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Holy Cross Abbey

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Friday of the 4th Week

February 4, 2022 by Fr Joseph

Sin can, at times, seem so personal and private that we can perhaps presume that it is only offending God and not affecting others. King Herod’s sins (and those of his family) remind us that this is really never true—our sin always negatively impacts our fellow human beings. Herod’s moral weakness, lack of inner discipline, and his considerations of political expediency lead him, firstly, to make a foolish promise to Herodias’ daughter, and then compel him to make good on this promise by executing John the Baptist. In this he also implicates his executioner in an unjust and immoral execution. Herodias, for her part, driven by the deep grudge she bore John, disregards the potential effects of her sin on her vulnerable young daughter and heartlessly involves her in the call for the innocent John’s death. Thus, while greater and more serious sins more obviously impact the lives and welfare of others, lesser sins (and even imperfections) are not without negative effect—given our profound union within the Mystical Body of Christ. Good motivation, therefore, to persevere in ongoing conversion that will not only gradually lessen the negative impact our sinfulness on one another, but also augment the healing and redeeming grace that holiness imparts to one’s brothers and sisters.

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