Thought for the Day – 14 February – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
Meditations on “The Great Truths”
From “The Devout Year”
By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
14th Day – The Sins of Individual Men
I will recount to Thee all my years,
in the bitterness of my soul.
(Ps xxxviii:15)
+1. When we look at the sin of Adam and see the consequences it entailed, what shall we say of the consequences which the sins of each one of us are likely to bring upon our heads?
Adam’s was a single sin, as opposed to our countless offences. He did not appreciate the results of sin as we do, he had not witnessed the misery which comes from it, as we do, he had not seen the flames of hell kindled by sin, as we do.
How much more grievous then, are the offences of each one of us!
+2. We must remember too, Adam’s sin was forgiven the very day it was committed and God, in His Mercy, sealed His forgiveness by the promise of the Redeemer.
Yet, see the consequences of forgiven sin! The long penance, the spread of moral corruption, the disease and death, the misery and sorrow, the banishment from the Face of God, all these still remained, although the guilt of sin was gone. What reason then, for me to tremble at the thought of all my past sins!
+3. I will glance over my past life and try to recall a few of my many offences.
What a career mine has been! What ingratitude to God! What selfishness, what uncharitableness to others, what meanness, what unfaithfulness to grace, what impurity, what low motives of action, what forgetfulness of God, what idle words, what waste of time, what continual following my own inclinations!
How can I hope to escape the just judgements of God?
Pray for shame and contrition at the sight of your sins!
AnaStpaul 