This week we continue the Book of Sirach and today's passage opens with a promise
To the penitent God provides a way back, he encourages those who are losing hope and has chosen for them the lot of truth.
Once more we are reminded of the infinite mercy of God. Of course, it does begin with the penitent, not a state we like to think of ourselves. We seem these day to take one of two extreme paths
On the one hand, the path of pride, the person who is convinced that they haven't sinned, at least not in any bad way. They see no need to be penitent.
On the other hand, the path of guilt, those who refuse to truly accept the forgiveness of God. The cannot take the way back, because they have chained themselves down with their guilt, chained themselves to their sin.
The path of truth is right in the middle. The penitent is the person who can honestly name their sin, accept the gift of forgiveness, and then take the way back offered by God.
Either other path is a lie.
