"Hooked on a Failing"

I've been reading Scott Hahn's "The Lamb's Supper." I think I'll have to read it at least one more time to truly take in all that it has to offer. I've gone over six months without some kind of course in philosophy, so this book is rejuvenating.

The section that really caught my eye and got me thinking is about 3/4 into the book. The sub-section is titled "Hooked on a Failing." It discusses humankind's failure to fully recognize sin for what it is.

Hahn depicts the process of sin, "We have an obligation, first, to resist temptation. If we fail then and we sin, we have an obligation to repent immediately. If we do not repent, then God lets us have our way: He allows us to experience the natural consequences of our sins, the illicit pleasures. If we still fail to repent--through self-denial and acts of penance--God allows us to continue to sin, thereby forming a habit, a vice, which darkens our intellect and weakens our will."

WHOA! I think I have re-read this paragraph at least 3 times. There is SO much truth here. Following this section, Hahn further explains how the most merciful thing God can do for us once we have formed a habit or a vice is allow a 'calamity' to occur:

"Sometimes, disaster means that that the world the sinners knew must fade away. But, as Jesus said, "What does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?" (Mk 8:36). It's better to bid farewell to a world of sin than to be lost without hope of repentance."

This is certainly a lot to take in and divulge. Hahn has a brilliant way of laying it out that forces you to think about how it relates to your life. Reflecting on this is helping me to understand a little more about those who have fallen away from the faith. God does not cause these people to step away from Him. Every choice in life can bring you closer or further away from God. The more steps you take away from God, the easier it becomes to sin. Therefore, it is logical to comprehend why some people appear to sin so easily, while for others-- the same sin would give them tremendous pause. God's grace inhabits your very being and influences your daily decisions-- but ONLY if you let Him. This explains so much for me personally on why at certain points in my life, I had incredible difficulty with sin... it had everything to do with me being distant from God. It is so clear now in retrospect. God normally prefers the 2x4 effect with me, but this time, I think it was a lesson that needed to be learned gradually. :)

Discoveries

As I have taken more steps towards (what I feel) is my true purpose in life, I have discovered a great deal. I have learned on a deeper level what it takes to truly stand for something. Even as little as 3 weeks ago, I may not have found certain things in the political arena to be of high importance. However, now that I am fully living out my faith and beliefs- I have gained a greater understanding of what it means to do so. It is certainly not easy, but completely worth it.

Something else I have come to realize is quite scary. I have become aware of just how much the sacredness of God and the Holy Catholic Church have come under full attack. Never before has it been even remotely possible for such an extreme amount of blasphemes to be said in public. There are books, movies, TV shows, radio broadcasts, newspaper articles.... just about any form of public communication has partaken in some form of attack. Not all have been obvious or incredibly harmful. But, every attack makes way for another. One example that was brought to my attention is a new show coming out on Comedy Central. I don't know a lot about it, but from what I'm told-- it depicts Jesus as someone who is trying to break away from his "powerful but apathetic" father and winds up "finding himself" in New York. I really think that there is a difference between a good joke and an all-out mockery. I can laugh at jokes about my religion, but this show is way over the line.

Along the same lines of "blaspheming"-- I have come upon many organizations that pretend to be something they aren't. They try to represent something that is clearly-defined on its own... while making their own revisions. No matter what idea, religion or organization we are talking about, this is deception. If you don't understand something, go to the original source and discover its truth. For EXAMPLE... if you're going to run a "Catholic" organization, you better be ready to refer to the Bible, the Catechism and the hierarchy of the church for reference. I will admit that many people who run these organizations could be severely misguided under no fault of their own. As Catholics, it is our responsibility to show others the Truth. I know I am by nature a seeker of Truth. I think all humans have that natural inclination. Otherwise, we would all be completely disordered.

Lastly, my final thought for today-- logic and reason could save you and others from a lot of aggravation. I have been asked why I am Catholic. My constant reply will always be along the lines of this: I can find nothing more logically sound and filled with reason. Every question I have can be directed through prayer, logical reasoning and reference. If there is anything I have discovered about the Catholic faith, it's that if you are seeking Truth, you will find it in the Catholic Church. I do not mean this as an attack on those who are not Catholic-- I am only stating why I believe what I do. As my life goes through countless changes, I know that the only change within my faith will be an increase in strength.