"Some people suggest that the Church
should speak less of sin and instead emphasize positive things. After
all, it is said that one can attract more flies with honey than with
vinegar. In that vein, we in the Church have been collectively
de-emphasizing sin to a large degree for decades, and yet our churches
have been getting emptier and emptier. Maybe this is because people are
just a little more complicated than the flies in the old saying.
"In the Gospel for Thursday of this week (the 24th week in Ordinary Time), Jesus provides the reason our churches are getting emptier. Simply put, there is less love. He says, But the one to whom little is forgiven loves little (Luke 7:47).
"Why is this? We love
little because we have little appreciation for what the Lord has done
for us and for the debt He paid on our behalf. And why is that? Because
our debt of sin is no longer preached about the way it should be and
thus we are less aware of the gravity of our condition. This diminishes
love, and a lack of love leads to neglect and absence.
"Understanding sin is essential to fully comprehending what the Lord has done for us. Remembering what the Lord has done for us brings gratitude and love. . . ."
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish,
Washington, DC) reflected on the importance of understanding sin in order to understand God's love for us and, in doing so, leading us to love more.
To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:
Community in Mission: Knowing the Bad News Unlocks the Good News (20 SEP 18)
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