The Mystery of Sin

1/29/2013

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Ignoring or casting aside the teaching of Jesus of Nazareth not only leads to a loss of the sense of sin but "empties the Cross of Christ of its meaning" (1 Co 1:17).

Original Sin weakened the disposition of every human being to be loved by God and, in turn, disoriented the free-willed power to love him above all else: "Sin speaks to the sinner in the depths of his heart" (Ps 36:3). As a result, the dire effects of Original Sin brought selfish desires, disorderly affections, and unstable emotions to human existence. A dysfunctional inner life, then, is one consequence of the Fall: "Pleasure is preceded by a certain appetite which is felt in the flesh, like a craving, such as hunger and thirst. That generative appetite is most commonly identified with the name, 'lust,' though this is the generic word for all desires" (Saint Augustine).

Since Adam and Eve, respectively, sinned as male and as female, the penalties for their personal sins have been passed on to every particular male and every particular female. Adam desired Eve instead of God and, thereby, lost control over his sexual nature. That loss subjects males to lust after the organs of generation. Eve desired herself instead of God and, thereby, lost control over herself. That loss subjects all females to lust after themselves: vanity.

Furthermore, rather than accuse themselves before God, Adam and Eve made excuses to God. Adam said, "The woman whom you put here with me - she gave me fruit from the tree so I ate" (Gn 3:12). Thus, males are prone to caving into females which is the origin of "wimpiness." Eve, on the other hand, said, "The serpent trucked me into it, so I ate it" (Gn 3:13) Hence, females are prone to mis-speak the truth.

Finally, fueled by self-exaltation, Original Sin is nothing else than despising the authority of God and, consequently, all authority. Thus, males and females, each in their own way, enter fallen human existence as selfish and disobedient persons.

Yet, sacred scripture makes no mention of an essential change in human nature. The vitality of human nature, not its integrity, was lost. Although the cohesion of human nature and, therefore, the unity within the human heart disappeared, the impulse to do good and be good did not: Which one of you would hand your son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks for a fish? If you, then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him (Mt 12:35).

Nevertheless, the bulk of human history has followed the path of Adam and Eve and their first offspring, Cain and Abel. Individually and communally, that historical path is a well-worn track of inner discord and social strife. Common experience, in fact, agrees with sacred scripture: "The flesh lusts against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh; the two are directly opposed" (Ga 5:17).

The Catechism explains the actual cause of this opposition: Because man is composite, spirit and body, there already exists a certain tension in him; a certain struggle of tendencies between "spirit" and "flesh" develops. But, in fact, this struggle belongs to the inheritance of sin. It is a consequence of sin and, at the same time, a confirmation of it. It is part of the daily experience (Catechism, no. 2516).

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John D. Meehan has been involved in the lay apostolate of the Catholic Church since the close of the Second Vatican Council. He resides in New Hampshire with his lovely wife Elizabeth.

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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Year of Faith, Catechism of the Catholic Church, John Meehan, sin, redemption, Christ, Jesus, Catholic Church, Grace

