A Thought

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the Truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, [the Lord] is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:8-9

A little guilt goes a long way, so the saying goes.  And sometimes it seems guilt does little more than put us under an unnecessarily heavy burden that is counter-productive.  This is not true, of course, because it is guilt that drives our need for forgiveness and it is our need for forgiveness that drives us to our Lord.  This does not mean, however, that we may not have to pay an ugly, steep, worldly price for our sins because sin has real-life consequences.  It is the Divine Wisdom which exists in all those “thou shalt not’s”; the reasons why we “shalt not”.

This passage from John’s epistle is especially relevant for those who see baptism as the “cure-all” rather than the “first step”.  We do start with a clean slate when we confess our sins and get right with our Lord, but this confession does not cover all sins from that moment.  This is why deliberate Scripture study, prayer, fasting, worship, and attending to the Sacraments of the Church are important for discipleship; they aid our continued growth in the faith as we move “toward perfection”.  Discipleship is a marathon, not a sprint; it is a life-long commitment to the Journey, not a singular event.  It is the way of a genuine disciple, and there are no magic spells, magic prayers, or short-cuts to the Promised Land – where the faithful are headed.

Do not be deceived by feel-good religion that promises an easy way, for this is not the way of Christ in whose footsteps we are compelled to follow … He is the only One who knows the Way home!

Blessings,

Michael