No Fishing Allowed!


No Fishing Allowed!
So many times people speak of things that happened in the past. They are miserable because they are reliving a bad experience, over and over again. I'm speaking of sin, those difficult and challenging moments in life, which we failed to negotiate. Everyone has had these experiences, even Saints. We have all been challenged by temptation. Some has weathered the storm and through prayer and perhaps, previous experience, have overcome these temptations and gone on with their lives. But there are also, and elas, many, who could not overcome temptation. They were weak; they acted on their emotions rather than on firm resolve, and they sinned. Sin is a very deliberate action. A person who commits a sin does so with full knowledge and intent, know that he/she is doing wrong. Depending on the type of sin, that could easily be a mortal sin. Fortunately, Catholics have this beautiful Sacrament, called "Reconciliation." That Sacrament doesn't mean a "revolving door," that is to say - don't ask for foregiveness if you do not mean it or have the firm resolve to do better next time. However, human nature is weak, and so many times we really intend not to fall again, but we end up doing it anyway. As long as it is not on purpose. God understands that we are weak. Pray that He will help us be strong. What happens when we are forgiven? From Holy Scripture, we read in Micah 7:18-20, "Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance; Who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency, And will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt? You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins; You will show faithfulness to Jacob, and grace to Abraham, As you have sworn to our fathers from days of old." Once you have been forgiven, please don't go fishing! These sins are gone. Don't try to dredge them up again. Trust in Him, and know that He loves all of us. His friendship to us is so great that He has put our sins completely out of His mind. So we should just forget about them, entirely. Do not give Satan any reason to tempt you again ... that's what happens when we cannot rid ourselves of sins that have already been forgiven. Be strong and resolute and when tempted say NO to the temptation and sin no more! Thank You! May God bless you! Fred Schaeffer, SFO June 29, 2010 Return to Menu

So many times people speak of things that happened in the past. They are miserable because they are reliving a bad experience, over and over again. I'm speaking of sin, those difficult and challenging moments in life, which we failed to negotiate. Everyone has had these experiences, even Saints. We have all been challenged by temptation. Some has weathered the storm and through prayer and perhaps, previous experience, have overcome these temptations and gone on with their lives. But there are also, and elas, many, who could not overcome temptation. They were weak; they acted on their emotions rather than on firm resolve, and they sinned. Sin is a very deliberate action. A person who commits a sin does so with full knowledge and intent, know that he/she is doing wrong. Depending on the type of sin, that could easily be a mortal sin.

Fortunately, Catholics have this beautiful Sacrament, called "Reconciliation." That Sacrament doesn't mean a "revolving door," that is to say - don't ask for foregiveness if you do not mean it or have the firm resolve to do better next time. However, human nature is weak, and so many times we really intend not to fall again, but we end up doing it anyway. As long as it is not on purpose. God understands that we are weak. Pray that He will help us be strong.

What happens when we are forgiven? From Holy Scripture, we read in Micah 7:18-20, "Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance; Who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency, And will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt? You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins; You will show faithfulness to Jacob, and grace to Abraham, As you have sworn to our fathers from days of old."

Once you have been forgiven, please don't go fishing! These sins are gone. Don't try to dredge them up again. Trust in Him, and know that He loves all of us. His friendship to us is so great that He has put our sins completely out of His mind. So we should just forget about them, entirely. Do not give Satan any reason to tempt you again ... that's what happens when we cannot rid ourselves of sins that have already been forgiven. Be strong and resolute and when tempted say NO to the temptation and sin no more!

Thank You! May God bless you!

Fred Schaeffer, SFO
June 29, 2010

Return to Menu