Listener Gary from Denver bares his soul, revealing a lifelong struggle with theft and sin. Here's a powerful and personal exchange that might just inspire you. 

 

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Patrick Madrid: "Let's go to Gary now in Denver. Good morning, Gary."

 

Gary: "Good morning, Patrick. I'm a senior citizen, and I've spent my life sinning, mostly through shoplifting. I've been to confession, but it felt perfunctory. I feel doomed to hell because I think I can sin until an hour before I die and then be forgiven."

 

Patrick: "Yes, Gary, if that's your mindset, you are indeed on the road to hell. The sin of presumption, assuming you can game God's mercy, is a form of pride. You don’t know when your life will end, and banking on a last-minute change of heart is perilous. But there's hope. You can stop if you truly want to, with God's grace and maybe a 12-step program like CatholicInRecovery.com."

 

A month later:

 

Gary: "I've been thinking about what you said. I've stopped stealing for 30 days now. It's a daily struggle, but I pray every morning for strength. I still need to go to confession properly."

 

Patrick: "That's amazing progress, Gary. Go to confession soon. Jesus’ grace in the sacrament will strengthen you. Consider restitution, perhaps donating to charity. 

 

Gary: "Thank you, Patrick. Your directness helped. I'm feeling closer to God and committed to changing my ways."

 

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This touching dialogue between Patrick and Gary shows the transformative power of God’s grace and the importance of confession. It’s never too late to turn away from sin and embrace a new life with Christ. Let Gary's journey inspire you to seek forgiveness and change your path today.