Confessing our sins over and over again while not seeming to make any progress can be very discouraging. However, this unsparing recognition of our sins is an indispensable means to ensuring that even though we aren’t making great progress, we are at least not getting worse. It is inadvertence to our sins—especially the less serious—that can gradually desensitize us to evil and thus make us more prone to slip into more serious sins. David offers a good example of this spiritually treacherous slope. Initially, his glimpse of Bathsheba bathing stirred natural desires which, had they been promptly dealt with, would have progressed no further. Instead, he apparently makes no effort to expel these thoughts or curb his desires, but proceeds to act on them. The consequent sin then leads, initially, to subterfuge, lies, and finally to the great sin of murder. Regular confession and developing the practice of a daily examination of conscience are two well-tried and well-proven means to avoid making similar mistakes. The saints are living examples of those who have faithfully employed these means to sanctity; let us strive to imitate them.
Leave a Reply