‘We all are sinners,’ Pope reminds Vatican maintenance workers
July 07, 2017
Celebrating Mass on July 7 for maintenance workers at the Vatican, Pope Francis remarked in his homily that “we all have a college degree in sin.”
In a meditation on the Lord’s call to St. Matthew, the Pope said that the Pharisees were quick to see others as sinful, but slow to recognize their own failings. He said that he was moved by the words of Jesus—“I did not come to call the righteous but sinners”—because they mean that Christ came for him. He encouraged his congregation to rely on Christ, saying: “When you are afraid of being weak and of falling, Jesus will help you back to your feet; He will heal you.”
The Pope recalled the story of St. Jerome, who told Jesus that he had offered him all his work on the Scriptures. Jesus replied that He wanted something more from Jerome: “Give me your sins.”
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Posted by: Randal Mandock -
Jul. 11, 2017 1:52 AM ET USA
If we all had a college degree in sin, we might understand its nature. Once understood with the precision of an expert, it would be only a short step to abhorring it. But we don't all have a college degree in sin: the long hours until late into the night, the self denial, the striving for excellence in our grasp of the horror of sin. No, we do not all have a college degree in sin, not even close. What we do have is an inclination to sin that can only be overcome by the grace of Christ. Pray 24/7
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Posted by: feedback -
Jul. 07, 2017 1:24 PM ET USA
In today's Gospel Jesus says, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do." Jesus offers the sinner a healing from his sin trough conversion of heart, and not assisted spiritual suicide.