Word to the Wise
Monday, January 24, 2022 - Monday in the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time
[2 Sam 5:1-7, 10 and Mark 3:22-30]"Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But, whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin." For they had said, "He has an unclean spirit." [Mark]
JANUARY 24 ST. FRANCIS DE SALES
This passage from the Gospel According to Mark has given rise to the expression, "the unforgivable sin." In the case of Jesus' words, it refers to the blind rejection he receives from some scribes from Jerusalem who attribute his miracles and healings to the work of the devil! As long as they believe that, they cannot be forgiven.
However, we might take this occasion to ask ourselves if there is an "unforgiveable sin" in our past either that we think we have committed or has been committed against us? I do run into this from time to time in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Perhaps the most common form is the "grudge" we can maintain against someone or an organization. That grudge proclaims that someone has committed an "unforgiveable sin." This doesn't mean the sin itself is unforgiveable, but that WE can't forgive it. As hard as our feelings may be, the Lord has commanded that we DO FORGIVE. This doesn't settle a possible need for redress and mending, but the sin itself must be forgiven. I have heard the expression that maintaining a grudge is like taking poison and hoping the other person will die.
The sin that Jesus declares unforgiveable is serious indeed, but it does not include our grudges. Those remain for us to confront and resolve. AMEN