Men cannot and can never fathom the depth of God’s love. The heart and mind of man is limited to his passion, thoughts and insecurities. It is impossible for humans to rise above the mundane quagmire of false notions and passions into the divine realm to feel the goodness and beauty of eternal reality. Such a notion ruminates in St. Peter’s query: “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me?’ Seven times?” Like Peter, we like to live in a feel-good world of our own making, which does not match the divine. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” So Jesus tells Peter that he should forgive not seven times, but seventy times seven. The mystery of God’s eternal love is expressed in His compassion, mercy and forgiveness.
The uncouth and hypocritical attitude of man was painfully depicted when the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman before Jesus. They said, “Master, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery.” This certainly must have saddened the heart of Jesus. Others’ weakness does not make me stronger. Hence, it is despicable to showcase the faults of others. Jesus tackles this situation with divine insight, knowing the evil intent of the human heart. “If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” It would be more wise for man to beat his breast saying, “Be merciful to me Lord, for I am a sinful man,” than for him to put on a phony mask of self-righteousness. Jesus looked up and said: “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” He then told her he would not condemn her either. “Go away and don’t sin anymore.”
It is clear that man cannot on his own attain eternal life. He needs God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness. The gift of eternal life is made available to all by God in His Son Jesus. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Hence, instead of condemning others, we should pray, “For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.” Even while undergoing a gruesome and humiliating death on the cross, Jesus showed the depth of divine love, mercy and forgiveness: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.” This act of divine mercy should bring shivers to our whole being and arouse profound love and faith that will lead us to seek God above everything else.
In His mercy and compassion, Jesus taught us to say, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” When God does not wish to condemn us, how can we condemn others? Hence, we have to keep in mind the Lord’s Prayer always … “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” St. Paul clearly understood that God wished not to condemn him, but saved him with mercy and grace in his Son, Jesus. The beauty of St. Paul’s conversion is that he gladly accepted this gift of God. He says, “I am racing for the finish, for the prize to which God calls us upwards to receive in Christ Jesus.” At baptism, God let us know that He does not wish to condemn us, but wipes away all our sins. He makes us His own children and heirs to life eternal. Hence, like Paul, we have to keep running with humility and faith to capture the prize fully.