Overcoming the shame of our sins

Good News Reflection
Thursday of the 31st Week of Ordinary Time
November 4, 2010

Today's Saint: Charles Borromeo
Pray to overcome shortcomings:
http://wordbytes.org/saints/DailyPrayers/CharlesBorromeo.htm

Today's Readings:
Phil 3:3-8a
Ps 105:2-7
Luke 15:1-10
http://www.usccb.org/nab/110410.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_11_04.mp3

Overcoming the shame of our sins

Why do we have such a hard time admitting our own personal sins to others? Why is it so hard to apologize to people we've sinned against? Why do we resist going to Confession, even when we know it will provide us with grace to resist that sin in the future? Why aren't we sharing with others our story of overcoming sin as a testimony of Christian growth?

It's because we feel too ashamed to face the reaction of others. We're in this condition because we've been judged unfairly by others, and we've judged ourselves unforgivingly, and this has made us afraid to face our sins, let alone speak openly about them. We need mercy but we feel condemned.

Worse, we ourselves have been judgmental toward others, and unconsciously we assume that whatever we have done to others will be done unto us. We know that if we're capable of doing it, so is the next guy. Therefore, we choose to keep this side of our spiritual lives private.

And yet, by opening up and talking honestly about how we have sinned (appropriately of course), adding why we regret it and how Jesus has helped us overcome it, we become an aid in the spiritual growth of those who listen. Others gain courage to face their own sinfulness, because we've given them hope: The mercy they long for really does exist; repenting and changing really is possible.

This is far more important than the disapproval of those who condemn us. It's not their opinions that matter anyway. It's God's, and only God's! The trouble is, we've been hurt by the judgmentalism of humans, and so we expect God to be judgmental, too. We forget about the mercy that becomes available in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. And we judge the priest in the Confessional as unmerciful, and thus we deny ourselves the opportunity to meet Christ in that priest.

Look at what today's Gospel reading says about this. The angels rejoice when a sinner repents! There's no shame in repenting. The only real shame is rationalizing our sins to call them good, refusing to examine ourselves to see if we need to change.

When we realize that we've been excusing a sin as okay or necessary or better than what the Church teaches, we can be like the woman who lost the coin. Upon finding the precious treasure of forgiveness, we can call together our friends and neighbors and say, "Rejoice with me! Let's party!" For now we are becoming more like Christ.

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
This work is NOT in Public Domain and may NOT be copied without permission.
You may print one copy for your own personal use.
For PERMISSION and info on how to copy this reflection for sharing, see:
http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm

Seeking a past reflection?
Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free to subscribers of these emailed reflections.

WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?
Sign up for your own subscription! Go to http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections

Why do I need your help in my daily ministry?
Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. Please visithttp://gnm.org/donate.htm where you can make a real difference - even if you cannot make a financial donation!

Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!

Note: Good News Ministries http://gnm.org is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources, LLC http://catholicdr.com is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.

______________________________________________________________
This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.
MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:
Sign up at http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
or change your address
or unsubscribe