“After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him, ‘Look, you are well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse may happen to you.’"

(From John 5:1-16)

When it comes to sin, forgiveness, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we’re all probably pretty good at the examination of conscience, coming up with a list, and the “telling” part (the confessing part) of the sacrament.  We’re probably pretty good at that with any experience of forgiveness, whether in the sacrament or otherwise.  How would you and I rate ourselves, though, with the “go and sin no more” part?  Today’s Gospel passage is one of the most powerful for me.  Jesus’ words to the man who had been ill for 38 years, “get up, pick up your mat, and walk,” remind me of the moments in life when I have experienced God’s forgiveness. To be released from it, to get up and walk away from it, if you will, is true freedom. 

As with other aspects of life, however, what comes next?  I find it interesting that Jesus does not just simply say, “go sin no more.”  He adds the words, “so that nothing worse may happen to you.”  If we keep reverting in and out of our old ways of self, we do harm to ourselves in more ways than one.  That’s “the worse” that could happen to us. We harm ourselves and often others too. I was speaking recently with a counselor-friend, who said of some young people today and their risky behavior, “I just don’t think they realize what they’re doing to themselves.”  That can certainly be said of some of us adults too.  I guess to put it simply, whenever you and I ask for and receive the Lord’s forgiveness, how resolved are we in the moment to sin no more.  Even though there is always the possibility that we “will do it again,” how hard are we trying?  That’s the real question. The being sorry part, the talking about it part, for many—these are the easy aspects. 

A couple of weeks ago, I played golf with 3 of our graduates. They attended our school here at Saint Jude and are now in college. I was reminded, yet again, of the importance of the follow-through component of the golf swing.  It will likely determine, in large part, where the ball will go.  How has your follow-through been since the last time you sought God’s forgiveness.  How are you doing with the “go and sin no more” part?