Talking about sin can make many of us feel uncomfortable. Especially when it comes to talking about specific sins.
Have you ever had a conversation with someone who was criticizing an act, which he or she believes to be amoral, only to feel judged because that criticism can apply to you?
I know I have!
Living an Examined Life
One of the key aspects of the Christian life is self-examination. St. Ignatius of Loyola writes about the importance of prayerfully examining ourselves before the end of every day. The purpose of this type of prayer is to identify the sins that we regularly struggle with and then overcome them.
It is an exercise in humility. Speaking from experience, there aren’t many things more difficult than coming to terms with your sins.
But here’s the good news: God does not want us to dwell in our sin. That’s what the devil wants.
Understanding God’s Mercy and Justice
God is perfectly merciful and just. There’s no sin that God won’t forgive us for IF we own up to them. St. Paul writes, “For I am convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love” (Romans 8:38).
God is also perfectly just, so He will never impose His will on us. So if I consciously choose to become a thief and murder and choose to never repent I am damning myself. When I was a kid and had hiss fits I would lock myself into my room refusing to listen to my parents. I willingly separated myself from my parents. Hell is like having an eternal hiss fit.
The good new is that even if we really mess up, God still extends his mercy to us. Let’s continue with the example of me being a ruthless thief and murderer. I consciously continue to live a life of crime with no regret, until one day I rob a bank and I am critically injured by being shot by the police. In that moment, as my life flashes before my eyes, I come to realize how much I messed up and genuinely ask for God’s mercy.
God will forgive me, but it’s not a “get our of jail card” or one way ticket to Heaven. Though, I am forgiven, justice still needs to be served. So if I die in that moment my soul will need to go through a purgation before entering into heaven. Discussing judgment St. Paul writes,
“Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13the work of each builder will become visible, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done. 14If what has been built on the foundation survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15If the work is burned, the builder will suffer loss; the builder will be saved, but only as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:10-15).
In other words if we still carry the burden of sins (symbolized by wood, hay, and straw, in St. Paul’s example) those need to be burned away before entering into heaven, much like gold is purified through an intense fire. Christians call refer to this process of purging of sins as purgatory.
The Fine Line between Slavery and Freedom
Today’s Gospel focuses on Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. Judas falsely sold Jesus out for 30 pieces of silver (approx. 216 USD) (Matthew 26:14-16). Judas is not the only apostle that betrayed Jesus. So did Peter. Remember, Peter denied Jesus three times during Pilate’s trial (Luke 22:54-62), yet he became the leader of the early church.
One thing separates Judas from Peter. Peter asked for Christ’s forgiveness (John 21:15-19), while Judas did not (Matthew 27:5). Instead, Judas chose to take his own life.
Judas chose to stay in his sin, while Peter chose to be freed from sin.
We are faced with a similar choice every day. We can allow sin to consume and control us. OR we can live an examined life and work to be freed from the sins we struggle with.
Let us pray,
Merciful Father, We thank you for loving us, even though we don’t always deserve your love. Help us to conquer the sins that hold us back from living a full life. We make this prayer, through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
