Page:Sermons for all the Sundays in the year.djvu/248

 heaven upon one sinner that doth penance, more than, upon ninety-nine just, that need not penance." There is more joy in heaven upon one sinner who returns to God, than upon many just who preserve the grace of God. Let us, then, speak Today on the mercy which God shows to sinners, first, in calling them to repentance; secondly, in receiving them when they return. First Point. Mercy of God in calling sinners to repentance. 1. After having sinned by eating the forbidden apple, Adam fled from the face of the Lord through shame of the sin he had committed. What must have been the astonishment of the angels when they saw God seeking after him, and calling him as it were with tears, saying: ” Adam, where art thou ?" (Gen. iii. 9.) My beloved Adam, where art thou? These words, says Father Pereyra, in his commentary on this passage, ” are the words of a father in search of his lost son." Towards you, brethren, the Lord acts in a similar manner. You fled from him and he has so often invited you to repentance by means of confessors and preachers. Who was it that spoke to you when they exhorted you to penance? It was the Lord. Preachers are, as St. Paul says, his ambassadors. ” For Christ, therefore, we are ambassadors; God, as it were, exhorting by us." (2 Cor. v. 20.) Hence he writes to the sinners of Corinth: ” For Christ, we beseech you, be reconciled to God." (Ibid.) In explaining these words St. Chrysostom says: ” Ipse Chris tus vos obsecrat: quid autem obsecrat? Reconciliamini Deo." Then, says the holy doctor, Jesus Christ himself entreats you, sinners: and what does he entreat you to do? To make peace with God. The saint adds: ” Non enim ipse inimicus gerit, sed vos." It is not God that acts like an enemy, but you; that is, God does not refuse to make peace with sinners, but they are unwilling to be reconciled with him." 2. But notwithstanding the refusal of sinners to return to God, he does not cease to continue to call them by so many interior inspirations, remorses of conscience, and terrors of chastisements. Thus, beloved Christians, God has spoken to you, and, seeing that you