today is difficult to speak of sin, difficult and even embarrassing. It is an argument "out" out of fashion, unusual. We are confronted with two basic attitudes are diametrically opposed, therefore, respectively, of a culture of uncompromising religious one, the other lax and permissive. On the one hand because we come from a past that he had in mind what was a sin, too. To the extent that the law of God had slowly permeated with that of men, losing sight of the essential purpose of the goodness and mercy of God, and emphasizing only the role of judge, stern and inflexible. Many people who have lived their whole lives careful not to sin, they did so with the conviction that you just do not materially breach the requirements of God and the Church, regardless of the dispositions, charity and love, in a society supercritical and severe, more obedient to a code of behavior that the Gospel, which is rather a compendium of friendship and love divine.
other hand, we live in a present which was abolished by law the sin: the common morality has been reduced to a minimum, what is right and wrong is decided by the majority, power, advertising, media, consciousness, if it still exists, it needs to adapt. We are stringent and uncompromising to others, gentle and understanding with ourselves and with our inconsistencies. I mean, big trouble. But, brothers, console ourselves: there is even worse.
And the worse is our "inside", the unconscious, our soul, the deepest part of us that only we know. That very personal place where we finally hear what others really want from us, and we understand clearly what is right to do and what not. And the worst is this: because even here, some of us can very easily to make a crust indifference high three fingers, flattening everything and everyone. Others, however, weaker, live full of fear and guilt. And in all this inconsistency, even in this privileged place, it is unlikely that God can say something, which is difficult to create a subtle harmony that brings us closer to God, becoming aware of our limits, difficult to recognize and overcome feelings of guilt, hard to put in a minority the dark side and negative of each of us. But this time we should not despair. The word, as always, comes to our aid.
God does not love the sin, I do not even know, I do not conceive.
Sin is the non-ego, the non-Adam, part of which ends up prevailing darkness, the little ogre who was born with us and keeps us company for a lifetime. In Hebrew, the word "sin" means "to fail the target, as is inexperienced archer. Just as unfortunately happens to everyone, but to us, no! We are all ready to say that the target is too far, that the bow is loose, anyone got distracted. Classic apology of someone who has a heart baby!
But God sees us as adults and treat us as such: and a lot of patience, love without limits.
Forget the idea of \u200b\u200ba God unhappy and severe demonic, bloodthirsty, harshly judging his creatures: he loves them instead: and bear their sin, as stated in the splendid first reading, because she thinks that everyone can do it . We persist to be the chickens but God sees the potential in us that hawks can fly high. We insist to be photocopies of absurd models, while God sees in us that we are unique masterpiece. We hide our faults to others, but God only sees the qualities that he has created in us.
short, a wonder, a wonder. It's all so beautiful that sin loses its connotation depressing.
We think this is too much? No, brothers! Let's ask to Zacchaeus!
Zacchaeus was a manager arrived: he had made tons of money with the levying of taxes on behalf of the Roman invader. A loan shark, we would say today, a clever unscrupulous like alligators finance today, who were concerned only personal profit, everything else is relative.
A guy met, Zacchaeus, but feared and hated by his countrymen: a gesture, and the Roman soldiers intervened. One that despite everything, he was left completely alone. The wealth and power are very stingy with true friends and gratuity. So Zacchaeus
have heard of Galileo, that the Nazarene that people believe a healer, a prophet and, curious, wants to see without being seen. And the unexpected happens: Jesus, Stan, sees it, the smiles come down, Zacchaeus, come down quickly, get you. Zacchaeus is forbidden: "How do you know my name? What do you want from me? Maybe I was confused with someone else? "No matter, Zacchaeus comes down, travel. Jesus does not judge, nor fears the trial of right-thinking people of yesterday and today: go to his house, he stops, brings salvation. Zacchaeus is confused, upset, won: in ten minutes her life has changed, the famous Jeshua bar Joseph came to his house. It feels like a sock turned. Jesus himself was looking for, you are wrong person. He wanted to own him, no doubt. Jesus did not place conditions, came to the house of a hardened sinner.
Zaccheo at this point makes a solemn promise that brought him to ruin (well read: returns four times what he stole!), But who cares? Now he feels safe. No longer satisfied him alone, only feared, just as powerful, to no avail. No, except finally, finally disciple. He, feared and hated, is now a disciple. Let us meditate
therefore, brothers and sisters: it is God who seeks us out, it is he who takes the initiative. God loves us without judging us. Let him who seeks us. Our life would cease to be a kind of hide and seek, let us reach at last! Jesus does not judge Zacchaeus, waiting for him.
The love of God before our conversion. God does not love us because we are good, but loving us, makes us good. Jesus did not ask, give, unconditionally.
If Jesus had said, "Zacchaeus, I know you're a thief if you return what you stole four times as much, come to your house, believe me, Zacchaeus would remain on the tree!
No God before our conversion, inspires, forgives us before repentance, and forgiveness converts us: it is so unprecedented and unexpected salvation, which leads us necessarily to convert.
That's it, brothers, friends and disciples. Who wants to follow Jesus, therefore, face forward, fall from the tree, you deploy. No matter who you are really, or how far you've done or mistakes in his heart. No matter if you scrutinize the passage of the Master of mere curiosity.
not matter, because one thing is certain: today, now, at this moment, he wants to come into your home. Amen!
