Sin and Repentance

Unfortunately, sin is an inescapable characteristic of being human.  The amazing and generous gift of God, that of free will, allows us to freely choose Him.  We may choose to love, to serve, and to live in eternity with Him.  However, by the simple nature of this gift man also has the power to choose the other.  We can choose to surrender ourselves to the desires of the body, be they food, sex, drugs, television, and on and on, and when we do this we are choosing ourselves in selfishness over the higher good.

Sin, by definition, is not these things that we call ‘bad’ or ‘evil’.  Rather, it is the failure to love God and neighbor because of our attachment to something else.  The more important understanding is not what sin is, but the consequences of it.  First is the “domino’ effect of sin.  The commission of sin inclines man to continue sinning.  The conscience is clouded and judgment is corrupted.  In short, being in a state of sin, especially grave sin, makes it difficult to avoid sin in the future.  Secondly, and more importantly, sin is a turning away from truth, goodness, and justice.  In committing sin man rejects, at least in part, the salvation offered to him.  There are similarities between the sin man commits today and the sin of Adam and Eve.  Man, like Adam and Eve, seeks to be like God by rejecting dependence upon Him and taking life into his own hands.  Man seeks to determine what is good, what is right, and what is evil.

The mercy of God is so great, that in the face of human sinfulness He shows a path to reconciliation and salvation.  Jesus Christ, the Word-Made-Flesh, has come to earth as man and sacrificed Himself for our sins so that we may be saved.  The gifts of this act are unending and invaluable.  Jesus has opened the gates of heaven, has given us the Eucharist, the “blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins”, and God has sent the Holy Spirit who guides us and graces us with the many gifts and virtues which allow us to serve.

The work, however, cannot be for God alone.  We, too, must take some part in our salvation.  This time of Lent is a perfect time to begin, renew, or invigorate our work for the salvation of souls.  Through fasting we can learn to resist the desires of our body and live for what is above.  Through almsgiving we serve Christ’s poor in fraternal charity as commanded by the Gospel.  Through prayer we deepen our faith and strengthen our relationship with Christ.  This work on the part of humanity is an acceptance of God’s gift of eternal life and the journey on the path that leads there.  I pray that this Lenten season we all make an extra effort to repent, turn from sin, and be faithful to the Gospel.