Reflections for June 16-Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sin, Forgiveness and Consequences

The day's readings can be found here.

One of the most attractive messages of Christianity is Redemption: no matter what we have done, no matter how bad the sin, we can always turn to God with a contrite, humbled heart (Psalm 51:19) and be forgiven.  We do not earn forgiveness through works of the Mosaic law or any works period, but through faith in Christ as St. Paul says in the second reading (Galatians 2), which he continually emphasizes in the NT.  Of course, what this means to us as Catholics is still a very different thing than what it means to those of the Reformed tradition — a topic I wish to address in the future (CCC 1987-2029).

The first reading (2 Samuel 12) and the gospel (Luke 7) speak directly to sinners who have been forgiven: David asks for and receives forgiveness for having Uriah slain after committing adultery with Bathsheba; the sinful woman anoints and washes Jesus’ feet with her own tears and receives forgiveness from Him.  Both individuals committed grievous sins, both express sorrow for their sins, and both receive Divine Mercy.  However, even though God has forgiven their sins, they have to live with the consequences of their decisions.  David loses his son who was conceived by Bathsheba (and further discord enters his house because of his poor decision), and the pardoned woman must live with a bad reputation and endure the scornful stares of the Pharisees.  God forgives the guilt of sin, but naturally there are still consequences for poor decisions.  In other words: God forgives; nature does not.

The Catholic Church’s aim against the evil of the “culture of death” is never to condemn those who have committed egregious offenses against God and against Life, but to invite them to ask for God’s mercy.  In fact, often those who are most supportive of the Church’s positions are those who are guilty of past sins, who have received God’s forgiveness, and who have had to live with the consequences of their actions.  Therefore, the Church is resolved to warn people of the consequences of a “culture of death” before it’s too late.  One poster of the 40 Days for Life movement is a good example of this warning: “Men Regret Lost Fatherhood.”  Today on Father’s Day, I would like to thank and express my appreciation to fathers who chose to be fathers for the sake of us, your children.  You are courageous models to a world that needs examples of faithful fatherhood, Christian chivalry, and manly love.  May God preserve you in virtue and in dedication to your paternal vocation.