The tax collector praying in the temple, as depicted in the Gospel, is a good example. Ashamed of his sins, he could not even lift his face and sought God's mercy. “O God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” (Luke 18:13) Because the tax collector never let go of the thread of hope in God's mercy, he could humbly ask for it. Humility is precisely the attitude of always considering oneself a sinner and seeking God's mercy.
Following the example of the tax collector in the Gospel, the Desert Fathers prayed immediately upon falling into sin: "Lord, have mercy on this sinner!” Abba Paul said, “I am up to my neck in the mire, and I cry out to God: ‘Have mercy on me." Another would recite Psalm 51 while twisting rope. “I dip the reed in water and twist rope while sitting with God. And I say, God, have mercy on me. By Your great goodness and abundant mercy, deliver me from my sins."
And the Pseudo-Macarius says: “If one seeks God's mercy persistently and sincerely, grace will free him from all anguish caused by his enemies.” If we genuinely seek God's mercy, He will rescue us from every danger, every setback, and every pit of despair. He who claims himself righteous will never seek God's mercy, nor can he obtain it. God's mercy reaches only the humble sinner. “The moment he says, ‘I have sinned,’ the Lord will immediately show him mercy.”
The more we come to know God, the more we approach Him, the more we become aware of our own inadequacy. Then we will come to realize how much God's mercy we have received, and that without His help, we are nothing. His kindness and mercy bestowed upon us always more than suffice to fill our lack.
The columnist remembers a story he heard from an acquaintance. He had contracted an incurable illness at a young age and was enduring a terribly difficult time accepting this situation. Then one day, upon hearing a friend say to him, "The stars shine at night," he suddenly gained an insight. They felt they were now in the night, both physically and spiritually, and that this very moment was the time to experience God's grace, mercy, and love. After that, they could view and interpret the suffering they were enduring through the eyes of faith, giving it meaning. As a result, they became more positive, and their outlook on life brightened.
Hearing their story made him reflect once more on the power and importance of faith. He became convinced that even when facing the same suffering, depending on the lens through which one views it, that suffering can either become hell or an opportunity to experience God's mercy and love, and feel His presence. That's right. You cannot see shining stars when it is bright. It is in the darkness that you see the stars shining, and drawing strength from those stars, you can rise again, find your direction, and follow the stars.
When we are prosperous or healthy, when life presents no challenges, we often fail to perceive the mercy of God that is always with us. But when we encounter obstacles or face trials and tribulations, our earnestness leads us to seek God, and it is precisely then that we encounter Him and experience His mercy. Therefore, we must never forget God's mercy, which is with us in every circumstance. For stars shine at night.
The Desert Fathers always remembered God's mercy and placed their hope in it. "God has compassion even on those who hold the hilt of a sword in this world. If we have courage, He will show us mercy." The final tool for good works St. Benedict presents is precisely this: "Never lose hope in God's mercy" (Rule 4:74). Indeed, our spiritual journey toward God is powered not by our strength but by the power of God's mercy. Without His mercy, no one could properly complete this journey.
Through our stumbling, we come to feel and trust God's mercy more deeply. That mercy is the Father's patience, waiting, tolerance, forgiveness, and unconditional love shown to us, like the prodigal son in the Gospel. The mercy of God we experience is a powerful force that lifts us up again from discouragement to courage, from despair to hope. In life, we may easily stumble or face setbacks. Yet as long as we hold fast to the hope of God's mercy, we will never give up. Through the process of rising after each fall, we will gradually draw nearer to God without even realizing it.
Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan, who endured thirteen years of imprisonment under communist Vietnam, once said: "There is no saint without a past, no sinner without a future." Even the greatest saints were not without human weaknesses or faults. Carrying our own human limitations, we walk the journey toward God, inevitably committing countless mistakes and errors. Yet, it is precisely God's mercy that enables us to advance toward union with Him.
Moreover, no one can be without a future. This holds true even for sinners. Today's sinner can become tomorrow's righteous person, and today's righteous person can become tomorrow's sinner. When stepping over sin and fault to move toward the future, anyone can become virtuous.
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