Fourth Sunday of Lent_A - Sin -The Bad We Do; The Good We Fail To Do_032220

Deacon Tom Writes,

Sin –The Bad We Do; The Good We Fail To Do

Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year A

Today’s Gospel brings up the topic of sin from the perspective of its consequences. Jewish understanding was that if there was an illness, mental deficiency or the occurrence of some misfortune, it was attributable to sin on the part of the individual or the parent. That’s why the disciples wonder who is responsible for the man’s blindness: the man himself because of his own sins, or was it his parents’ fault, i.e. because of their sins. Jesus avoids laying blame. Rather, he says, “it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him” (Jn 9:2-3). Jesus puts an end to the notion that God employs disease to punish us for our sins. 

According to St. Thomas, “sin is nothing else than a morally bad act (St. Thomas, "De malo", 7:3), an act not in accord with reason informed by the Divine law. God has endowed us with reason and free-will, and a sense of responsibility; He has made us subject to His law, which is known to us by the dictates of conscience, and our acts must conform with these dictates, otherwise we sin.” [1]

Actual sin is committed by a free personal act of the will. It is divided into sins of commission and sins of omission. That’s right; you can actually sin by doing nothing, by failing to perform an action!! That raises the table stakes slightly, doesn’t it? Why is that? Well, sometimes we have a moral obligation to act. That’s the lesson of the Good Samaritan. You just can’t ignore someone in need. Sometimes you can’t chose not “to get involved.” 

Look at the words we recite during the Penitential Rite during Lent. We acknowledge to God and our brothers and sisters that we have wronged them by our thoughts, words, and deeds; in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do…. It’s right here. I’m not making this up…

I confess to almighty God

and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have sinned through my own fault,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done,
and in what I have failed to do;
and I ask Blessed Mary, ever Virgin,
all the angels and saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

These last few weeks of Lent are unlike any we have ever experienced. The Corona Virus is raising havoc around the world, causing unimaginable problems in the first world that in the past seemed to have only affected the third world . Who could ever imagine the Catholic Church giving dispensation for Sunday Mass? Overnight many have been cut off from their parishes which nourished their spiritual lives. Prayer and fasting, of course, are ageless Lenten practices which now seem so relevant in light of the current pandemic. But also, we can reach out via telephone calls, letters, use of social media to stay connected with one another while we curtail our social interaction. It is time to show that we are people of faith by trusting in God and not getting caught up in the fear that seems to be the order of the day. There is still a lot of Lent to go. In the days ahead may God give us the courage and ability to recognize our many faults and the grace to change our ways for the better. 

Keep the faith and Trust in God! 

Enjoy the day!

Deacon Tom

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[1] http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14004b.htm