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One woman,
We do not know her name.
All we know is her occupation : selling her body for money.
A public sinner.
Everybody knew about her : "she's one of those..."
Everyone frowned upon her.
Everybody used her.
Some to satisfy themselves.
Some to feel self-righteous.
She took a risk.
She saw that someone could love her.
Just the way she was.
Jesus Christ. He who would not use her.
The One and only who would not abuse her.
The only One who would not turn his back on her.
The only One who would not close himself up in his righteousness.
But loved her.
"My daughter, go in peace.
You faith has saved you."
We too, throughout our lives, were loved...when we were good.
And were shoved aside when we were not.
When I passed my exams, I was congratulated.
When I was doing well at work, they all smiled at me.
When I excelled, they shook my hand.
But, when I failed my exams, I was disgraced.
When I did not behave, they told me I should be ashamed of myself.
And so, I started thinking that God was just like that.
If I behaved, He would reward me,
but if I misbehaved, He would punish me.
But then,
like this woman, a known sinner,
I began to realise that all this was not true.
I started to realise that God loves me just as I am.
That Jesus Christ died for me
not when I was good
but when I was a sinner.
I realised that I needn't be some super-hero in goodness
so that God would love me.
He loves me because I am his son.
I started to realise that my God was not someone with a whip in his hand.
Nor a God who dishes out punishment.
Nor a God who never loses count of my ill-doing.
But He is a God full of mercy.
And if He doesn't want me to sin,
it's not because He is so annoyed by my sins,
but because He can't stand that I should suffer through them.
At the same time, I know that I do not have to hide behind any masks
giving the impression that I am good.
Yes, it seems strange.
But it was her sins that made that woman discover mercy.
It is my sins that help me discover how much God loves me.
P Piju Sammut
Ferejtni
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