Be On Your Guard Against Sin

Temptations To Sin

When I returned to my religious community at the completion of my studies, I faced a lot of personal challenges. Being scholarly well-informed about the renewals and reforms that have taken place in Catholicism, and schooled in the intellectual movements of modernity and enlightenment, I became critical of many things. I saw a lot of contradictions with some of the rules and spiritualities of the community. Particularly, I developed the tendency to look at empty appeals to authoritative instances of rules with a critical eye. Consequently, I became wary of certain approaches to issues and regulations. I believed that dialogue and concern for the needs and individual well being of human beings should take precedence over what I judged as ‘mere pietism.’

Unknowingly to me, my judgements were influencing others. For the progressive minded people, this should be given attention, and if possible, discussed in order to enrich the life of the community. But for some others, it went contrary to what they understood the community life to be. It disturbed their knowledge and the ways of doing things they are accustomed to. I found myself in the horns of dilemma. On the one hand, battling with my personal convictions and on the other hand worried about ‘misleading’ people who simply accepted the status quo.

Attitude to Temptation

In the Gospel today (LK 17: 1-6) Jesus warns his disciples against the sin of scandal as follows:

Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur. It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. Be on your guard!

The experience I narrated above offers me an insight into what Jesus meant when he warned the disciples to be on their guard against scandal. It equally makes me understand the reason Church authorities are often caught in a dilemma between the progressive and conservative views on certain issues of Catholic ethics and morality. But most importantly, it leads me to a deeper understanding of temptation to sin, especially the one that attaches itself, so to speak, to our rational convictions, and how love could be a key antidote to such temptations. Two things are particularly involved in the question of sin and scandal.

One is our personal views, decisions and failings, and the other is the danger of leading others astray. On the one hand, the necessity to maintain our convictions is important. On the other hand, the influence of our convictions on others and the greater good might sometimes be more important than our personal choices. Jesus reminds us to be aware of our words, attitudes, and actions because they have the potential to be a positive or a negative influence on others. One response to this warning could imply to be on the watch for the subtle intrusions of the ego into our interpretations of life and existence.

‘Love’ and ‘Be on your Guard!’

I find the invitation to be on our guard against temptations to sin very relevant for Christian witnessing. Jesus’ warning or appeal against leading others astray focused on leading ‘the little ones’ astray. The consideration of the impact of our actions on others is a virtue born out of love for God and others. Only the perspective of love enabled me to find meaning even in what appeared absurd in the community life.

When we approach the commandments or laws of the Church and laws of God with love, we find reason to obey them. And we find the divine wisdom in them no matter how ludicrous they may appear. Love widens our horizon beyond the understanding of sin as commission and omission. Love covers a multitude of rules and regulations and adds peacefulness and goodness to our actions. Love equips us with the faith to live beyond self. In love, we live for God and for all God’s people.

[Readings: Wis 1:1-7; Lk 17:1-6]