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What is the heart of sin?

Catechism Meditation:

Sin is an offense against God: “Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight.” Sin sets itself against God’s love for us and turns our hearts away from it. Like the first sin, it is disobedience, a revolt against God through the will to become “like gods,” knowing and determining good and evil. Sin is thus “love of oneself even to contempt of God.” In this proud self-exaltation, sin is diametrically opposed to the obedience of Jesus, which achieves our salvation. ―No. 1850

REFLECTION. Sin is defiance toward God—usually in favor of self-interest. At the heart of sin is disobeying God. Sin is always disobedience, and it sets itself against God’s love for us, turning our hearts away from it. The heart of sin is not simply breaking the rules. It rejects God, who is personal. It effectively says to him, “I do not love you. I will not follow you. I will not obey you” (see Ps. 78:40; Isa. 43:24; Eph. 4:30).

At the heart of every situation of sin are always to be found sinful people. So true is this that even when such a situation can be changed in its structural and institutional aspects by the force of law or – as unfortunately more often happens – by the law of force, the change in fact proves to be incomplete, of short duration and ultimately vain and ineffective – not to say counterproductive – if the people directly or indirectly responsible for that situation are not converted.

PRAYER. God of mercy, may my repentance be sincere and may my heart be open to Your transformation.

Timeless Wisdom Quote:

“The only real sin is to deny love, especially the love of God.” ― Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen