The Sorrow of the Heart Which Sins

Prayer-Soldier

The Sorrow of the Heart Which Sins

Scripture:

And Nathan said to David: You are the man. Thus said the Lord the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul, and gave you the house of your master and the wives of your master into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and Juda: and if these things be little, I shall add far greater things unto you. Why therefore have you despised the word of the Lord, to do evil in my sight? You have killed Urias the Hethite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Urias the Hethite to be your wife.

And David said to Nathan: I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said to David: The Lord also has taken away your sin: you shall not die. (2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13)

But knowing that man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, we also believe in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

For I, through the law, am dead to the law, that I may live to God; with Christ I am nailed to the cross. And I live, now not I: but Christ lives in me. And that I live now in the flesh: I live in the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and delivered himself for me. I cast not away the grace of God. For if justice be by the law, then Christ died in vain. (Galatians 2:16, 19-21)

And one of the Pharisees desired him to eat with him. And he went into the house of the Pharisee and sat down to meat. And behold a woman that was in the city, a sinner, when she knew that he sat at meat in the house of the Pharisee, brought an alabaster box of ointment. And standing behind at his feet, she began to wash his feet with tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. And the Pharisee, who had invited him, seeing it, spoke within himself, saying: This man, if he were a prophet, would know surely who and what manner of woman this is that touches him, that she is a sinner.

And Jesus answering, said to him: Simon, I have somewhat to say to you. But he said: Master, say it. A certain creditor had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence and the other fifty. And whereas they had not wherewith to pay, he forgave them both. Which therefore of the two loves him most? Simon answering, said: I suppose that he to whom he forgave most. And he said to him: You have judged rightly.

And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon: Do you see this woman? I entered into your house: you gave me no water for my feet. But she with tears has washed my feet; and with her hairs has wiped them. You gave me no kiss. But she, since she came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil you did not anoint. But she with ointment has anointed my feet. Wherefore, I say to you: Many sins are forgiven her, because she has loved much. But to whom less is forgiven, he loves less. And he said to her: Your sins are forgiven you. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves: Who is this that forgives sins also? And he said to the woman: Your faith has made you safe. Go in peace. (Luke 7:36-50)

Reflection:

The king, Saul, disobeyed the instruction of the Lord. For his sin, Saul was removed from his throne by the hand of God. David, who succeeded Saul, also sinned gravely before the Lord, and though God punished David, David remained as king. We might be tempted to ask, how is it that God would treat two kings, both of whom committed such grave sins, so differently? The answer is contained within the heart. Saul admitted his sin, but Saul was not contrite. He expected forgiveness. Saul sought for the prophet Samuel to forgive Saul and expected Samuel to honor Saul before the elders. (1 Samuel 15:24-30) David, when confronted by the prophet, Nathan, became remorseful and sought the forgiveness of the Lord. David did not beseech Nathan to render forgiveness, but offered a contrite heart to God. (Psalm 51)

The difference in the treatment by God of Saul and David reveals to us the importance of a contrite heart as we realize and confess our sins. If we are not sorry for what we have done, how is it that we will find a way to turn away from our weakness? As did David, we should pray to the Lord that He might have mercy upon us and create within us a clean heart and strengthen our spirit. (Psalm 51:12)

It is truth that Jesus offered Himself in sacrifice, from upon the cross, in atonement for our sins. Should we not be remorseful that the One who is sinless suffers so for our sins? If there is no remorse within us, then, what is our message to God?

The good news which is presented to us is that despite our sin, God desires that we should receive His mercy and His forgiveness, for His love for us is greater than our sin. His love for us is so great that He sent His only begotten Son as our Savior. It is not possible for us to purchase our way into heaven, for only the blood of the Lamb may cleanse us of our iniquities; therefore, our path is only possible through His love and the sacrifice made for us. Still, we must reflect, what does it mean and what are we telling our Savior if there is no remorse within our heart for failing to live as God commands?

As we examine our conscience, we should ask ourselves whether we are as Simon, the Pharisee, who looks on with judgment upon those he sees as lessor than him; or are we like the sinful woman, with tears in our heart because of our iniquities. If we were to recline with our Savior, would we position ourselves at His side or at His feet? Would we extol our personal perception of our virtues or wash His feet with the tears of our remorse and regret for the many ways we have failed Him?

When we see the love which was poured out for us, we should be as the sinful woman, with tears in our eyes and mourning within in our hearts for what we have done against the will of God and what we have failed to do to live according to His commandments to love. If we truly love Him, we will approach Him with a contrite heart. As we confess our sins, we must express our sorrow and pray that He will grant us the strength of heart so that we may turn our lives towards Him and away from the seductions of the world.

When we see the love which was poured out for us, we should rejoice and give thanks and praise that our God loves us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to gather us in. In prayer, let us seek His embrace. In prayer, let us receive His love. In prayer, let us ask that He will pour His love into us so that we may share of it freely for the blessings of all who cross our path. With tears of mourning, let us lift up penitential hearts. With tears of joy, let us celebrate in thanks and praise for the blessings of His great mercy and love.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier