examination of the heart 394 salvation, [f.125v] improvement of life, and penance that is not perfunctory. Go, therefore, go to Jesus and prostrate yourself on the ground, saying: Most merciful Savior, I throw myself at Your feet together with Magdalene and I strike my breast together with the publican (cf. Lk 18:13). Be merciful to me, a miserable sinner. 2. “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” (Lk 7:49). Consider that the Pharisees, prompted not by admiration but filled with envy, raised this question about Christ and sought to know who He was, for He did what they were not able to do: He forgave sins, and they did not have the authority to forgive them. In fact, they themselves, being very wicked, needed the remission of sins. You, on the contrary, make the decision to praise, and not to undermine the admirable deeds of others, and to pity sinners, according to what St. Paul said: “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2). Since you are also in need of Divine Mercy, approach today the Majesty of God hidden under the species of bread in order to obtain it. 3. “I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much” (Lk 7:47). Oh, the most fortunate of all days, abounding in greatest joys to the highest degree! For if you look into Heaven there is great rejoicing, as the heavenly King Himself testifies: “there will be more joy (in Heaven, of course),” says the eternal Truth, “over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (cf. Lk 15:7). Therefore, you will hardly imagine the joy which the heavenly beings experienced from the conversion of the sinner Magdalene. If, on the other hand, you look on the earth, it also exults with no lesser joy because the true Messiah was already sent to it; He Who comes to save not the just, but sinners. Here you have the stunning example of Divine Goodness that so graciously accepted the greatest sinner in the city of Jerusalem when she repented; for not only did He forgive all her sins, but He also defended her from the Pharisaical denunciations.
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