"Whatever Became of Sin"
Fr. George Wertin
Sunday, February 8th, 2004

I couldn’t decide whether to talk about ‘sin’ or ‘parish finances’ today. I decided that you’d rather wallow in sin…

‘Sin’ is an ugly word. It elicits feelings of guilt, shame, contempt, hurt, pain – everything bad.

I remember many years ago, I was teaching a class on a new look at morality after the II Vatican Council. Afterwards a young man came up to me and very earnestly said, “You know, Father, I never really knew what sin was until I met you!”

I also remember a very traditionalist Catholic condemning the new paradigm of creation, sin and redemption. He condemned liberal theology saying it espouses “a God without wrath, bringing humans without sin into God’s Queendom without judgment through a Christ without a cross.” He went on to say “ In your typical liberal parish what do you hear in Father Flapdoodle’s homily? God is love, love, love. God is tender and compassionate, and She accepts you just as you are. You don’t hear about the wrath of God, for God never gets angry. …Since sin is a non-issue, nobody could possibly go to hell.”

Well, there you have it! The old ideas of sin were fixated on mortal and venial sins. Sins were bad actions. You were expected to examine your conscience on what laws you had broken. And, of course, there was a preoccupation with sex, sex, sex. And all this led to being laden down with guilt, guilt, guilt.

A number of years ago when I was in Campus Ministry at the College of St. Benedict, our offices shared a reception area with the counseling department. I remember one of the counselors saying, “I wish we could just erase the word guilt from our vocabulary.” I think a lot of people feel that way. But there are consequences: no GUILT…no RESPONSIBILITY. But we certainly need to distinguish the crush of unhealthy guilt from legitimate guilt.

Quite simply, we need to restore a healthy understanding of SIN as well. Sin has different meanings at different times and in different contexts. In the Hebrew Scriptures (i.e. the Old Testament) sin is most often presented as falling short of the ideal – like the archer falling short of the target.In the Gospels we see that sin is rooted in relationships: In the parable of the prodigal son we see sin as breaking our relationship with God. St. Paul talks about sin as a weakness: “I do not do the good that I want to do…”

As the concept of sin has evolved in the Catholic tradition it has become more and more restricted to personal faults and failings. Traditionally sin has become focused on individual actions – often rooted in the Ten Commandments. It’s as though they have not been made obsolete by the two commandments of love – as today’s second reading reminds us. It is possible to hear a litany of traditional sins that would ignore economic oppression, polluting of waterways, using advertising to hook children into addiction to cigarettes, taking advantage of insider trading to make a bundle of money, racial and sexual discrimination, etc.,etc. Have you ever heard anyone say “I commit discrimination.” Or “I commit war and violence?”

What we are recognizing more and more is that the core of sin is ‘the sin of the world’ as John’s Gospel tells us. It is the oppressive systems – the principalities and powers of the Scriptures – that afflict us. It is the institutions and corporations of our society that need redeeming. It is the domination system that feeds itself on violence that exploits individuals and contaminates us all. We get caught up in the greed, competition, addictions and exploitation that lure us away from our true selves. We are the victims!

In order to reclaim our authentic selves we have to become healers. The fallen systems need to be redeemed. We need to recognize where authentic happiness is to be found – in the most simple, profound experiences of communion with God, other people, nature and our very selves.

Sin is about alienation. We are about welcome, inclusivity, trust and joy. We have to grow up. Rewards and punishments may be necessary for youngsters. Laws and prohibitions may be necessary for adults in a fallen world. But mature people find their integrity in being authentic and being part of healthy communities. Healthy people don’t need to be told what is a sin and what is not. They are continually concerned about justice, compassion and love. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu says, “When you see an injustice being done and you do nothing you are on the side of the oppressor.” That’s the contamination of sin.

Sometime ago I asked a group of people at Mass whether it is difficult to be a Christian or not. The response was strongly tilted toward the ‘Yes’ response. Individuals said that it is so hard to be good. It is difficult to stand up and be counted.

I would disagree. First of all, remember that what counts most is that you are already loved by God. You don’t need to earn God’s love. How you act is your response in gratitude for all the good that God has showered on you. Secondly, remember that you don’t need to be perfect. You simply have to faithful on your journey. I like to think that Christianity is 50% challenge and 50% celebration.

Sin is not the defining reality of our lives. Live vibrantly! Love abundantly! Build partnerships based on trust and sharing. That’s what the Christian life is really all about!