We all know many of the BIG sins of the Bible, and much time is spent talking about them, dealing with them, repenting of them, or for some, continuing to relish committing them. The sins listed in the Ten Commandments (Do not: bear false witness, murder, steal, covet, blaspheme, and so on), the sins of greed, avarice, sexual immorality, hatred, gossip. But there is, my friends, another classification of sins.
"If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them." James 4:17
The sins of omission. Where we know we ought to do something, yet we choose not to do so. The beggar on the street, whom we choose not to help. The lonely elderly person on our block, who we do not visit. The friend who is heartbroken, yet we don't check upon them. We do these things claiming we're "too busy" or "I don't have the time right now"...."I don't have extra money on me, maybe another time, I have to go get my latte first." Other sins of omission include watching someone being bullied, yet not sticking up for them, or at the least, going to them afterward to let them know they are not allowed. To watch someone spew hatred in the name of Christ, and not seek to rectify it.
In our tradition's confession, we ask forgiveness for the following-"that we have sinned by our own fault
in thought, word, and deed;
by what we have done, and by what we have left undone."
What have you left undone this day? Where could you have been kinder to the needy? Where could you have been just in a world of injustice? Who did you stand for when they were at their weakest?
Maybe now is a good time to repent and seek the Lord's mercy. To ask Him anew to guide you through the day and night, to strengthen your conscience, and to help you avoid not only the sins of thought, word and deed, but the sins caused by what we have left undone.
"Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen."
God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler
"If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them." James 4:17
The sins of omission. Where we know we ought to do something, yet we choose not to do so. The beggar on the street, whom we choose not to help. The lonely elderly person on our block, who we do not visit. The friend who is heartbroken, yet we don't check upon them. We do these things claiming we're "too busy" or "I don't have the time right now"...."I don't have extra money on me, maybe another time, I have to go get my latte first." Other sins of omission include watching someone being bullied, yet not sticking up for them, or at the least, going to them afterward to let them know they are not allowed. To watch someone spew hatred in the name of Christ, and not seek to rectify it.
In our tradition's confession, we ask forgiveness for the following-"that we have sinned by our own fault
in thought, word, and deed;
by what we have done, and by what we have left undone."
What have you left undone this day? Where could you have been kinder to the needy? Where could you have been just in a world of injustice? Who did you stand for when they were at their weakest?
Maybe now is a good time to repent and seek the Lord's mercy. To ask Him anew to guide you through the day and night, to strengthen your conscience, and to help you avoid not only the sins of thought, word and deed, but the sins caused by what we have left undone.
"Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen."
God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler
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