Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/718

 his Lord. Thus he  sank  deeper  and  deeper,  until  at  last  he  sold  his Master, and  bartered  away  his  own  soul;  and  when  he  realized  the consequences of  his  vile  treachery,  his  presumption  changed  suddenly to despair. God’s mercy  is,  indeed,  infinitely  great,  but  meanness  and baseness had  grown  to  such  dimensions  in  the  heart  of  the  traitor  by reason  of  his  long  course  of  deceit  and  hypocrisy,  that  he  had  lost  all sense of  what  is  great  and  noble,  and  could  not  form  the  idea  of  God’s infinite mercy,  than  which  nothing  greater  or  more  noble  can  be  imagined. And thus  it  was  that  the  once  loved  and  chosen  apostle  of  Jesus became a “son  of  perdition”  (John  17,  12),  and  went  “to  his  own  place” (Acts i,  25).

Sin dears  two  aspects.  Before  sin  is  committed  it  bears  a pleasant, attractive aspect,  so  that  the  foolish  sinner  scarcely  fears  it  at  all,  and even expects  to  be  made  happy  by  it. But hardly  is  the  sin  committed than it  shows  its  true  colours,  which  are  hideous  and  horrible. Once a man has  gratified  his  evil  passions,  he  finds  out  with  dismay  that  far from being  the  happier  for  it,  he  is  robbed  of  all  joy  of  heart  and peace of  conscience;  and  he  bitterly  reproaches  himself,  for  he  now perceives that  sin  is  indeed  the  greatest  of  all  evils. Thus it  was  with our first  parents,  and  thus  it  was  with  Judas.

You too  have  denied  Jesus  in  deed  if  not  in word. Whenever you  sin  wilfully  you  act  as  if  you  were  not  a disciple  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  knew  nothing  of  His  love  and  holiness, and as  if  you  had  never  promised  fidelity  to  Him. If, however, you have  become  like  Peter  by  your  sin,  be  like  him  also  in  your penance. Have you  ever  bewailed  your  sins  as  sincerely  and bitterly as  did  Peter?

Contemplate with  deep  emotion  of  heart  how,  during  that long night,  your  Saviour  was  the  butt  of  rude  and  wanton  men, and how  he  was  ill-treated,  scoffed  at,  and  loaded  with  ignominy. Do not  forget  that  He  who  bore  all  this  for  love  of  you  was  the Incarnate Son  of  God  1 Excite  in  your  heart  a deep  feeling  of  compassion for  your  despised  Lord,  and  promise  Him  that  you  will always love  Him  and  will  never  despise  His  holy  commandments.

If it  is  ever  your  misfortune  to  commit  a mortal  sin,  do  not follow the  example  of  Judas,  who  lived  in  a state  of  sin  till  he became  hardened  in  it;  but  follow  the  example  of  Peter,  who immediately repented  and  was  converted  for  good  and  all.

Never sin  by  a presumptuous  confidence  in  God’s  mercy,  for the fact  of  His  being  so  infinitely  good  and  merciful  ought  to make  you  love  Him  with  your  whole  heart,  and  keep  you  from ever offending  Him.