IS GOD’S MERCY LIMITLESS ?

Christina longed to leave her poor neighbourhood, in a small Brazilian village, and see the world. She was not content to live in a room with only a straw mat on the floor, a sink and a wood cooker ; she dreamed of a better life in the big city. One morning, she slipped away without warning, and broke her mother's heart.

Well aware of what life on the streets had in store for her young and beautiful daughter, Maria hurriedly packed her suitcase to go and find her. On her way to the bus stop, she entered a small shop with a photo booth and took pictures of herself. Once her bag was full of small black and white photos, she took the next bus to Rio de Janeiro.

Maria knew that Christina had no way of supporting herself but was too stubborn to give up her plans. When pride and hunger are combined, a human being will do things that would have been unthinkable before. Maria began her search. She looked in bars, hotels, nightclubs, in all the places where prostitutes tend to be found. And in each of these places, she left a small photo of herself, stuck on the mirror in the toilets, on the notice board in the hotels, or in the corner of the phone boxes. And on the back of each photo, she wrote a little note.

But Maria soon ran out of money and photos, and had to return home without finding her beloved daughter.

A few weeks later, young Christina was walking down the stairs of a hotel. Her young face showed signs of fatigue. Her beautiful brown eyes no longer sparkled with youth, but reflected sorrow and fear. Her beautiful dream had turned into a nightmare. How many times she would have liked to exchange those countless beds for her old familiar mattress. Alas, her little village was far too far away in many ways.

Then she saw a small photo of her mother taped to the mirror in the hotel lobby. With tears in her eyes and a tightness in her throat, she grabbed the picture. On the back of it, she read this irresistible plea: « No matter what you've done, or what you've become, I beg you to come home. » And so she did. -Max Lucado

                                                                           xxxxxxxxxx

Sometimes it is not the sinner who returns to God to ask for forgiveness, but God who runs after the sinner to bring him back to Him. 

Some people say, 'I've done too much wrong, the Lord can't forgive me'. This is putting a limit to God's mercy, which has no limit: it is infinite. 

Ephesians 2:4 : But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy..             Joel 2:13 : Now return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness.

Your faults are great, but the divine mercy is infinite. -- Honoré de Balzac