Trust in His Mercy 

   “No one was ever lost because their sin was too great, but because his trust was too small.” (Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos) 

   I believe there are some who do not turn to our Lord because they think their sins are too great or too many for Him to forgive.  They want to limit His love and mercy and in doing so, are lost.

   I suspect there is no one among us who has not committed sins that we consider heinous, sins that we remember with great sorrow, sins we wish with all our heart that we could go back an undo.  Of course, what’s done is done and can’t be changed, but it can and will be forgiven if we turn to God in true sorrow and repentance.

   Satan wants to convince us that we are unredeemable.  He will tell us that our sins are too awful to expect God to forgive.  He will remind us that we will sin again, and again, and ask us how long can we expect God to keep forgiving?  Sadly, some come to believe his lies and turn from God; not because they don’t believe but because they don’t trust in His infinite mercy.

   As I read the gospels I find many instances of Christ rebuking His apostles for their lack of faith.  When He called Peter to walk to Him on the water and Peter got scared and began to sink, Jesus said, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”(Matt 14: 31).  Even His apostles, those who knew Him best sometimes doubted and questioned, just as we do today.

   If we believe and trust in the love and mercy of Our Lord, trusting Him and His promises we can always come to Him in repentance seeking forgiveness and He will never refuse.  However, if we come to Him in doubt, not certain that He will forgive, He will say to us as well, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”