Repeating the Same Old Sins

Do you have that one sin—or maybe those few, or even a lot of sins—that you just repeat and repeat? Bad habits like not going to Sunday Mass or gossiping? Addictions to alcohol, television, or pornography? As Catholics, we are privileged with the Sacrament of Reconciliation, in which a priest, acting in the person of Christ through ordination, absolves us from our sins. Yet, do you find that whenever you go to Confession, you are just repeating the same old sins?

I sure do.

But guess what? Repeating the same sins has been going on for a long time. It is a great fault and a part of our fallen nature.

The Book of Judges

I was reading the Book of Judges in the Old Testament because I wanted to write a historical fiction novel that takes place in ancient Israel. Truly, Judges is not the most enthralling book in the Bible, but I was excited to see an interesting pattern in the lives of the early Israelites.

When finally in the Promised Land, Israel showed a pattern of sinning against God, being punished for that sin, asked for forgiveness, were redeemed with the help of a judge, and Israel was forgiven. But then, the Israelites sinned again.

The most famous judge is probably Deborah. She was one of many leaders chosen by God to bring the Israelites back to the Lord after they sinned. So, whenever Israel sinned, Israel was punished. Israel then repented of her sin and called out to God for mercy and deliverance. God, as merciful as He is, then sent a judge to bring them back to the ways of the Lord so they could be in communion with God once again.

And then, Israel repeated her sins. Her sins were typically turning from God by idolatry. Once again, the Israelites were punished. Repeatedly, they cried out for help. Once again, they were redeemed and forgiven. Again! Sin, punishment, repentance, redemption, and forgiveness. And the cycle repeated over and over.

(Take a look at “The Bible Timeline: A Chronological Portrayal of Salvation History” by Jeff Cavins and Sarah Christmyer, to see how the Book of Judges fits into the Bible.)

We Are Like Israel

Do you see what I am seeing? The pattern of ancient Israel sounds a lot like our own pattern of sin. We sin and we see the consequences of our sins. For example, a student may get detention for misbehaving. Another example is hurting your relationship with your spouse by committing adultery (even if it is a hidden adultery of the heart). You can also look at any of the Ten Commandments and see that you worship television over God or that you lied (bear false witness), or that you “killed” someone’s reputation with gossip.

We, by the grace of God, recognize these sins and admit to our wrong-doing. We repent and go to Confession and are forgiven.

But it is this never-ending cycle of sin. We gossip again. We lie again. How do we get out of this spinning wheel that never ends?

We look to Jesus, who is the new judge, just as the Church is the New Israel. Jesus is a part of another circle; an eternally spinning wheel that never ends. That circle is the Trinity; a constant exchange of love. The Father loves us so much that He sends His Son, Jesus, to die for the redemption of our sins and bring us into communion with Him and His Church. This love that is ever-exchanging between the Father and the Son is the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit!

Sorry, Vs. Repentance

Of course, it is great that Jesus always forgives us when we go to Confession. But I am still stuck with those same sins. What else am I missing?

I learned something very interesting when on a retreat with the Missionaries of Charity. Before the retreatants went to Confession, the Novice Mistress explained to us how to make a good Confession. She explained it in a way I had never heard before.

Say you are walking in the grocery store and bump into someone. You say, “sorry.” It is polite and sincere. Yet, you do not say, “I repent for having bumped into you!” You do not feel deep sorrow for what you have done and therefore, do not feel like you must beg for mercy.

Oppositely, in Confession, the Novice Mistress explained that she does not just say “sorry.” After all, she could be sorry that her cookie fell on the dirty floor or sorry that she forgot the lyrics to a song at Mass. Those are things we do not confess as they are not willing violations of God’s law.

The Novice Mistress, however, repents of her sins. She feels deep sorrow and regret. For example, maybe she gossiped and realized that she had done so. She is not simply sorry she did it. She repents of having gossiped. She realizes the gravity of her sin; how she hurt her soul, hurt the souls of those she gossiped with, and damaged the reputation of whom she gossiped about. Realizing that gossip is an act against God, she repents! She even told us that during Confession, she says before each sin, “I repent of…”

Repentance is contrition. It is feeling sorrow for our sins. It is an awareness of our weakness and a realization that we have turned from God. It is a resolve to not sin again.

Divine Mercy

St. Faustina wrote pages and pages in her diary about Jesus’ Divine Mercy. She included three things that will help anyone “benefit from confession” and “is determined to strive for sanctity” (Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, Notebook I 113). The first is “complete sincerity and openness,” the second is humility, and the third is obedience, that is, obeying God and obeying Him by your confessor (Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, Notebook I 113).

To encourage you in your fight to sin no more, and to persevere in being humble in the confessional, remember that God’s mercy is endless. When you truly repent, Jesus forgives you. The blood and water that flows from His side washes you clean.

God is mercy and love. In a lecture, “Divine Mercy 101” with Father Chris Alar, MIC, Father Alar explains that Divine Mercy is as easy as the ABCs:

Ask for mercy

Be merciful.

Completely trust in His mercy.

(To learn more about Divine Mercy, try reading the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, Divine Mercy in My Soul or A Call to Trust by Catherine M. Lanni)

Remember to read the Bible! God’s mercy is manifested throughout the Old Testament and New Testament. Pay attention to the gospels, when Jesus says to you, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:2). “Child, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5). “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 9:48). “Go, [and] from now on do not sin anymore” (John 8:11).

Whenever you return to Jesus in Confession, He is ready to wash you clean once again. He will forgive you seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22). It is our duty, though, to repent and be sincere, open, humble, and obedient.