On Sunday morning, a slight winter sun began the day. Maria Rita got dressed, prepared a bag with clean diapers, a bottle, cleaning product, in her outer pocket, put her little Bible. He pulled little Luiza out of the crib, who was still sleeping unstoppingly from the movement, wrapped her daughter tightly, put her in the car and went out to church. It was cold in the street, Maria Rita hurried to look for the warm shelter of the church.
Where were Maria Rita’s thoughts? Now that she was able to return to church with her baby, what would the church reception look like? How would they look at her and her daughter? A terrible feeling of shame invaded his thoughts, his heart raced, he looked at Luiza asleep in the car, a deep sleep, a calm and carefree appearance. Luiza, fruit of forbidden love, fruit of María Rita’s sin of adultery. He blushed at the thought. ? Scandal! That’s what your mom told you when María Rita told you about the unexpected pregnancy. However, her pastor guided her with discipline and patience, a long job she accomplished during her pregnancy. Maria Rita, at first, resisted the pastor’s advice and warnings, she believed that Zé, Luiza’s father, would assume the relationship with her and, with time and coexistence, he would love both of them, her and Luiza. Maria Rita believed that they could be a family, she believed that she could take care of Zé and the baby and be loved and protected by Zé, who would obviously take care of the baby. But Zé did not love Maria Rita, nor did he assume the paternity of Luiza, Zé left without looking back. Zé loves himself more and has gone to live his own life.
- After Zé’s departure.
- Maria Rita sought out the pastor of her church.
- Crying.
- Embarrassed.
- With her heart intoxicated by guilt.
- Despair and fear of life.
- It was a moment of defiance.
- Maria Rita thought that this great wave would drown her and that she was doomed to live overwhelmed by her failures.
- An unforgivable sin.
- Could she turn away from God?.
- Would you never go back to life to normal?Maria Rita was out of place.
Jesus stood up and said, “Whoever among you is sinless must be the first to throw a stone at him. “John 8. 7
This story is fictional, therefore, also the names mentioned, but surely close to you, in your church, in your family or in your neighborhood, there is a “Maria Rita”, single mother, in distress. I will not go into the question of sexual freedom offered by the postmodern world, nor will I address the unfelling theology preached in most Brazilian churches; today we’re going to see Maria Rita.
Why do you see the stain on your brother’s eye, but you don’t notice the lightning for yourself?Mark 7. 1
Mary Rita has fallen into sin, yes, we can all be tempted and, yes, we are all likely to fall into temptation and sin, so whoever rises should not fall (1C 10. 12-13) [i] and not worry about judging (Rom 2. 1) [ii], be sure to remove the beam first from his own eye.
The scope of your life that leads you to sin may not be the sexual realm, like Mary Rita’s, and it may be easier to cover, but we are certainly all sinners and have nothing good, only in Jesus Christ we have enough. to justify and forgive our sins.
Stay there, little sheep, we are just beginning, in Jesus everything will be fine.
Church, you have to look at Maria Rita with mercy and patience, after all you and I could be in her place, right? or she could be your daughter, granddaughter or niece. Our role as the body of Christ, the most mature sheep in faith, is to come to Mary Rita and show her the cross of Christ, our beloved Savior. We must reconcile Mary Rita with the Father, through Jesus Christ. We are ministers of reconciliation (2C 5. 18) [iii] and if Mary Rita does so she does not know the Savior God and his Purifying Word (Rom 10:14-15) [iv], she cannot repent, she cannot ask for forgiveness and there will be no reconciliation.
Besides, where will Maria Rita and Luiza go if Christ’s body doesn’t absorb this little family cell?Yes, they form a family unit, albeit incomplete.
Like Mary, Martha’s sister, Maria Rita is perhaps in the best place: at the feet of Jesus.
Jesus is the safe place, a refuge for the sinner. Jesus is the one who understands our soul; The Spirit of God is the one who can penetrate every abyss of our shame, every dark and damp corridor of our guilt and redeem our evils. Scripture teaches us that even if our sins are the color of blood, we will be white as snow (Is 1:18) [v]. He has promised, he will fulfill, he will not fail, he does not change, his mercy is renewed every morning, and therefore we are not consumed by his anger.
Time at the feet of the Lord, knowing his Word, is a time of refreshment, renewal, and change of mindset, if you, like Mary Rita, and all other sinners need to convert you from their evil ways, Jesus is like this (Jn. 14. 6) [I saw] what we need.
Nothing, absolutely NOTHING, can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39). [Vii]
Go ahead, sheep!
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[i] 1 Corinthians 10: 12-13 Therefore, the one who thinks he is standing, is careful not to fall. There was no temptation that was not human; But God is faithful and will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength; on the contrary, with temptation, it will provide you with liberation so that you can endure it.
[ii] Romans 2. 1 That is why you are inexcusable, O man, when you judge, whoever you are; for in what you judge another, you condemn yourself; because you practice the same things you condemn.
[iii] 2 Corinthians 5. 18 And all this comes from God, who reconciled us with himself for Jesus Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
[iv] Romans 10: 14-15 But how will they invoke the one in whom they did not believe?And how will they believe in the one they haven’t heard of?And how will they hear when there is no one to preach?”And how will they preach if they are not sent?” As he says: How beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim good things!
[v] Isaiah 1:18 Come then, and let us reason, saith the Lord; even if your sins are like crimson, they will turn white like snow; even if they’re red as crimson, they’ll turn like wool.
[saw] John 14. 6 Jesus answered him: I am the way, the truth, and the life; nobody comes to the Father but for me.
[vii] Romans 8. 38-39 For I am completely sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor the things of the present, nor of the future, nor the powers, nor height, nor depth, nor other creature can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.