By Dr. Scott Hahn

St. Paul taught us that where sin abounds, grace abounds the more (see Romans 5:20). That's something we should always keep in mind when we think about disturbing events in the life of the Church.

Nobody's ever beyond the pale. We're never beyond the pale. Though we might sin greatly, God is always there with His grace in even greater abundance. He can turn the greatest sinner into the greatest saint. Paul, the former persecutor of the Church, was Exhibit A of this truth.

I was thinking about these things last month as I addressed a Catholic men's conference in Boston. Boston, as we know, has been one of the places where Christ's body has suffered the most in recent years. But you should see the place now - the graces of the resurrection are abounding, overflowing.

I shared a stage with the newly designated cardinal Archbishop Sean O'Malley, O.F.M. Cap., Father John Corapi, and Father Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M. Cap., the preacher of the Papal household.

We spoke to more than 5,000 men - not to mention 200 priests, who turned out to hear confessions and experience the day. To say that these men were stirred was an understatement. They were mobilized, motivated. They came with great need. They left with great energy. Afterwards, I was told that more than 2,000 confessions were heard that day.

I have never been to a conference where the St. Paul Center's display booth was so rushed and crowded all day. Copies of our Understanding the Scriptures seemed to be flying off the table. Interest in our Parish-Based Bible Study program was intense.

So often we judge by appearance. Yet the Lord looks upon the heart.

Remember the rich young ruler who went away sad when Christ told him he had to give all that he had to the poor? The man was sad because he was thinking of everything he had to give up. He should've left joyfully - thinking of what he would've received, of all that Christ wanted to give him. He was looking at the wrong thing.
Our Lord asks us to give up things, to make sacrifices, in order to give us better things. As I told the men at that conference: We're all like kids walking around with our hands filled with pennies. Our Father is asking us to drop them because He has hundred-dollar bills He wants to give to us.

Throughout Lent we focus on what we must give up. But on Easter morning, we learn why we have to give these things up - because of what Christ wants to give. And what He has to give is so much greater than all the things we try to hold on to. And His grace is always greater than our weakness. That's what keeps me going.

April 2006