{"id":13797,"date":"2014-02-18T00:30:10","date_gmt":"2014-02-18T06:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/?p=13797"},"modified":"2017-04-17T22:00:16","modified_gmt":"2017-04-18T02:00:16","slug":"the-little-big-lie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/the-little-big-lie\/","title":{"rendered":"The Little Big Lie","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"
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THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS
\n for February 18th, 2014<\/p>\n

Liturgical texts here<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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THE <\/strong>little big lie<\/em>. It is the lie that a temptation is the same thing as the sin, and therefore, when one is tempted, he has already begun to sin. It is the lie that, if one does begin to sin, you might as well carry through with it to the end because it doesn’t matter. It is the lie that one is a sinful person because he is so frequently tempted with a certain sin…. Yes, it is always a seemingly little lie that is really a big lie in the end.<\/p>\n

Sometimes temptations can be intense and even shocking, so much so, that one feels immediate shame that such a thought has entered the mind. Satan used to tempt St. Pio by having very lustful images appear before him. Today, the media does that for the devil. We live in a world where temptations are constantly, and literally, in our face. But a temptation, no matter how awful, is not the same as sin. St. James says in the first reading:<\/p>\n

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…each person is tempted when lured and enticed by his desire. Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The little-big-lie is first of all a lure, an enticement, usually related to one’s weakness or struggle with inordinate desires. Right then and there, the Christian has to recognize it for what it is\u2014a temptation\u2014and reject it. Even if the temptation is strong, and you feel the lure tugging, it is not a sin if one continues to resist. St. Ignatius of Loyola writes:<\/p>\n

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(1) The thought comes to me to commit a mortal sin. I resist the thought immediately and it is conquered. (2)If the same evil thought comes to me and I resist it and it returns again and again, but I continue to resist it until it is vanquished. This second way is much more meritorious than the first.<\/strong> \u2014The Wisdom of the Saints, An Antthology, <\/em>Oxford University Press, p. 152<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

But if one begins to entertain and take pleasure in the temptation, sin is conceived. Now note, James says that when sin reaches maturity<\/em>, it gives birth to death. This progression is an important distinction. Because even if one loses his foothold briefly, Satan will try to convince you that you have lost everything\u2014<\/em>that you are now a declared enemy of God. But that is a lie.<\/p>\n

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Venial sin does not break the covenant with God. With God\u2019s grace it is humanly reparable. Venial sin does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace, friendship with God, charity, and consequently eternal happiness.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span> \u2014C<\/span><\/span>atechism of the Catholic Church<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/span>n<\/span><\/span>. 1863<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Satan wants to convince you that you are a terrible, horrible sinner, and that it really doesn’t matter now if you go on and indulge <\/em>in the sin. But there is a huge difference, brothers and sisters, between momentarily losing one’s foothold on the cliffs of temptation\u2014and deliberately letting go and throwing yourself into the depths of darkness. Don’t let Satan deceive you! He wants you to believe that a dent in the wall is no different than a hole; that a scratch is no different than a deep cut; that a bruise is the same as a broken bone.<\/p>\n

James makes it clear that, as we let sin progress and take hold in our hearts, it begins to expel light, suffocate joy, rob peace, and choke off grace. So, if you fell for the lure, even momentarily, you should immediately, and simply, begin again. <\/em><\/p>\n

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When I say, \u201cMy foot is slipping,\u201d your mercy, O LORD, sustains me. (Today’s Psalm)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

But the little-big-lie is, “Now that you’ve sinned, God is going to punish you anyway. You can always go to confession. So keep sinning…” But again, there is a difference between planting only one seed, and a field of seeds. We reap what we sow. And yet, if we are repentant, God does not treat us according to our sins; [1]<\/sup><\/a>cf. Ps. 103:10<\/span><\/span>