February 26, 2023

Jesus Christ: Yesterday, Today, and Forever ~

Lent has begun and I hope you’ve made a resolution or more, yet it’s not too late if you haven’t. My pastor’s column from last Sunday was chock-full of helpful ideas, check it out on our website if you are still without a resolution or two.

Amongst various things, Lent provides us with an opportunity to focus on spiritually and/or morally improving upon an area or more of our lives; not victory, that’s up to God, but progress through our effort and God’s grace. To this end I want to address the predominant fault that lies within each of us.

We all have a fault, a disposition to a vice or sin, that is greater than any other (pre-dominant). This fault represents our greatest barrier to communion with God, communion with others, peace and freedom.

It might be mental illness: depression, bi-polar, anti-social, paranoid delusional, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive, narcissism, etc.
It might be an addiction to say: screens (smart phone, internet, TV), pornography, chemicals (alcohol, drugs), gambling, etc.
Perhaps your predominant fault is a vice: cowardice, poor self-esteem, vanity, greed, gluttony, envy, anger, lust, laziness, critical spirit, lying, slander, impulsiveness, etc.
It might even be a personality trait that you need to be aware of and in certain situations conscientiously reign in.

We all have at least one thing that represents our greatest impediment to communion with God and others, working on it can lead to eternal peace and happiness. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to know what that is, and by God’s grace, make progress in overcoming it?

Identify your predominant fault and own it. So many people refuse to own up to their predominant fault. Around 80% of people with mental illness deny having it. I suspect the same can be said of people with addictions and vices. If it is an addiction, you probably already know about it, however, there might be something underneath that addiction that gave rise to it in the first place. Both need to be understood. If it’s mental illness, then it’s probably not going to go away, however, it can be greatly managed and it doesn’t have to come between you and God; surrendered to Our Lord, mental illness can actually be something that becomes sanctifying. If your predominant fault is a vice, own it, and identify practical steps to take to overcome it, and don’t give up!

It’s the effort that counts, in more ways than one. When we try to improve upon ourselves, when we try to become holier, we see reaching the destination as success. Our Lord sees the effort as success. For those who love and serve the Lord, He has a place waiting in heaven, that’s Our Lord’s idea of success.

All the crosses of our lives can be redemptive. This Lent, identify your predominant fault, and while working on it, offer it up to the Lord. Jesus so loves repentant sinners who never give up, for them He has a Resurrection in store.

May Almighty God Bless You,