12 June 2016 - loving much

So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven
because she has shown great love.
But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.

We should not be afraid to examine our consciences. We probably don't enjoy doing it when it brings to light the filth and darkness in our hearts. But if we come to see these things as occasions to receive the mercy of God we no longer need to be reluctant to find them. It's true that the things in themselves are ugly. But we begin to realize how much greater is the love God has for us. With Therese we begin to say, "How happy I am to see myself imperfect and be in need of God's mercy."

David must first realize that he has sinned before the LORD on his part can forgive David. Only when sin is recognized can the slow death it entails be averted.

And we have all sinned. Whatever our debt, we are unable to repay it. We all receive the unmerited mercy of God. But for that mercy to truly have the intended effect in our hearts we must recognize how much we need it. When we realize how dependent we are on the God who loves us first our hearts do become more capable of love and more able to fulfill the purpose for which they are made.

I have been crucified with Christ;
yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me;
insofar as I now live in the flesh,
I live by faith in the Son of God
who has loved me and given himself up for me.

To let Christ live in us we must give up on our need to live and pay our debts by works of the law. We must recognize our complete dependence on him and let him manifest his love and mercy in us and then through us.

First we recognize our need.

Blessed is the one whose fault is taken away,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,
in whose spirit there is no guile.

Then we rejoice in the salvation God gives.

You are my shelter; from distress you will preserve me;
with glad cries of freedom you will ring me round.

Today Jesus offers to help us to look more deeply within, not for the sake of beeting ourselves up, but so that we can realize his love more and more.