Many of us have experienced having a sin so great that we feel we are doomed.
We wrongly believe that God won’t love us anymore and we might as well just set off on our own, sentenced to a life without God.
We view ourselves marked as the big sinner.
This is how I felt in my late teens and all through my twenties. At first, I didn’t want to acknowledge my big sin. Overtime, though, it became a heavy burden and I didn’t know what to do with it. I felt I was unworthy to even ask for forgiveness.
I felt like St. Peter did in our Gospel reading from Luke 5:1-11.
Peter says, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
God never wants us to depart from Him.
As I was coming into the Church, at my first confession, I was terrified. Surely, I was the biggest sinner ever.
Shaking and crying, I faced the priest and said, “Father, I have such a huge sin to confess.”
He lovingly smiled and said, “Just start talking to Jesus. It will be okay.”
The healing I received that day helped me to understand that God never wants us far from Him no matter what we’ve done.
Jesus says back to Peter, “Do not be afraid.”
Don’t ever be afraid, Catholic Pilgrims, to bring your sins to Christ. Don’t ever think that you are such a big sinner that you need to ask God to depart from you.
God is merciful and He loves you. He always wants you near.
Have a blessed Thursday.
