We all commit mistakes

THIS, of course, is no breaking news. We all commit mistakes. Usually, they are just small and unintentional ones, given our weaknesses and limitations. But from time to time, we can find ourselves with big ones, even blunders and disasters that could have been avoided but were not.

Oftentimes, we wonder why these things happen, in spite of our good intentions and some effort to match those intentions. Why do we fall? Well, the “mystery of iniquity” or the “power of lawlessness” spoken of by St. Paul (cfr. 2 Thes 2, 7) continues to hound us.

Besides, as St. Paul said, “The Law came to increase and expand the awareness of the trespass by defining and unmasking sin.” (Rom 5, 20) In other words, we become more sensitive and prone to sin because of the Law God has given us. While before, we were not aware of our sin, now with the Law we get to know more of our mistakes and sins.

Just the same, whether big or small, it’s not the end of the world. There is always hope for recovery as long as we are humble enough to acknowledge them and be sorry for them. What is more, we can take advantage of them to learn some precious lessons. God is so merciful he will give us endless second chances.

God always manages to insert these lessons. In his divine economy, in his providence, nothing is wasted even if we mess up things. We just have to be quick to realize this truth of our faith that is truly helpful, and would save us from unnecessary worries.

Thus, we should not get too emotional when we happen to fall, letting ourselves to drown in our guilt feelings. Let us remind ourselves always that God at least allowed us to fall. Nothing happens without at least God allowing it to happen. And if he allows it, it is because there is a greater good that can be derived from. As they say, God can write straight with crooked lines.

We should just try to go along with God’s ways, no matter how mysterious they are. We should never doubt the goodness, love and all-powerful mercy of God. He is a father who will always understand us, especially when we do not understand him. As the gospel of St. John would put it: “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (3, 17)

This very reassuring and comforting truth of our faith is reinforced many times in Scripture. “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?” (Ez 18, 23) And St. Paul: “Where sin abounded, grace did about more exceedingly.” (Rom 5, 20)

As said earlier, we just have to take advantage of our mistakes and sins to learn the lessons God wants us to learn. They are usually small, but sometimes they can be big, life-changing ones.

They may just be reminders of taking things easy instead of over-reacting, just laughing at our mistakes, instead of feeling bad or cursing. Or they may present to us the chance for a major conversion, a drastic change of lifestyle.

We have to learn how to properly react to our mistakes and sins. We should be quick to say sorry, at least to God, if we would not have the chance to do it to persons concerned, for one reason or another.

Let’s remember that of all the words that God finds most pleasing, it is when we say, “Lord, sorry! I failed again.” Remember Christ saying: “There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents that over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Lk 15, 7)

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Fr. Roy Cimagala is the Chaplain of the Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise, Talamban, Cebu City (roycimagala@gmail.com/PN)