04/01/2023

Sinfulness need not be a spectacular affair. Holiness too can be unheroic. John the Baptist was not a reed trembling in the wind he was a powerful magnet drawing many to make a renewal of their faith by the sign of baptism to wash away sin. He even drew the attention of  Herod who listened to his preaching. He lost his life for not ignoring the sinful relationship between Herod and his brother's wife. His holiness was heroic but no greater than that of the widow who contributed her all to the House of God.

The sinfulness that most of us are aware of in our lives is usually an offence against chastity. In the case of Kings and other celebrities it is a spectacular event. In our Church the almost daily reports of sinful clergy have been compounded by attempted cover-ups and the ignoring of victims. But there are many more of us who attempt to fail in secret to honour the Seventh Commandment and so are challenged not to cast the first stone. God knows even the most lowly sinner and welcomes his repentance.

In today's world the sinners seem to be always before us. We are told by many that we should not be "judgemental" but what else can we be in the face of the direct challenges hurled in the face of God by those who wish to promote sex as a recreational activity with the control of procreation and count conception as a mistake that can be corrected by killing the unborn child. 

All sin is offensive to the holiness our God gives us the freedom to choose and no matter our station in life it brings its own reward which is the abyss outside of the love of Father Son and Holy Spirit. A consciousness that is the pain of the eternal awareness of  loneliness that knows that it has rejected the Love that is always ready to receive the repentant sinner, spectacular or lowly.

Dear Lord let my prayers be heard and my sins forgiven It is only in holiness that we can remain free from sin. Let us all remember that it is to worship you that we have our beings and that your mother Mary and all the Saints in heaven are always there to help us in the daily battle for righteousness and avoidance of sin.