255 part i: sunday meditations for the entire year 3. “the Pharisees and the scribes murmured” (Lk 15:2). Consider that the vice of pride is opposed not only to humility, but also to mercy. Indeed, you perceive this in the murmuring Pharisees who, like the cruelest robbers of souls, envy sinners for the grace of the Savior. Puffed up with pride, they rise up against them and want to destroy them; not even wanting them to be recalled by the words of the eternal Word to a morally better life. As for you, therefore, consider that whenever you sense an internal murmur, you are tied up with the ropes of pride. Wherefore, when you approach the Master of humility, ask Him for the virtue of humility. And He, “who makes the sun to rise upon the good, and bad” (cf. Mt 5:45), will not condemn you either. [f.65r] After Holy Communion 1. “This man receives sinners” (Lk 15:2). Consider that the limits of divine goodness, clemency, and mercy are infinite; from this it follows that God will not reject any sinner, even if he were the most wicked. Indeed, He says, sweetly inviting those burdened with many transgressions: “Come to [M]e, all you that labor, and are burdened, and I will refresh you” (Mt 11:28) [DRB]. And also, so that they would not fear to draw near, He declares that He did not come to save “the righteous, but sinners” (Mt 9:13). Indeed, this is what has happened to you today. Burdened as you were with so many and such great imperfections, He invited you to the sacred table in the friendliest manner; and of course, He did not eat with you, but gave Himself to you to consume. O, what clemency! O, what grace! From a vessel of abomination you became an ark of God that contains not the bread of offering (cf. Mt 12:4), but the bread of angels. Ask this Lord, whom you contain within yourself, that He may impart a blessing to your house, which He now dwells in, as He imparted His blessing to the house of Zacchaeus (cf. Lk 19:5-10) and to that of Obededom (cf. 1 Chron 13:14), houses which held only the figure of the Sacrament received by you.
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