Do you know where your sins go?
Everyone of us belongs, there is not one single life set at a higher or lesser scale in the bare facts of human life. I don't care who says otherwise....it's not so.
Just think about this: "12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit."
We are all baptized in to one body...one society...one world. ONE
24b"But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honour to the inferior member, 25that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together with it."
Do you see this? "If one member suffers, all suffer together with it." Do you see that if one member sins and lives under many sins, the entire body suffers under the same many sins. Sin is a hurt, a pain, and it truly is damaging to self and others around.
Like throwing a pebble in a still pond.....the ripples spread out far and wide causing tension in the quiet pond. Disturbing the calm and beauty which is desirous and best.
When we go against natural law, against the Ten Commandments, or the two greatest commandments of love, we sin. Sin is an act, a choice to go against good and kindness in a hurtful manner. It does effect others, even to those whom we have not thought of. We never know who is looking, watching, being effected by our own personal life choices....we will never know completely. God made us this way, relationships are what we are made for. Relational people, constantly interacting and reacting to each other. That is who we are.
So when one lies about another, it is not just between these who people, which is the first ripple in the pond, but it effects those nearest to them as well....the second ripple, and so forth.
If you have seen the classic movie, "It's a Wonderful Life" with Jimmy Stewart, you will remember how many lives were affected by his not being born. This is a perfect example of how one person can and does affect the society. So does their sins.
Look through the New Testament and see that every single page consists of Christ forgiving and or talking about sin and our being saved from the effects of sin. He came down and joined us for this precise thing, to free us from sin and save us from Satan. Nothing has changed, the war is still being waged against sin, sin is still what we need to be cured of.
So, now do you know where your sins go? Like the pebble in the pond, your sins go out into the community and causes tension, disturbing the body. This is why in every parish, the priests strive to be available for confession. Call your pastor today and make an appointment if you can't make it on Saturday.
Do it for you, but do it for the Body.
Thank you....very inspiring reflection....
ReplyDeletePeace to you~
Chris
Thanks, Chris. Blessings to you and yours!
DeleteConfession is very important, certainly. But more than that, strive to walk in the steps of righteousness:
ReplyDeleteProverbs 21:21
He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
1 Timothy 6:10-12
King James Version (KJV)
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
The Sacraments are very important. But it is more important to keep the Commandments. Because if one does not keep the Commandments, the Sacraments will be of no avail:
1 Corinthians 6:8-10
King James Version (KJV)
8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Keep the Commandments and come to eat of the Tree of Life:
Revelation 22:14-15
King James Version (KJV)
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Only the righteous will be saved.