How Will God Prepare For Our Coming?
Is God’s Mercy and Forgiveness Endless?
By Eileen Renders October 09, 2023
To my learning and understanding, yes God’s mercy and forgiveness are endless. This knowledge and understanding, to say the least, is forever comforting. Too often, however, we may hear people twist that statement around a bit in believing that in receiving God’s mercy and forgiveness, there is nothing in return required of us. This, in fact, is not true.
If we ask ourselves whether, or not we forgive those who have injured us, yet return again and again to repeat the same injuries upon us after we have forgiven them, are we open to that endless mercy and forgiveness again and again when the perpetrator shows no attempt to change their hurtful ways?
God himself instituted the sacrament of reconciliation when he said to the Apostle Peter; “Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven, and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.”
Regardless of how many times we sin against God, yet go to Confession with a sincere heartfelt desire not to offend him again, and ask for his forgiveness, we as Catholics believe we are forgiven.
However, we must consider the consequences of an insincere confession of sins, and with no real attempt to not commit this sin over and over again. For example; at the end when God sits upon his throne and judges each and every one of us for the way we lived our life, is it fair to say that all is forgiven? I believe not so. And if that were true, why would there even be a last judgment?
Therefore, it is wise then to remember that when we sin we have broken one of God’s Commandments, and sinned against God himself. A sincere sorrow for that sin and a sincere desire not to sin again is rewarded by God through his endless mercy and forgiveness. For those who repeatedly break God’s Commandments without regret, and in their heart feel no remorse, God’s mercy and forgiveness may not be available to them.
Having a conscience and a clear desire to please God is the way to peace, joy, and the contentment of feeling God’s love.