Wednesday in the Twenty-Seventh Week of Ordinary Time at Mississippi Abbey

The Lord taught us to forgive because we have been forgiven.

There’s a story in the life of Saint Pope John XXIII that illustrates this. He used to visit the prison in Rome.  Among the prisoners there was a notorious murderer.  After hearing the Holy Father’s words, he said, “These words of hope that you have just spoken.  Do they also apply to me, such a great sinner?”  Pope John’s only answer was to open his arms and clasp him to his heart.  Without repentance there can be no salvation. With repentance there can be no condemnation, only a loving embrace.