Learn what Jesus taught about a common but dangerous delusion that effects most people and the grave eternal consequences to this problem. Find out if the Bible teaches about varying degrees of sin or if all sin is the same. Discover if there is a particular kind of sin that, if not repented of, will eternally separate one from God. Listen to this homily given by Fr. Mayer on March 20, 2022
Learn what Jesus taught about a common but dangerous delusion that effects most people and the grave eternal consequences to this problem. Find out if the Bible teaches about varying degrees of sin or if all sin is the same. Discover if there is a particular kind of sin that, if not repented of, will eternally separate one from God. Listen to this homily given by Fr. Mayer on March 20, 2022
In 1981 a survey of drivers discovered that 93% of Americans believe that they better drivers then most other people. When asking employees, the results were the same. Most workers describe themselves as above average. The stock market is driven by this same line of thought: each person thinks that he will pick better stocks than the other guy. Psychologists call this the illusionary superiority principle. Pop culture calls it narcissism. The illusion of seeing yourself as somehow superior to others is not new. It was no different in our Lord’s day. In the gospel you heard about the man who asked Jesus his thoughts on the Galileans who were at their worship service offering sacrifices when they were suddenly killed by Pontius Pilate, the governor. Jesus responds by taking a direct swing at this person’s illusionary superiority He says, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered thus? Or in other words, “Do you think that you are better because this did not happen to you? 3 I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” Jesus was saying, you might think you are better but you are not. You are a sinner, just as deserving of punishment, and I am calling you to repentance. He was basically saying what St. Paul wrote in the book of Romans that everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and deserves justice unless there is repentance. Today, with this homily, I am hoping to do the same as our Lord, I am hoping to undercut your illusionary superiority and call you to the urgency of repentance.
So let’s dive in. Jesus said if you do not repent, then you will perish and he wasn’t just talking about physical death. A look at Christ’s overall teaching would point to the fact that he was referring, not to physical death, but to eternal death. The wages of sin is death. The Church teaches that sin leads to spiritual death in two ways, instantly and gradually. Committing a mortal causes instant spiritual death. Entering into venial sin moves you closer to spiritual death. Mortal meaning spiritually deadly and venial meaning a slight indulgence into sin, though not as deadly, at least not at first, though it wounds a person and can quickly lead toward mortal sin, if not dealt with.
- Understanding the difference ways in how sin leads to death, that is between mortal and venial sin can be incredibly freeing. As a Protestant I grew up being taught that all sin was the same, which caused me much anxiety. I thought to myself, “If I sin and then for some reason I do in the next second or Christ returns and the rapture happens, I will go to hell!” It was a really scary thought. So, when learned about the Catholic teaching that it was only very grave serious sins, knowingly and deliberately committed that separated one from God, I found it to be freeing. This teaching comes from various parts of the Bible. Jesus taught that some sins were worse than others. Remember what he said to Pilate, “He who handed me over to you is guilty of a worse sin.”? Christ taught that those who have more knowledge and yet still sin have greater culpability on judgment day. You can also read in 1 John 5 about some sin that is deadly and other sin that is not deadly. He is referring to mortal and venial sin of course.
- So, for a sin to be deadly, that is mortal sin, requires knowledge, deliberate consent, and grave matter. St. Peter wrote in 2 Peter 2:21 that it would have been better for them not to have known the way of justice, than, after they had known it, to turn back” The greater the knowledge, the greater the culpability, the greater the punishment. However, this does not completely erase the culpability of those, who say, have less religious education for Scripture and the Church teach that moral law is written on the human heart. Even without formal religious teaching a person knows the basics of right and wrong. So, for a sin to be mortal it first requires knowledge. Second is deliberate consent. This means that a person is making a person choice, a deliberate decision to enter into a particular sin. Someone who is pushed into sin by others, or someone dealing with sins of habit or addiction, does not have that full freedom. For a sin to be mortal, the consent has to be deliberate and free. Third, for a sin to be mortal there needs to be grave matter, in other words breaking one of the Ten Commandments: ignoring God, not putting him first in your life through daily prayers and the like. Taking the Lord’s name in vain – not showing proper reverence for him. Profaning the Sabbath – deliberately spurning publically thanking God through Sunday Mass attendance, not because you are sick or unavoidably required by your employer to work or something – rather just being lazy. Of course dishonoring parents, killing, stealing, sex outside of marriage, lying etc. All of these things are grave matter. These three things together, grave matter, deliberate consent, and full knowledge cause spiritual death. If one of these three are missing the sin is venial – still wounds you and moves you toward spiritual death, but not instantly.
