has left Him returns to His feet, does not thrust him away, but embraces him, kisses him, and as it were faints away for the consolation and fondness which He feels in beholding his repentance: And running to him, He fell upon his neck and kissed him. [Luke 15:20] This causes Him to say, I stand at the gate and knock; [Apoc. 3:20] that is, that, although driven away from the soul by sin, He does not abandon her, but He places Himself outside the door of her heart and, knocks by His calls to gain readmittance. This made Him say to His disciples, who with an indiscreet zeal would have called down vengeance on those who repulsed them: You know not of what spirit you are. [Luke 9:55] You see that I have so much compassion on sinners; and do you desire vengeance on them? Go, go away, for you are not of my spirit. Finally, this compassion made Him say: Come to me, all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you. [Matt. 11:28] Come to me, all you that are afflicted and tormented with the weight of your sins, and I will give you ease. And, in fact, with what tenderness did our amiable Redeemer, the moment she repented, forgive Magdalene, and change her into a Saint! With what kindness did He forgive the paralytic, and at the same moment restore him to bodily health! And with what sweet gentleness, above all, did He treat the woman taken in adultery! The priests brought that sinner before Him, that He might condemn her; but Jesus turning towards her said: Hath no man condemned thee? Neither will I condemn thee. As if He would thereby say: None of those who conducted thee hither hath condemned thee, and how, then, shall I
