In his homily at Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis explained when one sins, they should ask forgiveness and allow themselves to be consoled by the Lord.
POPE FRANCIS
“'Father, I have so many sins, so many mistakes I've made in my life.' 'But let Me console you.' 'But who comforts me?' 'The Lord' 'And where should I go?' To ask forgiveness: go, go! Be brave, open the door. He will approach with the tenderness of a father or a brother; like a shepherd He feeds His flock, in His arms He gathers the lambs, carrying them in His bosom, leading the ewes with care,’ so the Lord comforts us.”
The pope describes the Lord as the Good Shepherd, saying God's consolation is the grace of forgiveness.
EXTRACTS FROM POPE'S HOMILY:
Source: Vatican News
The Lord guides His people, comforts them but also corrects them and punishes them with the tenderness of a father, a shepherd who “carries the lambs in His bosom and leads the ewes with care.”
The Lord always consoles us, provided we allow ourselves to be consoled. God also corrects with consolation, “in His bosom” and leading the ewes with care. Can you imagine, in the bosom of the Lord, after having sinned?
This is the joy of the Lord when we sinners approach Him and allow ourselves to be forgiven. It is a joy that turns into tenderness and comforts us.
Many times we complain and think that our sins, our limitations cannot be forgiven. It is that moment when we hear the voice of the Lord, “I comfort you, I am near you,” which overwhelms us with tenderness. The powerful Creator of heaven and earth, the God-hero, so to say, our brother, who allowed Himself to be carried to the cross to die for us, can caress us and say, “Do not cry.”
When one sins and makes mistakes, one should allow oneself to be consoled by the Lord. Ask for forgiveness, be courageous, open the door for Him to caress you with the tenderness of a father and a brother. “Like a shepherd He feeds His flock, in His arms He gathers the lambs, carrying them in His bosom, leading the ewes with care, so the Lord comforts us.”
