October 17, 2007

The Fun House Mirror

The catholic doctrine on original sin is very important. The Catechism of the Catholic Church does a great job explaining this teaching (see ##385-390; 396-421). Just pick up a newspaper or turn on a television to verify the effects of sin!

A crucial point: all of this means that our human nature is not bad, rather we are good yet wounded. So, I am not experiencing my existence as God originally intended. It is important to recognize this reality. We are all born afflicted: without original holiness, justice or harmony, subject to ignorance, suffering, the dominion of death, inclined to evil (sin), having a distorted image of God, shattered control of the soul's spiritual faculties, tensions among each other, oppressed, darkened intellect, weakened will.

As a result we do not love as we should. We do not love God, our neighbor or ourselves. Sin has a curious effect on how we see ourselves. Self-hatred is a common symptom. Have you ever looked at yourself in a wavy fun house mirror? You may see an image that is tall, thin and stretched out. You may see an image that is short, squat and wide. In either case it would be a tragic mistake to believe that this image in the fun house mirror was accurate! Because of sin something like this happens in many people. I am ugly, twisted and ultimately unlovable! The love of Jesus for you - proved by his freely accepted death on the cross - corrects this aberration. Pray for the healing grace of God, the grace to see and love yourself as God sees and loves you. Invite the Holy Spirit into this area.

God bless you,

Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR
St. Joseph Friary, New York, NY

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