Christian Reflection and Prayer

"I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven
over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine
virtuous men who have no need of repentance"
(Luke 15:7).

During the Vietnam War, the legendary pacifist
Pastor A.J. Muste stood in front of the White House
night after night with a lit candle, in persistent and
peaceful protest. A reporter asked him, "Do you
really think that standing here with a candle can
change the world?" He answered, "I don't stand
here with my candle to change the world. I stand
here to keep the world from changing me."

Lacordaire is the name of a very famous French
preacher who has gone down in the history of the
Church as one of its greatest. In many seminaries,
students are required to study his style in their
homiletics courses. He preached thrilling sermons.
Thousands of people would come to hear him. There
is a story about him in which he is seen attending a
worship service in a small rural parish. The sermon
was preached by a little-known Curate. When
Lacordaire was asked why he, a great preacher,
would go to a little Church to hear an unknown
preacher, he replied, "When I preach, people swarm
into the Church, and it becomes so crowded they
even climb atop the confession boxes in order to see
me. But when this humble man preaches, the people
go into the confession boxes -- and that is what the
world needs!"

REPENTANCE IS WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS----
REPENTANCE IS THE VERY FIRST STEP
INTO THE FULLNESS OF OUR HUMANITY.

(Excerpts from Sunday Sermons Online)