Posted by The WORD in other words (2006) by Father Atilano Corcuera SVD – Rio Tuba, Palawan
Thursday 13th Week in Ordinary Time
If Jesus were to say to us today, “Your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:2), would we respond with a humble “Amen”, or with a defiant “What sin?” A brother priest from Europe once shared with me that in his community, no one went to confession anymore, and yet many still approached the altar to receive Holy Communion. This suggests that the sense of sin has diminished in our times. But have we, modern men and women, truly succeeded in eradicating sin from ourselves and from society?
The Apostle John reminds us: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). Clearly, sin remains a reality that cannot be denied or ignored.
Mahatma Gandhi identified seven destructive sins in the world:
- Wealth without work
- Pleasure without conscience
- Commerce without morality
- Science without humanity
- Worship without sacrifice
- Politics without principle
- Knowledge without character
Looking at the state of our world today, can we honestly say Gandhi was mistaken?
I believe sin will always be with us. Humanity will always be in need of forgiveness and redemption. As G. K. Chesterton insightfully observed: “This doctrine of sin is the one philosophy empirically validated by thirty-five hundred years of human history.”
Scripture confirms this truth: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
True faith in Jesus requires an awareness of our sinfulness. The power of the Lord is released abundantly when, in humility, we pray: “Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13).
In the sacrament of confession, the priest pronounces: “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” This echoes Christ’s own words: “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:2).
Thus, the mercy of God is not an abstract idea but a living reality. Forgiveness is always available to those who repent, for “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Romans 5:20).
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