Are We Too Focused on Sin?

I have been listening to Father Mike Schmidt’s Catechism in a Year podcast, and he is now discussing about the Ten Commandments.

I must admit that this podcast isn’t as easy for me as the Bible in a Year. Many times, my scrupulosity is triggered and I tend to focus too much on my sins rather than on God’s mercy.

While I can understand the necessity of discussing God’s Laws, I can’t help but be reminded also of my inability to meet them.

Not that I live a life of mortal sin, but even venial sins can feel very burdensome when I consider the holiness of God. Fr. Mike himself said that we can’t fulfill the law without God’s grace.

Perhaps this is what I desire to focus on more. God’s grace and mercy.

Whenever I focus on sin, it seems there always arises these various fears also.

Fear that I may not be doing God’s will enough. Fear that I may not repent in the end. Fear that could be doing something wrong instead of growing in holiness.

Fear seems to block my vision of God’s love. And God’s love is precisely what I need to empower me in fulfilling His will.

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.” - 1 John 4:18-19 (NABRE)

St. Therese of Lisieux couldn’t have said it better:

“It seems to me that if all creatures received the same favors God would be feared by no one, and loved even unto folly; no longer would any soul commit the least voluntary fault, refraining out of love, and not out of fear.”

Focusing on sin also causes me to focus only on myself instead of focusing on Christ. It makes me think only of punishments to come, of my unworthiness and of God’s exacting justice.

On the other hand, focusing on Jesus gives me a more balanced point of view. While I do not forget His justice, I also recall His unfailing mercy and compassion.

How can I look at the crucified Christ and not see His great love for me? How can I feel no love in return whenever I gaze at His pierced heart?

In our world today, sometimes I feel that we can also focus too much on sin rather than love

While we shouldn’t forget preaching the truth, we should also avoid the other extreme of focusing too much on sin.

We have plenty of discussions about abortion and same-sex marriage. But do we have as much discussions about God’s love and mercy?

We may fail to convince a person through our arguments, but perhaps we can influence someone by sharing with them the greatness of God’s compassion for us.

“Love builds a bridge over which truth can pass…” - Dan Burke

Instead of focusing too much on sin, maybe we should focus on the Divine Mercy of Jesus Christ.

Let each sinner draw near to Him who alone can remedy all our afflictions. Let no person ever despair, because in Jesus, even the worst sinner can find hope, healing and peace.

“[Let] the greatest sinners place their trust in My mercy. They have the right before others to trust in the abyss of My mercy. My daughter, write about My mercy towards tormented souls. Souls that make an appeal to My mercy delight Me. To such souls I grant even more graces than they ask. I cannot punish even the greatest sinner if he makes an appeal to My compassion, but on the contrary, I justify him in My unfathomable and inscrutable mercy.” - Jesus to St. Faustina (Divine Mercy In My Soul, 1146)

You may also want to read “Why Did St. Teresa of Avila Stop Praying?”

(Hint: it has something to do with being focused on sin.)