God speaks through the prophet Ezekiel today. God is speaking of someone who does wickedness: “If he turns from the wickedness he has committed, does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; since he has turned away from all the sins which he committed” (Ez. 18: 27). That is an important turn.
We are not used to hearing sin called “wickedness.” But God is clear. And He is clear that He will help us. He will give us the strength to turn away from sin.
It can be difficult to turn away from sin. We can get used to sin. We believe it is just the way the world operates: the “little” “white” lie, the under the radar pilfering of this or that from work, the consciously missing Mass on a Holy Day for no serious reason like illness, the small “cutting corners” on our taxes or expense account. People might disagree on whether those things are “wicked.”
But then, the question arises, how much sin is okay? That is like asking how much poison is okay for me to drink. Once we tell the little seemingly insignificant lie simply for what we think is convenience, we let into our soul an affection for duplicity. No lie is insignificant. And, besides, once even a small amount of poison is in us, we can’t control it. We may think we can. But that is the poison already working. It’s called pride.
Jesus invites us to do one simple thing. In speaking of the man in the Gospel, Jesus says, “…he changed his mind” (Mt. 21:29).
God gives us the grace to change. No matter how many corners we have cut or wrong turns we have made, God wants to intervene in our life. He is not a harsh punisher. He loves us. He wants us to turn, to change our mind and go deeper to Him. He won’t make us into a robot or control us. He invites us. We have to accept with our free will and invite Him deeper into our soul than we have ever allowed Him to go before. He will counteract the poisons. He will heal us.
God invites.
Now, it is our turn.
God bless,
Msgr. Brian Bransfield
