Repentance

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Repentance

As the brothers were wrestling on the bedroom floor, suddenly the younger brother unexpectedly whacked his older brother, abruptly pushing him to the floor. Almost immediately he recognized that he had gone too far and emphatically apologized saying, “I am sorry, I am sorry!” Expecting his brother to accept his apology, he was stunned when, after getting up from the floor, his older brother whacked him sharply and pushed him to the floor. He shouted at his brother, “I said I was sorry.” Immediately the older brother firmly replied,” Next time be sorry BEFORE you act foolishly!” It was a valuable lesson for the youngster; “think before one acts foolishly and is forced to accept the consequences.”

While the principle of considering one’s actions prior to implementing them is a solid principle, all of us many times in our lives do not put the principle into action. We have eaten or drank too much, having suffered discomfort or worse as a result. How often have we overspent our money on frivolous items only to find ourselves short of cash for essentials? We experience regret and occasionally real remorse for our poor judgment and its unpleasant consequences. While it is accurate to point out that poor judgments regarding eating, drinking, or ill spent money are generally not major indiscretions and their consequences often can be limited, there are many situations in life, if acted out, that are serious and the results can be very harmful or even disastrous. If one carelessly drives an automobile that results in an accident in which someone is hurt or if one is disloyal to one’s spouse serious problems can and often do occur. Apologies and restitutions may not be sufficient remedies for these poor judgments. By applying the “Be sorry before one acts” principle, one would eliminate the heartache and harmful results of poor judgment.

Yet humans do error frequently. Despite all of God’s gifts and man’s ability to observe and understand the proper use of these gifts, man consistently misuses the bounty given to us by God. Man sins frequently placing his eternal happiness in serious jeopardy. The spiritually gifted Bishop Fulton J. Sheen wisely noted in his classic work, “The Life of Christ, “Man thinks that it is dying that decides his future state; it is rather his living that does that. Some of the choices he has made, the opportunities that were in his hand, the graces that he accepted or threw away are what decides his future. The peril of living is greater than the peril of dying.”

As each of us engage in living our lives, it is vital that we choose well, using the abundant gifts God has provided us. Yet all humans make poor choices and sin, jeopardizing their eternal happiness. When man sins, what can humans do to redeem themselves? The principle of being sorry before one acts is often forgotten or totally ignored by man. All too often man does not even recognize sin, thus acting only for his immediate gain. Fortunately, redemption is available to all. For those individuals who recognize their sins and do seek redress for them, God has magnificently told man that He will accept man’s apology for his sins. In the Bible the word repent appears over seventy (70) times; Jesus advised man to repent and believe in the gospel. God eagerly and generously opens himself to accept our repentance (apologies). God created each one of us; we are all His children. As long as we repent with true contrition and a firm purpose of amending our lives, God forgives our sins. Thank you God!!

No matter the frequency of our sins, God loves us so dearly that he accepts our repentance. Repent and be forgiven! St. Alphonus Liguori noted, “St. Augustine says, that to prevent the sheep from seeking assistance by her cries, the wolf seizes her by the neck, and thus securely carries her away and devours her. The Devil acts in a similar manner with the sheep of Jesus Christ. After having induced them to yield to sin, he seizes them by the throat, that they may not confess their guilt; and thus he securely brings them to Hell.”

Suggested Reading:

“The Life of Christ” by Fulton J. Sheen, published by Image Books / Doubleday “We are the Risk of God :

Reflections on the Limits of Divine Mercy” by Fr. James V. Schall   An essay on forgiveness and God’s Mercy which can be accessed on the Internet at:    www.ignatiusinsight.com/features2011/schall_divinemercy_feb2011.asp

Pass It On

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Pass It On

“What would be the most valuable item that I could pass on to you,” inquired the father of his children. As they hesitated to answer, he encouraged them to make suggestions. “Would giving each of you a million dollars be the thing that you would find to be the most valuable,” he suggested as they still seemed hesitant to provide an answer to his question. Finally one of his children offered, “Yes, lots of money would be the best gift for us. It would ensure that we could live without financial worries.” The other children concurred with this suggestion. Sufficient money that would enable them to meet their financial needs during their lifetime seemed to be the most valued legacy. The father pondered their inputs and suggestions for a few moments and then replied, “Well, I do not have the amount of money to meet the financial needs of just one of you much less than all of you,” the father announced to their disappointment. They wondered why he had asked the question in the first place.

“Each person must ask the basic question, “What is one’s legacy?” and face the answer to that question in his or her own way,” the father ventured. “Your mother and I asked ourselves the same question when each of you was born. “What can we provide each child that will stand the test of time and would be the highest value as each of you grew and faced life on your own? If we had the money to insure your financial welfare, you could misuse the money or spend it on unimportant things or simply lose it,” he continued. “We finally came to the conclusion that there were two things that would be valuable for you through your entire life.” The children straightened up in their chairs, peering intently at their father hoping to hear the answer each wanted to hear. He responded by advising that money could be lost, stolen, or frittered away. So money was not the most valuable thing they could receive. The items which no one could take away from each one of them and would last forever were the items that should be passed on to the children.

The two most valuable and lasting items are:1. A strong set of values and  2. A quality education; together these two extremely valuable gifts would sustain their children for their entire lives. The set of values would be provided by their Catholic faith and the example of the parents. The Catholic faith is directed to two things: (1) the love of God, and (2) directing man to the help God provides us as we follow his instructions in our journey towards union with him in heaven. What can be more important than eternal happiness! On the secular level, a quality education would enable the children to challenge the world and recover when difficulties entered their lives. Oh yes, they could discard the set of values and the Catholic faith and they could waste their educations. But the set of values and the education could always be used when they were needed and accepted for their true value. Once money is wasted or lost, it is difficult, if not impossible, to regain it and even if  it is regained, it provides little lasting value.

As each of us contemplates that which we would like to pass on to others, such as family members, friends, and to the society at large, as Catholics should not we first concentrate on passing on the truths of the Catholic faith, the truths that guide us to eternal life with God –true happiness?  What is more valuable and lasting than the truths of God as provided by Jesus Christ and his church – the Catholic Faith? Secondly, a quality education provides the training that enables a person to think his or her way through each obstacle in life.

What do you want to pass on to your loved ones and to society??? Remember that which you emphasize is passed on? Make certain that you emphasize the truly important and valuable items. Nothing is more valuable than the love of God. Follow the direction of Jesus when he instructed his disciples to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Pass it on!