Homily Notes, 08-16-20 - What is Sin?

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 August 16th, 2020


What is sin?

⦁ Sin is contrary to God's will; forbidden by God's laws.

⦁ Sin takes away sanctifying grace

⦁ Sin makes us enemies of God

⦁ Sin is a disordered existence

⦁ Sin deprives us of Heaven

⦁ Sin entails punishment (Hell)

⦁ Sin takes away our merits: we cannot gain anything when our soul is dead in mortal sin.

⦁ Sin takes away our rights to graces: it removes sanctifying grace but also takes away our rights to actual graces.

⦁ Sin has negative physical effects

⦁ Sin dulls our senses

⦁ When Jesus healed people in the Gospel, it was symbolic of removal of sin.  He would restore sight, restore hearing.  It is symbolic that we need our sins removed in order to restore health.

⦁ Every actual sin we commit has an effect on the world, not only on ourselves but on those around us and in the world at large.

⦁ Why do innocent people suffer seemingly unjustly?  Because of our actual sins.


What is the remedy?

-Christ died for our sins.  God is our help, our Savior.  Turn to God and ask His forgiveness.

-Live your life for God: give Him everything.  He is your purpose.

-Sacraments are sources and channels of grace that help us put our focus where it is meant to be.

Don't waste the graces that God sends you every single day.  Use those graces to become a saint.  It is not by our own efforts and strength that we are who we are, it is by God's grace.

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