“Every saint has a past and every sinner a future.” (Oscar Wilde)

I once heard a story on NPR that touched me deeply. A woman’s teenage son was killed by another teenager in the heat of an argument. The young man was tried as an adult and sent to prison. While in prison, he spent a lot of time reflecting on what he had done and he was convinced that he needed the forgiveness of the mother who he had left without a son. He started writing to her, asking her to forgive him and also asking if she would come visit him. The woman would not. She could not find it in her heart to forgive and, in spite of the encouragement of her family and friends, refused to visit him. However, after much time had passed, she finally relented and set up a prison visit. She fully expected to see a young teenage boy there, yet was shocked to see a man. Her heart melted, and she took him into her arms. In that instant, her son was back. When the man was paroled, she was there to meet him, took him into her home and helped him to adjust and get a job. He, in turn, took her as his mother and did all he could to help her in her aging years. Over time, he bought a house only a few blocks from hers and continued to be her friend and her “son.”

This is a perfect example of what Jesus is talking about in today’s Gospel when He says: “There will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents” after recounting the Parable of the Lost Sheep. We’ve heard this ever-famous story about the shepherd who would not give up looking for the one sheep that was separated and lost from the herd many, many times. Did you ever wonder if it was worth it for the shepherd to spend so much time, travel so far, and, we presume, neglect the rest of the herd, to find this one sheep? Did you ever wonder just what was so special about this sheep? 

How often have we not given another person a second chance? How often have we kept people locked in the boxes of their sinful past, not willing to recognize where they are now on their road to salvation.  I dare say it happens a lot to all of us. We might even think ourselves as the righteous and forget that we, ourselves, are sinners. 

I encourage you to reflect for a time today on Oscar Wilde’s quote. I’ve heard it used by Chesterton, by Thomas Merton and many other spiritual leaders when emphasizing that no one is perfect. Even the Saints struggled. But there is redemption for all available through the loving embrace of The Good Shepherd. Rest on his shoulders and give everyone, as well as yourself, another chance.

God Bless.

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