Romans, Chapter 3, verse 10-18
10 “There
is no one just, not one, 11 there is no one
who understands, there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have gone astray; all alike are worthless; there
is not one who does good, [there is not] even one. 13 Their throats
are open graves; they deceive with their tongues; the venom of asps is on their
lips;
14 their mouths are full of bitter
cursing. 15 Their feet are quick to shed blood; 16 ruin and misery are in their ways, 17 and the way of peace they know not. 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
There
is no hope except in Christ; all are broken vessels. Yet, by the gift of
fortitude we endure; seeking Him who is our salvation.
As we
read in the gospel: Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now? Behold, the hour
is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and
you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I
have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will
have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (John
16:31-33)
Feast of the Holy Penitent Mary Magdalen[1]
MARY MAGDALEN,
a sister of Lazarus and of Martha, of Bethany, was a notorious sinner in Jerusalem.
Moved by the preaching of Jesus, she did public penance. She went openly into
the house of the Pharisee with whom Jesus was sitting at table, threw herself at
His feet, anointed them with precious ointment, washed them with her tears, and
wiped them with her hair. Jesus, knowing her contrite heart, forgave her, her sins
(Luke vii. 37, 38), and from that time forward she became the most zealous and faithful
of the women who were disciples of Our Lord. She followed Him, always ministered
unto Him of her substance (Luke viii. 3), and when He died was standing under the
cross.
Magdalen,
who had sinned openly, openly did penance. In like manner, he who has given public
scandal must seek to make amends for it by public good example. Magdalen confessed
her sins, says St. Ambrose, not with words, but with abundant tears of
penitence. To tell her sins to Christ, the All-knowing, was not necessary but what
a confession was there in the posture of humiliation, and in the tears that flowed
from the contrite sinner. Would you obtain forgiveness? Confess with contrition,
like Magdalen. The words, “Thy faith hath made thee safe,” denote a faith active
as love. Faith and love are in truth never separated, for the only truly
believes who also loves; and he only loves according to God’s will who believes
in Him. Therefore believe in truth, love, and show your love by earnest hatred of
every sin, by flying from occasions of sin, by fighting against your passions, by
change of your life, and by humble confession, and as true as God lives you will
be saved, as was Magdalen the peace of God will enter into your heart.
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