Tag Archives: hell

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

Sin and Forgiveness

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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