God Speaks to the Sinner: A Reflection for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year B

By Fr. René J. Butler, M.S.

Provincial Superior, La Salette Missionaries of North America

(Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 5:7-9; John 12:20-33)

My child, you have no idea how important it is to me that you allow me to forgive you. Please don’t put it off. Now is the acceptable time.

Is there something from the distant past that you have never been able to confess? Now is the acceptable time.

Come now, let us set things right. Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow. They will be totally washed away in the blood of my only Son, who willingly offered himself up for you. Through his suffering, through his obedience, he has paid the full price of your redemption.

He is like the grain of wheat. When he died, he brought forth abundant fruit, to be shared by all. The free banquet of grace awaits you.

I would like nothing better than to place my Law within you and write it on your heart. Just think! It would then be the most natural thing in the world for you to live in my love and to please me.

With age-old love I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you. With your permission and humble cooperation, I will remove your sins from you as far as the East is from the West.  Or, if you prefer, I will cast them into the depths of the sea. Surely you must understand the delight it gives me to do so.

Remember what my Son said: “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.” That individual glorious source of joy—that could be you!

Lifted up on the cross, my Son became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. He can sympathize with your weakness, because he has been tested in every way, yet without sin. Let him draw you to himself.

Standing near his cross you will find his Mother, Mary. She is your Mother, too. You might know her as the Beautiful Lady. She will help you see what you must do.

Please, please, my child, hand your sins over to me. Then they will be no longer yours, but mine, and I will throw them away. I will cast them behind my back, and I will never look back at them again. Never.