Reflections on Sin

For Lent, I was thinking. . . [inspired by something I read]

If we take sin in general, and then think about the very first sin, that of the angels, the mercy of God becomes evidently clear. Imagine the fall of the angels, one sin, one non serveam, and condemned to hell for all of eternity. How many sins have I committed? How many times have I merited only eternal punishment? Would our lives be different if every decision involved a choice between beatification and damnation? Shouldn’t we live that way? Now think about the second sin, the sin of Adam. One act of disobeying, a lifetime of penance. How many penances have I done? How many sins committed that have penances as yet unpaid? Through one sin through Adam all creation has fallen. How many have fallen through sins I have committed? Would our lives be different if every decision involved the state of the souls of every other person? Doesn’t it? Shouldn’t we strive to live that way?

During this penatential season, I think it wise to reflect on all our failures, learn to detest our sins, and, by the grace of God, amend our lives. [but you all already knew that...]