We are all lepers. Even if we hide our sores under the finest clothes, and lie to each other, to convince ourselves that we are healthy and happy; Forgetting the only real reason we should be happy: that God loves us, despite the sores we hide. God loves us so much that He became one of us, and was nailed naked to the cross, showing His sores to the world. -St. Francis (Clare and Francis Film)
The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the middle, they told him, “Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act. Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. What then do you say about her?” – John 8, WEBBE
To be caught guilty and worthy to be condemned is different from being falsely accused. When we are accused falsely, we at least have our conscience on our side, and we have faith that God Himself would defend us as His own.
But there are times when the accusations against us are true. We may have made some mistakes, we may have made some selfish decisions that have hurt others along the way. And when we are accused of such things, all that we can feel is utter shame and guilt for the wrong we have done.
It’s as though we are being dragged naked and without honor for all the world to see our disgrace. We may want to hide and run away, but we are bound. We want to change our awful past, but the harshness of those who accuse us want to crucify us to that very moment when we are most ugly and detestable.
During such times, let us look towards Him who understands all our misery and pain. Like the woman caught in adultery, let us humble ourselves at His feet and await His compassion. For He is not Lord only of the past but of our eternal destiny. He is not Justice only but Love and Mercy itself.
Reach out to Him who understands that we are but dust, to Him who suffered rejection from men, despised, afflicted and considered a plague.
He will cloth you with dignity and wash away your sins. He will take away your shame. He will heal the wounds of your soul and restore you to everlasting life!
He has no good looks or majesty.
When we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised
and rejected by men,
a man of suffering
and acquainted with disease.
He was despised as one from whom men hide their face;
and we didn’t respect him.
Surely he has borne our sickness
and carried our suffering;
yet we considered him plagued,
struck by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions.
He was crushed for our iniquities.
The punishment that brought our peace was on him;
and by his wounds we are healed.
-Isaiah 53, WEBBE
Find hope in your darkest hour.
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