examination of the heart 300 After Holy Communion 1. “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven” (Mt 9:2). Reflect that this paralytic was also afflicted with an illness of the soul, and had little hope of regaining his physical health, because he felt guilty of some evil deed. But the most gracious Lord, the most excellent Doctor of both kinds of illness, encouraging him to hope for a good outcome says to him: “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” Do not fear, do not waver, do not doubt: I will restore you to health, both of the body and of the soul. May you merit to hear from Him, whom you already embrace in your heart, these words full of mercy! 2. “your sins are forgiven [you]” (Mt 9:2). I ask: why does the Lord forgive the sins of this paralytic before granting him his health? Undoubtedly, He thereby teaches that we should be more concerned with healing the soul, than with healing the body. He teaches that we should seek remedies for the illness of the soul before seeking those for the wounds of the body. As for you, are you going to care more for your good health than for your salvation? Are you going to work harder at nourishing and healing your body than at healing the wounds of your soul? To action! First seek the forgiveness of your sins, even those already committed after Holy Communion itself. 3. “Take heart, my son” (Mt 9:2). Consider that presumption, just like conceit, is the worst kind of evil. Indeed, one should be neither too confident nor too skeptical as regards the forgiveness of sins, but should stand in spirit between hope and fear, with some discretion and trust, that each of the two faults may be avoided; since both excessive distrust and excessive confidence have robbed many people of Heaven. Therefore, even if the Lord said to you today: “Have complete trust, son, your sins are forgiven you,” nevertheless exult with fear, and trust not in your merits, but rather in the Lord’s mercy. Abide in this spirit, always reminding yourself that you are the greatest sinner. [f.85r]
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