Grace Greater Than All Our Sin

In the Old Testament reading for today, we see the immeasurable breadth of God’s power.  He created everything on earth and supplies our every need.  As spring begins we see life bursting forth around us; trees beginning to bud, birds singing and building nests, flowers opening and sharing their radiant beauty.  In all of this we find what we need to live, to survive physically from one day to the next.  The sun and rain that nurtures our food, plants from which we get medicine, the wood and other raw materials to build homes, roads, schools, churches, the intellect to use all that God has provided to survive and even thrive.

And yet, despite of all of the beauty and perfection given to mankind, Adam and Eve gave in to the temptation of sin and brought about The Fall. Everything that GOD created was good, but sin brings pain and suffering into the world.  We are like the sick man sitting near the waters of Bethesda in today’s gospel.  We want to be well, forgiven from our sins, but we have no one to help us enter the healing waters.  But God shows us his immeasurable love and mercy, sending us Jesus, to heal us from our sins and to help “keep us on the road to heaven”.  The healing waters of baptism, the gift of the Eucharist, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the sacrament of Reconciliation… gifts from God to guide us back where we belong.  With Him.

Today, be conscious of God’s grace.  Share God’s love and mercy with those you meet, remembering that without HIS love and forgiveness, we would be nothing. From the old French prayer book, Gold Dust:  “How few there are who would thus dare to address God each night:  “Lord, deal with me tomorrow as I have this day dealt with others;… those to whom I was harsh, and from malice, or to show my own superiority, exposed their failings; others, to whom from pride or dislike, I refused to speak; I will not forgive,--to whom I will not show any kindness.” Thank you God for not giving me what I deserve.  Thank you for saving me.

--Melinda Cannady, convert (2011), wife, and mother of two precious little saintmakers.