Lest You Remain

the comparisons that were fashionable in his time. “Just like the sun that draws up from the earth harmful humidity, and at times it even awakens poisonous snakes, so too Jesus—the Son of Justice—drew to Himself and still to this day draws tax col- lectors, sinners, and many big transgressors. He used to do it to such an extent that one, when pondering His life, notices that it was spent on showing mercy and pity. Being in His cradle He attracted to Himself pagan kings; during the time of His teaching—Zechariah, Matthew, Magdalene, and numerous others; and when He was dying—the thief, the centurion, and Longinus, who opened His side. What is more: He placed at the head of His Church no one other than a sinner”. 10 Today many sinners also come to Jesus, especially those seeking the sacra- ment of reconciliation. Then they sit with Him at table and partake of the Heavenly Banquet. Then they are no longer sinners, but they become righteous. Father Stanislaus does not conceal his joy when speaking of their conversion, which justi- fies as one might perceive, his excessive enthusiasm. Those who are sinners today may become saints tomorrow. A short time ago they were worse than the evil spir- its, but right after they became more righteous than the angels. And all this happens in a very simple way: it suffices that they go to Jesus and sit at His table, thus becoming purified of all sins and adorned with virtues. By going to Jesus one obtains the power to turn away from sin. “Oh, how holy is this sacrament that turns a sinner into a loving person; a servant of this world into God’s servant; a son of darkness into a son of light; Satan’s slave into a freeman of Christ.” 11 Father Papczy < ski conducts himself with great compassion toward repenting sinners because he sees them as examples of “the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame” in Christ’s parable of those invited to table by the master of the house (Lk 14:21). These are sinners stripped of virtues, indecisive people as to good dis- positions, not seeing a path of justice, and not acting according to the law of the Lord. God’s Goodness orders all of them to be brought to His table. Because, if they are already repenting it clothes them in the garment of innocence, gives them strength to do good, enlightens them with its light, and returns their power to walk so that they may persevere on the road to perfection. All of this is achieved by grace, which is given through Holy Communion. This feast enriches the poor, strengthens the weak, enlightens the blind, and makes the lame walk again. 12 Christ in the Spirituality of the Servant of God, Fr. St. Papczy < ski 199 10 Ibid., f. 64r-64v. 11 Ibid., f. 136r. 12 „Quod facit per gratiam excitantem, adiuvantem, concomitantem, efficacem, quas in sacrae synax- eos acceptione donat. Ne igitur contemnas peccatores, quos Deus in momento iustificare potest; ne etiam Domini vere magnam caenam vilipendas, aut aliquando negligas! quae tam fructuosa est, ut pauperes ditet, confirmet debiles, caecos illustret, claudos recte faciat ambulare”. Ibid., f. 64r.