(From the writings of St. Isaac the Syrian & St. Augustine)

Do not fall into despair because of your stumbling

I do not mean that you should not feel pain because of them, but that you should not consider them incurable.

For it is better to be wounded than to be dead.

There is indeed a healer: He who on the cross asked for mercy on those who were crucifying Him, who pardoned murderers as He hung on the cross.

Christ came on behalf of sinners, to heal the broken-hearted and to bind up their wounds.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, He says; for that reason He Has anointed me in order to proclaim good tidings to the poor. “He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed,''(i) and to strengthen the bruised by forgiveness.

The Apostle says in his letter, “Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners."(ii) The Lord also testifies, “I am not come to call the righteous, for they who are in good health have no need of a doctor; only those who are sick."(iii)

Beloved, listen – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness;"(iv) not only our past sins, but the present ones which no one living in this world altogether avoids. But do not consider lesser sins unimportant; they may not weigh heavy, but tremble when you count them.

Always remember, as a handful of sand thrown in the ocean, so are the sins of all flesh as compared with the mercy of God. Just as a strongly flowing fountain is not blocked by a handful of earth, so the compassion of the Creator is not overcome by the wickedness of his creatures.