+ Rotten fruit; bad foundations; built on sand; sin, sin, sin. It really is just a reality of fact.
And yet the bigger, and more important reality of fact, Paul states once again with no apologies, and in fact with gratitude and even a kind of pride: “Of these sinners,” which Jesus came into the world to save, “I am the foremost.”
And Paul, without a doubt, knew that the mercy of God is endless and bountiful.
The patience of God knows no end. Jesus, too, sights the power of sin and the necessity of building on the good, on the grace, on the faith in God that saves, heals, and loves and gives life.
And not only did Jesus come into the world — and, indeed, did accomplish just that — we should see it even more than just some existential and spiritual forgiving of our sins.
Jesus also showed us the way back to humanity and even super-humanity.
On that cross, he loved and forgave — nothing short of divine love.
He could have hated. Some would say he should have hated. But he didn’t! The mercy and divine love of God flowed directly through him into all those who lost their humanity that day and were mired in sin and hate.
Lost souls, indeed. But Jesus changed all of that. Jesus saved everyone and showed us what was possible through faith and love of God.
And Jesus expressed beautifully in our Gospel verse today, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, “and my Father will love him, and we will come to him.”
What a gift and promise.
Once again, such amazing grace.
Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.
