We would be wise to take ourselves out of the equation; this idea speaks to the heart of paradox. Considering there is no greater worldly aspiration than to live and love in the presence of the Lord, then why take ourselves out of the equation? Sounds counter intuitive not to be part of the greatest aspiration. For me, this calls to mind some common clichés, as well as the most profound teachings. At the center of Christianity is Christ Jesus praying, pleading, sorrowfully crying and joyfully praising that His will, be put aside, and the will of God His Father be done. Simply put, don’t stand in your own light, get out of the way and let the Light shine through. Although simply put, not so simply accomplished, certainly never completed. However, the first step seems to be, to see yourself as God sees you. Leave your baggage behind, walk away from the tracks which can only take you as far as they go. Take what you know and make it what you believe. If I’m not judging myself, it would never occur to me to judge others.
Is Sin
Is sin about using our intelligence in ways that distort the Truth, or is it about not using our intelligence to form our conscience? I am suggesting we drop Truth from the conversation and focus on a more manageable process of prayer, discernment and contemplation. Self-improvement has become an art form. From physical training, to yoga, to therapy or prosperity consciousness, it’s all about making our free choices with targeted results centered on individuals and what’s best for them. By its very definition, Christian morality is about the horizonal relationship we have with others based on the vertical relationship we have with Christ Jesus. Once again, the psychological aspect of freedom has collided with the spiritual facet of liberty. Freedom being the choices made in circumstances, times, places and events to fulfill expectations, and liberty being in complete control of everything we say and do. Once the confusion and conflict have been resolved by surrendering the ego to Christ for His will, purpose and fulfillment, sin cannot enter. If it does, then the psychological process begins. We recognize, experience and release the thoughts which are not consistent with Christ Jesus and we choose liberty over freedom.
In Christian Faith
In Christian faith, sin is more than an opportunity to talk about grace and conversion, it is an opportunity to experience both. As always, there is the distinction between the spiritual and the psychological. The first leading to a deeper and more finely tune sense of trust, love, obedience, relationship, the covenant relationship between our Maker and His creatures. The latter leading to clarity, understanding and peace of mind. I am not suggesting we seek sin, any more than I would suggest we seek suffering. However, considering sin, suffering and injury are commonplace occurrences in this ego driven world; I am suggesting we neither embrace or resist them, we stand firm and not be harmed by them. Just as wise persons seek out problems because they need their gifts, we experience and release our sinfulness, suffering and injury because we need the strength and courage gained by grace and conversion
Worthiness Continues
So, there you have it. Worthy is a psychological term, not a spiritual one. Look for worthy in the subject index of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, you won’t find it. Try the Modern Catholic Dictionary, not listed there. Worthy is a nomenclature we apply to ourselves in our self-imposed construct which describes who we are as we see ourselves. From my point of view, worthy doesn’t belong in the spiritual discussion, it’s too subjective and doesn’t broadcast well into His realm of the divine. Ask yourself, what has been forgotten and what has been lost? Would Christ Jesus have died for us on the cross if we weren’t worthy of His Grace, Mercy and Love? Did He stop and count our sins to see if we measured up? Did He ask us what we thought? See what I mean, it’s never about us, it’s always about Him.
I offer you this, worthiness was written to an audience in need of a sum zero equation in ancient times as the Church moved in the development of doctrine, and as the laity moved in its development of understanding. Go to Job, the message is clear, karma doesn’t belong in the Teachings; it’s not about what you did, it’s about what He did for us. Worthiness appears numerous times in the march forward, as each generation struggles with its own conversion. In times of indulgences when sin becomes quantified or in the present era, as people fall away from the Church in a reversal of the paradigm believing the Church is not worthy. The message has been clear from the beginning; it’s not about our personal relationship with Jesus, it’s about us in our covenant relationship with Him, Creator and the created. I see paradox in play, one realm of infinite existence, the other in a finite world of being. Both using language to try and capture what is outside the parameters of language. Consider this, Jesus teaches the second greatest commandment, so the world would not fall into fundamentalism, He said, love your neighbor as you love yourself. The conclusion is this: God is approachable but unattainable, loving your neighbor is both approachable and attainable. Jesus came into the world to set it on fire, to flip the world head over heels, He came to hope the ones who need the most help.