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1 - 5 of 5 Comments

DLL
3 months ago
Sin is the choice! Sin is the freedom to choose! Sin is the freedom to abort a fetus! Sin is protected sin by law,the laws of men! Choose to sin is in truth immature and poor choice. The laws of men are not the laws of God. To obey the laws of God is to be free from sin and that is the right choice. Men and women love to sin that is why they choose it. In so choosing to sin as a freedom is never giving the alternative,redemption,a chance to redeem. Redemption is freedom from sin as one chooses to accept that sin is a false freedom. The wage for sin is death. No one sees that death is a secure choice. Only because of Christ can death be a worthy sacrifice. A sinner cannot understand this point. Only in Christ and in Christ only,can one be free from sin. Christ was/is the worthy and acceptable sacrifice to God in the power of the Holy Spirit. The price for sin has been paid by an innocent that upon the Holy Cross paid the price for all so all could be redeemed. Without Christ sin is the condition of humankind because they have chosen sin over the redeeming power of the Holy Cross. All faith in God is eventually focused in Christ because only in Christ can sinners find a new freedom from sin because of the Holy Cross. Deny Christ and one denies oneself as sin remains the unalterable human condition. Abortion is no ones right it is death and the wage for all sin is death,abortion is only an example of one of many bad choices where one deliberately chooses sin over obedience to God. In all His ways Christ was pleasing to God and free from sin. To be free from sin is human freedom. Christ through His resurrection has brought all to the ultimate choice to be free from sin and that is eternal life. Eternal life free from all sin is perfect freedom. Redemption is the choice to try to be converted so that sin no longer makes any sense at all.
abey
3 months ago
The picture above suggests a sexual temptation being offered, which in fact has become the general belief over their disobedience, for if it was so then how come the words of God "Be Fruitful & Multiply" was given before they sinned ? to this, sin can be defined as disobeying God whatsoever. For sin cannot & did not enter in by itself but through a channel by the Dis obedience, to the Original Sin come into all walks of life even sexual, especially so.. To also know that what happened in the Garden was a direct disobedience to the Word of God which is to sinning in the Spirit into its ramifications come down in the physical unto the generations., to also note that Jesus went through a Spiritual temptation as the Bible states of the manner "He was led by the Spirit to be tempted of the devil" & to know that the three temptations that he went through had no sexual overtunes, Similar was the temptation in the garden into which they fell.
Robert Burford
3 months ago
I know that I am a sinful person and do not deceive myself that sin is relative(ie relativism) but this is my nature. That is the point I did not have a choice. I was born with the sinful nature of original sin. Since I did not have a choice I do not feel guilt for original sin. Now do not confuse my point by thinking that if I sin it is not my fault. It is but I do not see why I should feel guilty for original sin. The sin I commit yes. The shame of Adam I must bare and I do claim responsibility for human race but not guilt for original sin.
Mathew Thankachen O.Praem
3 months ago
Twin Brothers
Satan, the father of death
My dearest friend
And thou no more foe
The one stronger and deeper
Than the other, excelling
To overtake with your
Trick overwhelming life
So fascinating, enchanting
Justifying every thought
Selflessly for me and me alone
So cozy you make me overnight
To follow your way
In a lighter vein, you reign
In the realm of mind and body
Leading to death, lethargy
Oozing away the Life within
The presence of God
The life force, love, energy
Here and now
And I don’t need another proof
Of the roof you promised
In your Father’s house
You, twin brothers
Ever together
Only but to depart
Either way to hell or heaven

Mathew Thankachen O.Praem.
.
Jim
3 months ago
"Since Adam and Eve, respectively, sinned as male and as female, the penalties for their personal sins have been passed on to every particular male and every particular female. Adam desired Eve instead of God and, thereby, lost control over his sexual nature. That loss subjects males to lust after the organs of generation. Eve desired herself instead of God and, thereby, lost control over herself. That loss subjects all females to lust after themselves: vanity.

Furthermore, rather than accuse themselves before God, Adam and Eve made excuses to God. Adam said, "The woman whom you put here with me - she gave me fruit from the tree so I ate" (Gn 3:12). Thus, males are prone to caving into females which is the origin of "wimpiness." Eve, on the other hand, said, "The serpent trucked me into it, so I ate it" (Gn 3:13) Hence, females are prone to mis-speak the truth."

I think these paragraphs are somewhat clumsy. Both Adam and Eve were full of pride and rejected God with their egos. It had nothing to do with Adam lusting after Eve and Eve after herself. So often sexual sin is implicated in the original sin but that makes no theological sense. There was nothing keeping Eve from Adam in their state of grace. Consequently, creation was not a complete loss UNTIL Adam (its protector) ate the fruit. The only force strong enough to knock man from grace was his own pride, not the desire of man for woman.

Also, technically what the woman said is true. The snake did trick her into eating. The sin is that woman did not believe God her creator that eating the apple would kill her. Her act said "God is a liar." Adam's sin was no different so both are prone to same thing, pride. Nearly every sin can be traced back to pride and human's over estimating their ability to understand life.

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