Sunday Within the Octave of the Sacred Heart (Third after Pentecost)

“The Pharisees murmured,
‘This Man receives sinners and eats with them.’”[1]

This morning's Gospel treats of one of those topics that have become unpopular during the past 50 years or so—the idea of sin being forgiven.

The current thinking of many modern people is that there isn't really any such thing as sin. There is only social disruption; and such disruption can be resolved simply by negotiating with the other people concerned. It there ever was any such thing as sin, it was an Old Testament concept only—one that has been resolved by the crucifixion and the universal salvation of all men and women. And even that doesn't really matter, since the modern theologians tell us that hell is only a temporary thing, and everybody will wind up in heaven eventually.

Just to be sure everyone understands, everything I just said is complete and utter nonsense—wishful thinking at best!

Unfortunately, sin is real. And likewise, punishment for sin is real—and indeed likely for the unrepentant. “The devil goes about like a roaring lion, seeking those whom he can devour.”[2] However, there is a fortunate side of all this. As we read today, our Lord receives sinners and hopes for their repentance.

To understand this, we must recall that the purpose of our creation is the glorification of God. As the Catechism tells us, that's why God made us—or, at least, half the reason. The second half is for our future happiness with God in heaven.[3] Since God gave us free will, we are able to glorify Him by making our will conform to His. That is to say that we honor God by wanting the same things He wants of us, and by doing those things. When we act against His will, either by spurning Him or mistreating His other creatures—particularly other men and women—we are said to “sin.” If we persist in sin in this world—if we continue to act against God in the present life—it is obviously unreasonable to expect to be able to share God's happiness in the next world.

Yet God did create us to be happy with Him. He does “receive sinners” and looks for their repentance, and wants to forgive them. As we saw on the Sunday after Easter, He even gave his priests the power to forgive our sins when we present them in Confession.

But before our sins can be forgiven, it is necessary for us to recognize them ourselves, to develop a sincere sorrow or regret for having committed them, and to resolve to do better in the future. Now, those are three separate things, and they need to be considered one at a time.

First, recognizing our sins requires that we have developed a properly formed conscience. By the time we come to maturity we should have become familiar with the moral teachings of Sacred Scripture and the Church. At a minimum, this means having a thorough understanding of the Commandments and the Precepts of the Church. It may also require us to seek more specialized guidance, depending upon our particular state and occupation in life.

Recognizing our sins in specific, requires also that we regularly make an examination of our conscience—a sort of “spiritual inventory,” in which we review with ourselves both our shortcomings and our progress in the spiritual life.

Second, as we said, we need to develop sorrow for our sins—“contrition” is the more formal term. This ought to be fairly simple if we keep that Catechism definition in mind. It ought to be obvious that we are going contrary to our own nature—damaging ourselves and our relationship with God—whenever we sin. If nothing else, the fear of losing heaven ought to convince us. (But, of course, the love of God is a better motive for contrition.)

Third, we must determine not to sin again. Now, we all know that this may not be exactly possible; but still, we must make the effort to avoid sin and those things that might make us sin. At a minimum, we must make an effort toward general improvement and the breaking of our bad habits.

Following these three things, we are able to make a good Confession and receive absolution in the Sacrament of Penance. Our Confession should be made with humility; it should briefly include the number and kinds of our sins; and finally, we should be receptive of whatever penance the priest prescribes. At the end of our Confession, the priest, acting with our Lord's authority, grants forgiveness of our sins.

Finally, the penance we perform—be it done on our own account, or because the priest assigned it to us—is essential. Sin offends God and man, and justice requires that we work toward making up for that offense. It may take the form of prayer, or personal mortification, or good works. “The penalty,” as they say, “ought to fit the crime,” so the penance will often be directed by the particular sin.

It goes without saying that if we have stolen or damaged someone's goods or their reputation; or if we have willfully caused someone to sustain a loss; we are obligated to make restitution, as best we are able.

All of this may seem a bit complicated, but it really isn't. God made us for Himself. When we try to go our own way, we sin and we get off the proper track. But we must not forget that “He receives sinners,” that He is always ready to forgive the repentant. Remember that “there shall be joy before the angels of God upon one sinner doing penance.”[4]

NOTES:

[1] Gospel: Luke xv:1-10 http://www.drbo.org/x/d?b=drl&bk=49&ch=15&l=1-#x

[2] Epistle: 1 Peter v: 6-11 http://www.drbo.org/x/d?b=drl&bk=67&ch=5&l=6-#x

[3] Baltimore Catechism Q.3 https://www.catholicity.com/baltimore-catechism/lesson01.html

[4] Gospel: ibid. verse 10 http://www.drbo.org/x/d?b=drl&bk=49&ch=15&l=10-#x