Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs
I love to think about how “where sin increase[s], grace overflow[s] all the more” (Romans 5:20), because we need a lot of grace. As a person who lives in the world, it’s so easy to direct my attention at the world around me. When I pay attention the world around me, it’s a lot easier for me to see all the sin in the world, and to miss the grace that is present, as well. Paul reminds us in today’s first reading (Romans 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21) that where Adam’s sin gave us death, Jesus’ death gives us life. While we became sinners through the disobedience of Adam, we are told that we can be made righteous through Jesus.
Paul repeats this dichotomy six times in this reading, rephrasing it in different ways and to make different specific points. But the message is clear at the end: Where there is sin, there is grace to overcome it. God cannot be outdone by sin and will always emerge victorious over it. This is very good news! I sin. Regularly. I would like to not sin, but as a human being, that’s likely not in the cards any time soon. But no matter how often I sin, or how egregiously, there is an even greater outpouring of grace from God. God’s grace wins, and God’s grace will win, over my sin.
What does this mean in my life? What does this mean in all of our lives, as sinners? If God is going to give us an abundance of grace, we need to posture ourselves in a way that accepts that grace. It feels natural to see myself, a sinner, as unworthy of God’s grace – after all, his commands are clear, and I still fail to follow Him correctly. It is essential for us to know it’s not so. Believing we are unworthy of God’s grace is like telling God, “I know you are going to give me this, but I know better, and you definitely shouldn’t.” However, we definitely don’t know better.
Thus, because God gives us grace, we must allow ourselves that grace. And because God meets everyone’s sin with more grace, we are called to do the same. Regardless of how bad one’s sin may be, we as Christians are called to meet that sin with grace, and to meet the sinner (both ourselves and others) with grace, as God gives us grace.
“God, grant that we may allow ourselves to receive Your grace, and to meet the sins of all around us with grace, knowing that by doing so, we are acting as you would, and have, acted."
Marty Bagatti