NO FISHING!

Forgive and you will be forgiven. (Luke 6:36)

Someone asked an elderly Christian lady, “Does the devil ever trouble you about your past sins?” She answered, “Yes.” When the inquirer asked what she did then, she replied, “Oh, I just tell him to go east.”
“What do you do if he comes back?”
“I tell him to go west.”
“And when he comes back from the west, what do you do then?”
She said, “I just keep him going from the east to the west.”
"As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us." (Psalm 103:12)

Forgiveness is more difficult than we think especially when you have to face that person day in and day out. To forgive is to be WILLING to help both the offender and ourselves overcome what is evil in the first place. If we focus on what is good, which we normally don’t see (doesn’t mean that it’s not there), and trust that goodness will overcome evil then forgiveness is possible. “Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good,” said the Apostle Paul. (Romans 12:21) The truth is you can’t not “unring” a bell or “unfry” an egg. Sins can only be forgiven and that is exactly what God does! No matter how great and how many times. As someone once said, “When we confess our sins, God casts them into the deepest ocean, gone forever. Then God places a sign out there that says, NO FISHING!”

What makes you most reluctant to confess your sins? 

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; / According to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. / Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. / For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. / Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, / So that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgement. / Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me. / You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. / Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. / Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. / Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. / Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. / Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. / Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing heart. Amen (Psalm 51:1-12)

Hail Mary full of grace…

Peace in Christ,
Father Vincent-Vuong Nguyen

P.S.
Lenten Penance Services in the Bay Area:

March 19 Tuesday 7:00 PM St. Hyacinth
March 20 Wednesday 7:00 PM St. Mary La Porte
March 21 Thursday 7:00 PM St. Many, LC
March 26 Tuesday 7:00 PM St. Clare
March 28 Thursday 7:00 PM St. Paul
April 2 Tuesday 7:00 PM Mary Queen
April 3 Wednesday 7:00 PM St. Luke
April 4 Thursday 7:00 PM St. Helen