A fundamental belief of Christianity is “original sin.” From the moment Adam and Eve took the fruit from the Tree of Life, sin has been part of humanity. No one, save Christ and His Holy Mother, have been excluded. The latter part of that statement is a belief unique to Catholicism, but as I’ve written on here before, if you’re going to be Catholic, it’s an “all-in” proposition. The Church is very clear in its teaching on the Virgin Mary, and if you’re going to call yourself Catholic, it’s part of the deal. But back on topic…from the moment we are born, we exist in sin. It’s a sinful world we live in, filled with temptation and evil. It’s one way we can explain why bad things happen. In a world that is sinful, you can understand how easy it is for evil to occur. It may not explain the randomness of life, such as a natural disaster. But in terms of the evil doings of man, from financial impropriety to mass murder, in a world where sin is as a commonplace as air, it becomes understandable. Not acceptable, but somewhat more comprehensible.
So, what can we do, if we are born into sin? It does not seem a very promising life, knowing that sin is everywhere, and that from the moment we enter this world, we are part of it. Today’s tract from St. Josemaria Escriva’s The Way addresses this conundrum, and how we can face it.
#386: Don’t forget, my son, that for you there is but one evil on earth: sin. You must fear it and avoid it with the grace of God.
Escriva boils down all evil to one source: original sin. And there’s no way of avoiding it. Think of how easy it is to sin. I highly doubt anyone reading this is a murderer. I could be wrong on that, but I’m going to go with that basic assumption. Probably most of us on here have never committee a serious crime, one that would involve going to prison. Chances are, we’re all normal citizens. But following the laws of the land does not make us free of sin. Lying under oath is a lie. But the police aren’t coming after us for all the lies we tell in our daily lives. We’ve all done that; perhaps we “fudge” the details of a story, increasing our importance, or putting someone else in a less than favorable light. The goal is humor and it may work. But its still a lie. Its not a crime but it is a sin. Slander can be a crime. Again, I am guessing the majority of us will never see the inside of a courtroom, facing a defamation of character charge. But how many of us have talked badly about a colleague/friend/even someone we didn’t know? I know I am completely guilty of it. Gossiping may not be a crime, but it’s a sin. And it’s so easy to do. Again, sin is as commonplace as the air we breathe. In too many ways, it’s the easy choice to make. Matthew 7:14 tells us how challenging the straight and narrow path is. In a world of sin, how can we escape the plight into which we are all born?
The answer seems to be at the heart of Christianity. I’ve previously talked about the rich young man in Matthew 19, who follows the commandments scrupulously. He is saddened because Jesus tells him to sell all his possessions and give to the poor. Jesus then cautions his disciples that “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to entire into Heaven.” This is a powerful statement, and if Jesus left it there, it would be the strongest possible statement for completely rejecting this world. What a challenge that is! Sell everything and give to the poor? How is one supposed to live? Doesn’t the world need people to do their jobs in order for society to function? Is Jesus calling for a complete abandonment of all that? It would appear the Disciples were as incredulous as I just was. After all, we are told they were astonished and asked Jesus, “Who then can be saved?” That’s when Jesus reminds us, “With people, this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.” Jesus is subtly informing the Disciples of why He came. It is for the redemption of all. How many times in His ministry do we see Jesus with the sinful? He eats dinners with the tax collectors. He does not condemn the woman at the well. At the time of his gruesome execution, He calls for the Father to forgive all who brought about this grisly end. We assume that can include the Pharisees, the High Priest, Herod, Pontius Pilate, the soldier, and the mob. Think about that one for a moment; those responsible for the death of the Son of God….forgiven? Its something most (if not all) of us cannot comprehend, yet alone do. But as Jesus reminded us, much of this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible. It’s that Divine Grace that allows us born into a world of complete sin, already sinful before our first cry, that gives us hope.
Escriva calls for us to avoid sin. It’s impossible to completely avoid, but we stand a better chance when we accept Christ. It is important to note, though, that forgiveness of sins is not a carte blanche for “business as usual.” John 8 tells the story of the woman who was to be stoned for adultery, and how Jesus tells the crowd, “He who is without out sin, let him throw the first stone.” When the crowd leaves, Jesus tells the woman He does not condemn her, but He also instructs her “Sin no more.” This is an area where our behavior as Christians leaves us plenty open for criticism. When you claim to be a Christian, there is a change of lifestyle. You are accepting to be held to a higher standard. The Bible has plenty to say on how to live our lives. Escriva asks that we fear and avoid sin. First off, let me be clear: while Josemaria Escriva may be saint, his word is NOT holy. I believe there is merit to it, but it is not infallible. I’ve already discussed how I disagree with his tendency to authoritarianism. And what Escriva is saying is nothing new and really, not un-Biblical. One needs only to go James 2 and learn of what little value faith is that does not have works. One cannot accept Jesus and not have a different life. Sinning gleefully and following Jesus are not compatible.
But, as we all know, it is not possible to live a life free from sin. It is through the Grace of God, and the supreme loving sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, that we can be forgiven. But we must accept that Grace by a changed life. No, we’ll never be without sin, but we are called to do our best to avoid it. For me, I struggle with speaking too quickly. Far too often, I rush to say something that may seem appropriate at the time, but it’s something I end up almost immediately regretting. I have to work on waiting, not always needing to comment. Not every emotion/thought needs to be expressed. A popular term these days is “No Filter.” It seems to be a way of excusing that what I say is genuine, it’s my real emotion, nothing holding back. For me, a “no filter” is an invitation to sin. It’s allowing me to say what I probably shouldn’t. Patience just isn’t one of my strong points. My spectacular personal trainer at the gym frequently gets on my case because I tend to rush through my work-outs. The real strength is built by controlled motion. It’s the same with my speech. Be patient, take your time; not everything needs an immediate comment. The rush to respond/comment is an opportunity to sin, which is needed to be avoided.
And if to show how this all comes full circle, one thing that has helped me slow my pace at the gym is prayer. A recitation of the Our Father and a Hail Mary is enough time to hold a plank. Likewise, an Our Father is usually enough rest time between sets. Now, yes, I’m probably not getting a lot spiritually out of inserting a standard prayer for timing’s sake during exercise. And yes, it’s use is for time-keeping. But I think this shows something bigger. I call upon God to help slow down in the gym. Just as I need God to help slow my rush to respond, which is where sin typically has a point of entry. It’s a sinful world. To avoid it, we need the Grace of God.
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