THE BEAUTY OF TEARDROPS
There is a story of a competition held in heaven. God offered agrand prize for the angel who collected the most beautiful object in the universe. The angels searched everywhere and returned with several beautiful articles such as flowers, feathers, butterflies, coral fishes and dewdrops.
God was not fully satisfied with these collections. Finally, an angel returned with a small bottle containing the tears of a repenting sinner. This angel was given the first prize.
We
often neglect minor sins as silly. But the trouble with little sins is that
they do not stay little. Sin is like a river which begins in a quiet spring but
ends in a stormy sea. When we commit a sin, we wound God, our loving father. By
sincere repentance, we can seek and obtain pardon from the merciful God.
A
teacher once asked her students, “What do you mean by repentance?” One student
said, “It is being sorry for our sins.” Then another student added, “Miss, it
is being so sorry that we decide to quit that sin forever and resolve not to
repeat it.”
Jesus
Christ said that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety nine respectable people who do not need to repent.
The sacrament of penance and reconciliation is instituted in the church
so that those who approach the sacrament may obtain pardon from God's mercy for the offense committed against Him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins (and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labours for their conversion).[Ref:-Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part-2, Section-2, Chapter-2, Article-4, No.1422]
so that those who approach the sacrament may obtain pardon from God's mercy for the offense committed against Him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins (and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labours for their conversion).[Ref:-Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part-2, Section-2, Chapter-2, Article-4, No.1422]
. Jesus said, "I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine respectable people who do not need to repent" {Luke 15:7}. David sings in the Psalms, "You know how troubled I am; you have kept a record of my tears. Aren't they listed in your book?" {Psalms 56:8}.
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By Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India.
This is story No.77 in this site. Please click ‘older posts’ at bottom of page to read previous stories.
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