- The big question then comes up, would God really send someone to hell based upon one mortal sin? That seems rather harsh. Is that what Jesus meant when he said, “Unless you repent, you too will perish?” I mean, isn’t God merciful? Won’t he judge me based on the overall balance of my life? I’ve done a lot of good stuff. | God merciful right? Yes, he is merciful, but in the words of the Blessed Mother in Luke chapter 2 “He is merciful toward those who fear him.” If you think, “Ah, no big deal. God is merciful. He’s harmless. I can always get forgiveness later.” Things are not going to go so well for you. The scripture is clear he is merciful toward those who fear him. One of the best analogies to God that I know of is the ocean. The ocean is majestic and powerful and when you are standing on the shore line looking out, seemingly infinite. People are drawn to the ocean. They love it for all of its beauty, its grandeur. Little children, laugh and play in the waves that reach across the sandy shore and tickle their toes. Yet, wise people have a healthy fear of the ocean, a healthy respect. Those who have misjudged the oceans, made bad decisions concerning their interaction with the ocean, have been quickly snuffed out by its power and fury. It does not matter to the ocean how healthy of a life or how amazing is your physique. The same analogy could be made of the beauty of a vast wilderness. Yes, it is captivating, but make a wrong decision and it could be deadly.
The Catechism states: “We cannot be united with God unless we freely choose to love him. But we cannot love God if we sin gravely against him, against our neighbor or against ourselves . . . To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God's merciful love means remaining separated from him for ever by our own free choice. Do not give into the temptation to presume on God’s mercy. As our Lord said, if you do not repent, especially of mortal sin, you will perish. The same can be true of venial sins. Do not give into the temptation of saying, “Eh, it’s only a venial sin. No big deal. Each venial sin takes you lower, closer to mortal sin, if not dealt with.”
I would urge you as well, not to give in to the temptation of saying, “No big deal. I can wait. I can always get this taken care of later. I don’t feel like going to confession right now.” It’s this temptation that the Lord was combatting in today’s gospel reading. He was saying that “Those people, those Galileans were killed unexpectantly. This could happen to you. Repent now. Get ready now. Do not wait.”
- God gives some a long life and other a short life. As St. Gregory, the sixth century pope would say, “He who has promised pardon to penitents, has not promised tomorrow to sinners.” Maybe he will give you more time, maybe he won’t.” Each day is a gift. He does not owe to anyone a single day
- And life has so many unexpected twists and turns. I was shaken by the war in Ukraine. This was civilized Europe. Peaceful Europe and now armies from all over the world gathering. I did not see that coming. What other wars are possible? Or life could easily end with something much more simple. I visited the website for the National Safety Council and based on our numbers here at St. James, 10 of you are going to die of heart disease, 8 of cancer. One of you is going to overdose on opioids and another person will be killed in a car accident. All that, just with the few people we have here at St. James.
- Christ calls you to repentance because he care for your eternity. God does not will that any should perish. God wants all to be saved according to 1 Tim 2:4. Ezekiel 33:11: I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back. St. Peter: The Lord dealeth patiently for your sake, not willing that nay should perish, but that all should return to penance
No matter how long or short your life is, all our lives here on earth are infinitesimally short in comparison to eternity. Scriptures likens life here on this earth to a blade of grass: here for a short time and then gone, fleeting. Do not wait to get things right.
Do not give in to the temptation of comparing yourself with others and thinking that you are okay. Hear the words of Christ: You think that you are better than those others because you lived while they died? Unless you repent you too will perish. I would urge you, especially if you are in the state of mortal sin, to get to confession as soon as possible. Your eternal destiny is on the line. If you are dealing with venial son, it’s time to get to work in earnest. Venial sin can very easily lead to mortal sin and the Church urges that venial sin also be brought to the confessional. I would encourage you to use this Lent for good. Make this Lent the one that makes the difference. Repent and turn to the Lord or you too will perish. Amen.