Sin

 Eskimo: 'If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?' Priest: 'No, not if you did not know.' Eskimo: 'Then why did you tell me?'

Annie Dillard 

 

Definitions of sin: (Webster's Dictionary)

1a: an offense against religious or moral law

b: an action that is or is felt to be highly reprehensibleit's a sin to waste food

c: an often serious shortcoming : FAULT

2a: transgression of the law of God

b: a vitiated state of human nature in which the self is estranged from God

Living this life without sinning is impossible. No matter what we think,  we are sinning each and every day. Every day is fraught with sin in some way in something we have done, failed to do, said or thought. If this were not so there would have been no need for Christ to die on the cross. The garden of Eden would be here and now, visible, our place of habitation. It is here but we are not able to see or experience it in this life. (more on that in a later post) I was attending a charismatic meeting many years ago where the celebrant minister was on this very subject. A woman behind me said that they did not have that problem. Unless she was an angel among us that could not have been a more fool's statement. That is like saying Christ did not need to be crucified for me. In fact, what reason would there have been for this person to be in attendance at a Christian gathering to praise someone that sacrificed themselves to forgive the sins that this person said they did not commit. There are enough ways to sin to keep us out of heaven without even trying. It seems we need only breathe to commit sin. It is why my favorite prayer is the Jesus prayer. Lord Jesus Christ, only son of our Father, have mercy on me, a sinner. This prayer is uttered many times a day whether I realize my sins or not. There are many forms of this prayer but I prefer the simplest, most direct form of it. Sin is personal. No one can commit my sin but me. Forgiveness is only possible through belief in Jesus Christ and a repentant heart. It is, however, up to us to forgive those that trespass against us. (The Lord's Prayer you say at "Mass" or church services, at a meal or before retiring at night) The hardest thing to do is to forgive one's self for the things we do to ourselves and others. It isn't whether we sin or not but whether we realize we need to forgive and be forgiven. It is a major part of the lesson we have to learn as we strive to understand what this life is all about.  

Of all the images I have done, the one I cherish most is the one below. It has been retouched to give it more depth and life. It is from Imagineanddo. Unfortunately the artist is no longer able to produce beauty like this due to to physical limitations. I will forever be thankful for her kindness and instructions on coloring images. 

The Copic colors are:

B0000, RV0000, RV000, YR0000, YR000, BG01, R01, E50, YR30

That is it for this week. May the good Lord hold you close and bless you always.