St. Mary's Church Elizabeth, IL

7/13

"It is not fair!"

Read: Ezekiel 18

A typical childish response to punishment is to say: "It is not fair!" Punishment is a result of misbehavior. The people of Judah believed they were punished unfairly for the sins of their ancestors, not their own. They thought this way because this was the teaching of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:5).

Ezekieł focuses on the relationship between repentance and responsibility. There is something frightening but yet something very necessary, for each one of us in this chapter. Each one of us is individually responsible to God for each of our actions. What happens in life is this: in the presence of our fellowmen we are incline to blame others for our wrongdoings or at least to share the blame with them (Genesis 3:8-13). When judged by God, we will stand alone, isolated from others. While it may be true that the bad example of our companions may play a part in our guilt, it is our will, our personal decision and not the bad example, that produces a sin. We may be children of saintly parents, and our companions through life may be exemplary Christians, but unless we willingly and knowingly act like them, we will not be saved. Each of us is fully responsible for our own actions and God will reward or punish each individual according to one's actions.

While it may seem to us disconcerting that the good and holy person can turn from God and commit sin, this very thought should make us vigilant and watchful over our thoughts, intentions and actions. Knowing our weakness and our tendency to do what is wrong should help us to look for help where it can be found - in the word of God, which tells us through the prophet that a sinner may turn from his wickedness. God holds no hostility against sinners, instead he sends his little "nudges" to help and encourage them to come back to him as the source of eternal life.

There is not, as there has never been, a man on earth who would not want to live on forever. We know and believe that it is possible because God, through his Son Jesus, told us so (John 14:2), and God awaits each one of us when we end our life on earth. But there is a catch: we are in need of God's friendship. As we do not know the moment when death will strike, our only guarantee of dying in God's friendship is that we live in a relationship with God. If we refuse to accept his word of help which he left us through Christ, it is not God who refuses to accept us, but we who reject him. While we are still on earth, the door of God's mercy is wide open. We are able not only to reverse our sinful decisions, but we have time to repair what we have destroyed and mend what we have broken. If through human weakness we stumble on the road, God is always there to lift us up again. We can blame ourselves for our fate. The person who acknowledges God, accepts the responsibility for actions.

If we truly recognize how helpful and beneficial is forgiveness, then we have to also accept the fact that there is responsibility. We are not absolved from remaining responsible.

Fr. Joachim