Mortal sin is tough. Straight up.
I think it’s hard to reconcile the notion of an all-loving, ever-loving God with the existence of Hell. I think this is in part due to our present day notion that we deserve things – our sense of entitlement if you will.
So it’s kind of hard for us to accept that heaven shouldn’t be handed to us on a silver platter.
I think the truth is that we are blessed beyond our knowledge. And part of that blessing is our free will.
I’m not that smart - But the Church is.
Soooo here’s what she has to say…
1861 Mortal sin is a radical possibility of human freedom, as is love itself. It results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace, that is, of the state of grace. If it is not redeemed by repentance and God's forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ's kingdom and the eternal death of hell, for our freedom has the power to make choices for ever, with no turning back. However, although we can judge that an act is in itself a grave offense, we must entrust judgment of persons to the justice and mercy of God.
- Catechism of the Catholic Church
So mortal sin is a big deal.
It’s a huge deal.
It’s also kind of hard to accept – that a single, voluntary action of grave nature committed with full knowledge can keep us from inheriting the eternal Kingdom our Father has prepared for us.
Sooooo when things are hard to understand – I find myself looking for comparables in this world.
Here’s one.
I think mortal sin is like this…
I once heard a priest explain how or why it could be possible, using the example of a man who jumps off a bridge. He doesn’t have to jump 10 times to die – it only takes one moment, one choice, and his life on Earth is over. So Father Larry suggested that, in the same way, a single action on this Earth can have that same degree of eternal consequence.
I’d like to slightly modify that…
I think when we commit a mortal sin – it’s as though we jump out of a helicopter in to the ocean.
The ocean breaks our fall, and we survive for the moment.
The helicopter then throws a rope out, reaching down to pull us to safety.
And so we remain in the water – with a choice.
A choice to grab a hold of the rope and be pulled back to safety, or a choice to fight to stay afloat in the water as long as we are able to tread water, but then eventually to tire and die.
Our God is a God of endless mercy. His rope is strong. His call is unending.
He beckons us to choose Him. To trust Him. To hang on to the rope He extends – and He guarantees our safety.
I believe the rope He offers us is the gift of Reconciliation – the Sacrament of Confession.
He doesn’t ask for gold or silver; for your happiness or for your possessions – but just for a repentant heart. He calls us to the confessional where His tender mercy is overflowing from the mouth of His minister.
The gift of Reconcilliation is the lifeline that will be present for the rest of your life and mine.
We can struggle and fight on our own in the waters of sin – or we can reach up and hang on tight to a lifeline that will not fail.
If you or I witnessed a man fighting needlessly for his life with help so near by – would we not desperately urge him to cling on to the rope that holds the hope of new life?
