The graver the sin, the greater should be the compassion and mercy

By Fr. Roy Cimagala Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

THIS somehow is the lesson we can draw from that gospel episode about the woman caught in adultery and dragged to Christ to see if she should be stoned to death according to some Mosaic law. (cfr. Jn 8,1-11)

As the story unfolds, Christ simply kept quiet, knowing that those who dragged the woman to him was simply trying to test him. After a while, he stood up and told them that he who had no sin could cast the first stone.

We know what happened after that. No one dared to do so. Instead, the accusers started to leave one by one, until it was only the woman left with Christ. That was when Christ asked the woman if anyone stoned her. When she answered, “No one,” Christ simply dismissed her with the advice to sin no more.

This story is full of meaning that reflects how deep and so entrenched and ingrained in our human condition our weaknesses are. Despite our best efforts, we know that sooner or later we would succumb to them. This reminds us of what St. Paul once lamented about himself: 

“In my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Rom 7,22-25)

In our relation with others, let’s see to it that we channel the same attitude of compassion and mercy Christ had and continues to have towards all of us, sinners. We know that when a baby makes a mess, we don’t mind it so much. We are even eager to clean it up. That’s because we love the baby, and we understand that the baby cannot help but make some mess.

When we are dealing with the defects, mistakes and sins of older persons, we should even show greater compassion and mercy, because even if they are supposed to know better, we also know that their weaknesses can overpower them.

Nowadays, with the rise of cases of addiction, obsession and mental and psychological illnesses, we should really be ready to show more compassion and to offer mercy to those involved.

Even more, with those who appear normal in the different aspects of their health and yet can still fall into some mess, and even a graver mess, we should show greater compassion and mercy, since they would need it more than what babies and those older persons with some health issues would need.

Yes, we may apply a little of the Mosaic law, clarifying the issues involved, rendering justice and some punitive action, but in the end, we should apply greater compassion and mercy to those involved. This was the way Christ dealt with sinners. This is also how we should deal with anyone who causes some messes in our life.

We need to be always reminded that we are truly helpless without God. There is no other way but for us to fall into some sin. We just have to understand each other, and strengthen our conviction of what St. Paul once articulated: “Where sin abounded, grace much more abound.” (Rom 5,20)

Of course, we should try our best to avoid sin and making a mess. But we know that we can only go so far. Let’s just be consoled by what a psalm once expressed: “God’s anger is for a moment, but his mercy is forever.” (30,5) And let’s also live this wonderful truth of our faith ourselves.