Sin Makes Us Resist God

 

The depth of God’s love is beyond human reasoning. 

Reflection on Today’s Readings, 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B, June 9th, 2024
Texts: Genesis 3:9- 15; Psalm 130: 1-7; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5: 1; Mark 3:20-35

Reflecting on the behaviour of Adam I try to fathom the situation in which such could happen. Such could happen in a situation that we sudden encounter the depth of God’s love and our unworthiness of the love. Here on earth there are things that blur God’s love.  Evil is one of them; it makes us question the love of God for us. It is by faith we acknowledge God’s love. When we disregard it we fall into sin. Sin makes us resist God. 

The people, in today’s gospel reading, saw the show of God’s love in Jesus as madness. We read, “Jesus went home with his disciples; and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. And when his friends heard it, they went out to seize him, for they said, ‘He is beside himself’.” The scribes said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul, and by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” The depth of God’s love is beyond human reasoning.  

Sin makes us resist God

When we shall see God face to face we shall encounter the depth of His love. With our sin still hanging upon us, we shall become aware of our unworthiness of His love. God will not send anyone away, it is the guilt of our sins that will make us run away from Him. That was the situation of Adam in today’s first reading. Adam said “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” Sin makes us resist God. 

We also see today the consequence of sin.  It is nakedness.  This is clear in the first reading when Adam said, “I was afraid, because I was naked”. This nakedness is loss of grace: sin strips man of grace. This reminds us of the words of the angel to the Church at  Laodicea: “For you say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.’ You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:17).

Be earnest, therefore, and repent 

The Angel advised the Church thus: “Therefore I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white robes to clothe yourself and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. I reprove and discipline those whom I love. Be earnest, therefore, and repent” (Rev. 3:18-19). When we return to God we regain our lost grace.  

All sins will be forgiven the sons of men

Today’s Psalm reminds us of God’s mercy. The response says, “With the Lord there is mercy, in him is plentiful redemption.” Verse two says, “If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But with you is found forgiveness, that you may be revered.”  

Jesus Christ,  in the gospel reading, warns us against unforgivable sin. He says, “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”. This is the disregard of what is truth, what is holy or what is right, for He adds, “for they had said, ‘He has an unclean spirit.’”  

We regain the lost grace through faith in Jesus Christ

The grace we lose as result of sin is eternal life, immortality. In the second reading, St. Paul tells us that we regain the grace through faith in Jesus Christ. He says, “We too believe, and so we speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.”  

The faith comes to us through the gospel. Hence, he says, “So we speak”. He speaks to extend the grace to others. In his words: “For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.” In today’s gospel, Jesus says, “Here are my mother and my brethren! Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother.” They were not those who thought He was man or possessed. 

Let us make this promise today: No matter the gravity of my sin I will not run away from God, I will come to Him, confess my sin and repent of them. With God there is mercy and plentiful redemption.  

Prayer 

Grant, O Lord, that we may always revere and love your holy name, for you never deprive of your guidance those you set firm on the foundation of your love. Amen 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke