Instead of living our relationship with God in fidelity and obedience and with the knowledge that everything is a gift, Francis noted that too often we are privy to vanity, foolishness and idolatry.
One suffers as a consequence of sin, he said, explaining that when God is rejected, "life is no longer possible, existence loses its roots and everything seems perverted and destroyed," like what happened to Jerusalem.
However, he noted that even these painful moments are tests so that people can feel "the bitterness of those who abandoned God, and therefore confront themselves with the desolate face of the choice of death."
When God recognizes that this is the choice his people have made, he intervenes and tells them they have taken the wrong path, Francis said, adding that God "never disowns us."
When the suffering caused due to one's poor decisions leads the sinner to open themselves to conversion and forgiveness, "this is the path of divine mercy," the Pope explained.
"God doesn't treat us according to our faults," but uses his chastisements as a means to cause reflection, he said, adding that salvation implies making the decision "to listen and allow ourselves to be converted, but to always give thanks."
In reference to Isaiah, Francis noted that instead of accepting Israel's ritual sacrifices, he uses the prophet to tell them he wants justice instead.
This, he said, is not because the offerings were bad in themselves, but because they had become a distraction from growing close to God and accepting his love.
"Many times we don't go to the Lord, but prefer a mistaken path, looking for an excuse, justice, peace outside of him," he said, explaining that this is like a sick person who decides to visit "a sorcerer" instead of a doctor: "they are not healed."
Pope Francis pointed to Isaiah's instruction for the people to wash and purify themselves by turning away from evil and choosing to do good instead.
"Sins, even if they bleed scarlet, become white like the snow, and pure white like wool, and the people will be able to nourish themselves on the goods of the earth and live in peace," he said, quoting the passage from Isaiah.
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This, he said, "is the miracle of the forgiveness of God; the forgiveness which God as Father wants to give to his people."
Elise Harris was senior Rome correspondent for CNA from 2012 to 2018.