Sin and forgiveness
Oh how his knee hurt!!! Unable to walk without a pronounced limp, he felt the sharp pain as he lumbered to his favorite chair, moving even with the limp was painfully difficult. Since he was scheduled, in a few days, to consult with an orthopedic specialist, he barely took notice of the decline of his overall health, thinking that any general decline of his health was related to the knee problem. There was no need to see another doctor. Oh how wrong he was! As his overall health began a rapid decline, he was finally persuaded by family members to allow himself to be taken to a hospital emergency room. That decision probably saved his life, as a deeper and more dangerous infection than the painful knee threatened his life. Death was close at hand and was only prevented from reaching its destiny by actions that resulted in a correct diagnosis and quick treatment for the life threatening disease. It was a close call for him. If one does not recognize the problem, then one will succumb to its consequence.
As human beings sin; it is very easy to disregard sins as only minor issues, or, no problem at all. Few people focus on the accumulated harm that sin does to one’s soul. All too few people fail to concentrate on the urgent need to find the remedy for sin, not willing to recognize the ultimate danger in which they are placing their souls. Fortunately there is a cure, a remedy, for sin and a relief from its fatal consequences. However, the cure is frequently ignored, in part because many do not acknowledge the problems or consequences of sin. People do not want to admit the danger that sin presents. In fact, many deny the existence of sin or deny that certain actions are sinful; often they do not want to face the very serious and often fatal danger of sin.
Similar to the sick man with the deadly infection, if the sinful person does not seek a remedy for his sin, then he could face a deadly consequence – in the case of sin, the most deadly consequence of all — hell and an eternal agony. Fortunately, God so loves mankind that He provides a remedy for sin – His forgiveness. Additionally, through His church he established the mechanism for the reception of forgiveness – the sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation). It is the choice of each individual to access the sacrament Penance or not….to be reconciled with God or not. The clergy should be screaming to all Catholics, “Seek reconciliation with God, Go to Confession regularly.” Then the clergy should make the sacrament readily available to all. The man with the injured knee sought relief from his pain and deteriorating health….just in time. Will Catholics acknowledge and seek remedy for their sins before it is too late? It is their choice. Choose well!
Catholics be cured of your spiritual illness before it is too late!!
St. Ambrose wisely noted,” It was God who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the work of handing on this reconciliation. In other words, God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself, not holding men’s faults against them, and he has entrusted to us the news that they are reconciled”
If you return to the Lord, then he will not hide his face from you. Psalm 43