Lenten Trio: Sin, Death and Mercy

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A minor kitchen mishap has led to musing about sin, death and mercy – perfect fodder for contemplation during Lent. This is, after all, the Church season for pondering our sins, which helped form the nails that pinned Christ to the cross, the sins for which he gave up his life so that we might receive the Father’s mercy and forgiveness.

My reflections came about after I foolishly tried to use only one hand to lift a hot skillet and gave myself a minor burn. When I posted the incident on Facebook, a priest friend replied that it was a good example of the principle that every silly or dumb behavior carries within the seeds of its own consequences, and every sin the seeds of its own punishment.

Exploring the theology behind his statement, I went to Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica. On the topic of sin the Angelic Doctor says, among other things, that insofar as sin consists in turning away from something, its corresponding punishment is the pain of loss of the infinite good; that is, God.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church echoes this thought: “The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he belongs.”

Eternal damnation would be the result of our sins, but to redeem us Christ suffered an agonizing death on the cross.

In a few weeks, the Church will present Christ’s Passion: the betrayal by Judas, the abandonment by his friends, his trial, his scourging, the crowning with thorns, the carrying of the cross, the nailing to the tree and finally his death. Each of us in our own way causes that death. Perhaps we have not, as did Pilate, actually ordered the death of our Savior, but our selfishness has caused us to betray him, our lack of faith has caused us to abandon him, and our gossip has slain the reputation of the least of his brethren and thus him.

One of my worst faults is comparing myself to others, finding myself superior in some cases and inferior in many others. To rid myself of this temptation, I have been pondering this nugget from the Desert Fathers: “It happens that one man eats more and yet remains hungry, and another man eats less and is satisfied. The greater reward belongs to the one who ate more and is still hungry than to him who ate less and is satisfied.”

I like this saying because it reminds me that we are individuals; the circumstances that cause me to sin may not lead others to do the same. What is gluttony for me may be close to famine for another. I know where my sin lies; where it lies with another is solely between that individual and God.

I often think my sins are unforgivable, so I appreciate quotes like the following from Pope Francis, which I came across on Monday in The Little Black Book: “The Mother of forgiveness teaches the Church that the forgiveness granted on Golgotha knows no limits. Neither the law with its quibbles, nor the wisdom of this world with its distinctions, can hold it back. The Church’s forgiveness must be every bit as broad as that offered by Jesus on the Cross and by Mary at his feet. There is no other way.”

Sin is ingrained in our human nature; we sin, we ask for forgiveness, we atone and strive to sin no more. During Lent we focus on denying our own wants and instead respond to God’s desires and the needs of other people. This is not to earn salvation – of that we are incapable – but it is one way to atone for our sins so that we may be worthy to ask for the forgiveness he offers.

Marie Mischel is editor of the Intermountain Catholic. She can be reached at marie.mischel@dioslc.org.