Today's readings are here: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/050612.cfm
In the second reading, St. John the Apostle lets us know how we follow Christ's command in the Gospel to "remain" in him: "And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us. Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them...." So, we remain or stay connected to Christ by faith and love.
The thing that can separate us from Christ, and that we need to avoid at all costs, is grave sin. A grave sin, for the most part, is a violation of the Ten Commandments. If it is committed with full knowledge of its seriousness and with full consent of the will, then its consequence is mortal, that is, it kills the virtue of love in the heart, and thus, separates us from Christ and his Church. One cannot commit a grave sin and love God and neighbor at the same time. If, however, a grave sin is committed without either full knowledge or full consent, then its consequence is venial, that is, it weakens the virtue of love but does not rupture our connection to Christ and his Church. Grave sins are normally forgiven in the sacrament of Reconciliation, provided we sincerely repent of them.
May Christ help us to stay connected to him through faith and love, and to avoid all sins, especially those that are grave.
No comments:
Post a Comment