Ave Maria Meditations
This infinite mercy of the Heart of Jesus appears in a very touching manner in two incidents of the Gospel. Mary, the sinner of Magdala, repentant, and truly humble, comes into the house of the Pharisee to offer to Jesus the pious homage of her love and adoration. The Divine Master, Who ordinarily rejects such testimonies, this time willingly accepts the tokens of love; it is because He wishes to rehabilitate her publicly. And with what exquisite delicacy and with what divine tact does He not show to Simon how unjust was his opinion about her!
Our Savior loves repentant souls, and He declares of Magdalen: “Many sins are forgiven her, because she hath loved much” (Lk 7:47).
Another time, a woman caught in the act of sin was brought to Him. The Law ordered that such people be stoned. Does not Jesus always wish that people obey the law? Is not He Himself faithful to its prescriptions? What is He then going to do ?
Ah! fear not; His mercy will know how to suggest to Him a means to make mercy prevail over justice: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her ” (Jn 8:7). All, one by one, have left the place. There remains no one but Jesus and the sinful woman. Great misery, and mercy greater still: “Hath no man condemned thee?” “No man, Lord.” ” Neither will I condemn thee. Go now, and sin no more” (Jn 8:10-11).
Nothing, however, is more capable of conveying to us an idea of the inexhaustible fund of the mercy of Jesus than these two (other) adorable parables, real pearls of love, encased in the precious jewel-case of the Gospels: the Lost Sheep and the Prodigal Son…
+Mother Louise Margaret Claret de la Touche
