Father Simone’s Word of the Week

“Sin begets sin.”  Sin is cyclical, often from one person to the next or back and forth.  I also remember sometimes “Don’t let their sin cause you to sin.”  Or, “Don’t let your sin cause them to sin.”  Sin begets sin, until the cycle stops with us.  I saw an occasion of this recently which struck me: another gas station encounter.  I walked into a gas station to buy something.  There was a loud, disgruntled woman yelling at the cashier.  The cashier was startled, but keeping her composure.  Next to the woman, her friend was trying to calm and resolve the confrontation.  Apparently it started with this peace making friend.  Another cashier must have made a rude comment, which made him react sharply and somehow it blew up where his friend was now verbally assaulting an innocent cashier.  When the woman finally exited threating the cashier, the man remained to apologize.  At that point, the cashier somewhere between tears and rage exploded on him.  Now she was the one full of steam, shouting.  The man could have easily stormed off to save his own peace, but he saw she was hurt.  He looked her in the eye, listening, speaking calmly and apologizing.  I gently nudged his arm to affirm him.  When I finally walked out, I could tell he wasn’t going anywhere until he calmed this woman, heard her out and left with peace.  The cycle would stop with him. 

Maybe our encounters and relationships aren’t usually this explosive.  Maybe we have been there.  Sin by nature hurts us and/or someone else.  If we allow fatigue, frustration, resentment or anger to turn us inward, it remains until either we let it go, let it out towards someone else or turn to some sin that only hurts us.  If someone pokes us, we poke them back or bottle that offense, wanting to poke them back.  Even if it doesn’t go that far, still one or both count that wrong and hold that grudge.  What can be worse, if we feel hurt by another, do nothing, yet hold onto it, we may end up wielding that hurt at someone else unexpecting or undeserving.  “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the person through whom they occur.”  (Matthew 17:1)  He also said “forgive them 7 x 77 times.”  That’s 539 times, yet nothing compared to His forgiveness towards us.  Patience and forgiveness are our shield against sin: theirs and ours.  Mercy stays our hand and prayer reaches for His.  Even if we don’t know the solution, may the grudges, offenses, judgment and unforgiveness end with us.  Only with Him, can we end the cycle.  So Jesus says “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”