’t
hide, that he always knows and always remains ready to catch our ears eyes and hearts with a Word of mercy. Yes, even when we deny Jesus, He remains merciful.
We are in good company. Jesus disciple Peter experienced just that right at that moment after denying Jesus three times, when Jesus turned and looked at him with
mercy!
“In no other way then can you be perfect in this life, than by knowing that you cannot be perfect in this life.” (St Augustine)