The Chief of Sinners and the Ocean of Mercy

In 1 Timothy 1:15, St. Paul makes a bold confession: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of these I am the foremost.” These words reveal a profound truth — that awareness of our own sin is not meant to lead us to despair, but to mercy.

As Br. Stephen reflects, St. Paul’s humility mirrors the very words Jesus later spoke to St. Faustina: “The greater the sinner, the greater his right to My mercy” (Diary, 723). Though centuries apart, both messages spring from the same Divine Heart — one that seeks not perfection before love, but repentance within it.

When we recognize ourselves as sinners in need of mercy, we become more merciful to others. This is not self-condemnation — it is spiritual clarity. To know that we need mercy is to know the heart of God.

May we, like St. Paul, never shy away from our need for grace, but allow that very awareness to open us to the fullness of Divine Mercy. Christ did not come to call the righteous, but to save the lost — and in doing so, He transforms our weakness into a vessel of His love.

Watch the full reflection now on DivineMercyPlus.org or the free DM+ app.

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