This Good Friday, I was struck by the beginning of the Divine Mercy Novena, in which Jesus asks us to bring Him all sinners. I found this message especially appropriate for Good Friday, because it drives home the truth that Jesus died for everyone.
Because He died for them, we are called to love them. This does not mean agree with them or accept their policies. We can never condone the evil they do, but we need to do a better job of showing them the love of Jesus Christ. Would Jesus use the language we use to refer to these people? Would He approve of all the personal attacks made upon them? Was that the example He gave us at Calvary? Is that why He died? Did He not die for everyone?
We need to pray for their conversion and the conversion of our nation. We should be praying for all those who contribute to the moral deterioration of our country. We should pray in love and maybe disappointment. We remember the price that Jesus paid and that He died for the sinners too. Jesus loves them as much as he loves those who pray with us. In the Garden, He saw all the sins of mankind. Knowing all of these sins would come to pass, He still chose to die for us.
It is this message of love and mercy we need to bring to the sinners. Jesus loves them. He forgives them. He died for them and offers healing and mercy. It is not too late. It is never too late. Nothing we do, no sin, absolutely nothing can separate us from His healing love. He promised. Once we repent and confess our sins they are forgotten. While we remember, He has chosen to forget.
Psalm 103 tells us: “As far as from the east is from the west so far has He removed our sins from us.” Anger and hatred will not win souls or grant us the victory we desire. It is only by acting in love that we can change the world. The world does not need any more hate or anger. It needs Christ’s love.
