On the feast of St Laurence

What does the Lord do, then, with those who are at risk from these two types of illness This is what he says to those who are at risk from hope Do not he slow to turn to the Lord, and do not delay from day to day. For his anger will arrive suddenly, and he will destroy you in the time of retribution [Ecclus 5.7]. 

What does he say to those who are at risk from despair Every day that the wicked man turns back, I mill forget all his transgressions [Ezek 18.21-2]. 

For the sake of those at risk from despair, he offers the haven of forgiveness for the sake of those at risk from hope, who are cheating themselves by delaying, he makes the date of one s death uncertain. You do not know when your last day will arrive. Are you ungrateful because today you ve been given the means to reform yourself  

This is the sense, then, in which he said to that woman, Neither mill I condemn you. I have stopped you worrying about the past beware of what s in the future. Neither mill I condemn you. I have blotted out your offences attend to my commands, so that you will come to find what I have promised you. 

Now you have heard in the gospel what the martyrs have built, what they succeeded in winning, what their generous hearts won for them, why they shed their blood Your reward will be great in heaven [Mt 5.12]. 

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