What if sin in this world is a lot greater than even those who love God are aware of? What if are own vision is too clouded by the world we were raised in to notice? What if we are way, way, off the mark without even fully realizing it due to the slow increase of both personal sin and the sins of society as a whole?
Personally, I believe this to be the case.
Most of us have heard the story of the frog and the pot of water. If the frog is placed into a pot of boiling water it will immediately jump out but if the frog is placed into a pot of cold water and the water is heated up slowly he will be unaware of the danger and never even try to escape. A simple analogy but perhaps the most fitting one for the situation we find ourselves in these days. We are becoming a world inured to sin. Inure means to habituate to something undesirable by prolonged subjection. An even better definition is: to harden somebody to something; to make somebody used to something unpleasant over a period of time, so that he or she is no longer bothered or upset by it.
Can you see this happening? Things that would have horrified our ancestors are "no big deal" today. People have been immersed in this pot of increasing sin for so long that they often do not even recognize the danger this puts them in spiritually. God, being cognizant of our ignorance, is pouring out his light as never before in hopes of setting our feet straight enough to take the leap out of this deadly pot. He also sends out "pot stirrers" so people will not sit comfortably in their sin but will be shaken out of their apathy a bit. One of these "pot stirrers" that comes to mind is Mother Angelica but there have been many over the years. "Pot stirrers" are those who speak the truth clearly, without the wishy-washiness and political correctness of our current age and we need to listen to them. These courageous souls that God continues to place in our midst are often thought to be fanatics and overly conservative but perhaps the problem really lies in the rest of us who have become apathetic and too accepting of compromise in an area where there should be no compromise. After all, what kind of legacy do we want to leave our children?
"Do not conform yourself to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect." Romans 12:2
More of us need to be pot stirrers. I tend to agree with you, Mary- things are worse than they seem. Desensitization is a subtle but powerful tool of Satan's.
ReplyDeleteThanks for getting the pot stirring started!
Karin,
ReplyDeleteI was wondering what someone like St. Therese would think and say if she could see our world today. I think her mouth would drop in horror. Of course, after she closed her mouth she'd get to work trying to wake us all up!
The thing is ... Christianity nowadays has become a fashion, a label, something to describe oneself when a description is needed rather than a way of life.
ReplyDeleteIn Christ's times and shortly afterwards His followers knew what "Christianity" is and was meant to be. They had heard Him speak and saw Him perform miracles, so they knew precisely what is right and what is wrong in the eyes of God.
Today, many can't tell the difference between right or wrong. So they can't see sin per se or understand it.
God bless,
What a pondering post. Hmmmmmmm....... good points there. Yeah, a lot of stuff today would shock those in earlier times. Wow! The lack of respect especially! Blessings.
ReplyDeleteShe always said she would spend her heaven doing good on earth; I believe she is doing that in getting more of us to do the waking up.I also think she is shaking her head saying "If they only knew..."
ReplyDeleteYou may be right Mary. I recently read something by Max Lucado about guarding our thoughts. Sin starts with a thought...as Christians we need to guard our thoughts. Do we guard our thoughts or let them walk right through? Sin starts with a thought. This is a thought provoking post - in a good way! :-)
ReplyDeleteHi JBR! Yes, the lack of respect is a big problem in our society. I sometimes think people forget that when we treat others poorly it not only reflects on ourselves but it hurts Jesus who loves us all so much. How can we not respect others who were also created in the image and likeness of God?
ReplyDeleteVictor,
ReplyDeleteYou make some good points here. I agree that some people call themselves Christians but do not live in a manner that reflects Christ. Many do not understand that Christianity is not a coat you wear that can be removed at will, but a way of life that calls for deep transformation.
Karin,
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt that the Little Flower is working hard to wake us up. We are blessed to have this great saint helping us!
Mary,
ReplyDeleteMy thought life is something I'm always working on! Guarding our thoughts is very important. Temptation starts with a thought so this is a good thing to work on. Perhaps I'll never catch all thoughts "captive in Christ" here on earth but it doesn't stop me from trying :)
Mary and Victor,
ReplyDeleteChristianity is indeed not a label or a coat but a way of life and God *is* trying to wake us up. Every day I am shocked by new, almost incomprehensible evils committed all over the world. I wonder to myself, how can people even think up this awful stuff? Certainly in our country we are committing terrible sins of all kinds.
While I know I have an obligation to focus on God and keep my own soul in order, the awareness of all this evil inspires me to want to offer up even more to God so that His light, as you mentioned, Mary, will shine on all.
The condition of today's world requires God's power to remedy and if each of us calmly and charitably speaks the truth, blogs the truth - which is not our truth but God's truth - we can help others we touch.
Good parents today can exert a great influence on raising saints. I have hope in the many good parents today who are working hard to raise their kids with a firm sense of right and wrong. And thank God for the saints in heaven, too. And Pope Benedict who is doing such a great job confronting the evil in this world.
So keep up the good work, Mary. Each of us in our own way is good leaven as long as we cling to Christ.
Barb,
ReplyDeleteI have thought up some awful stuff in my life but even I am shocked by what's going on today. And the stuff I thought was so awful is considered fine now! I guess I should be thankful that my imagination had limits. Thanks for your thoughts on the condition of the world today and a parent's obligation to their children. These are very wise words!
I often feel this way, and I think it has a lot to do with why Jesus has showered the 20th (and now 21st) centuries with mercy and opportunities to turn to Him. St. Faustina, Padre Pio, Mother Teresa, JPII, "Papa Ben", the events at Fatima, Garabandal, Kibeho, and especially Medjugorje. I think God looks at us, so incredibly ignorant of the moral depravity we live in, and just wants us all to come home to Him. The sin of this and the last century has been maybe unparalleled, but God's grace has been made that much more manifest. He is a truly merciful God!
ReplyDeleteMaria,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. Yes, God is truly opening the floodgates of his Mercy upon us. This is what gives me great hope for this generation! We definitely have been blessed with some great saints lately :)
This is a really good post. I think a lot of us bloggers are (or could be)pot stirrers.
ReplyDeleteYour frog analogy was right on. We become so immune to sin (think immoral advertising and TV shows) that we don't even realize the devil has our soul.
Mary this is a great description. I pray that I will not behave like a frog and remain in sin, but that I will have the courage to jump out and to bring others with me into the world of holiness.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love your poem in the sidebar! Beautiful!
Barb is right. Parents should teach their children right from wrong. From what I see around me some parents don't know right from wrong.
ReplyDeleteExamples: It is alright to pilfer from a supermarket because they're big and they can afford it.
It's OK to over-inflate insurance claims since we already pay too much in insurance premiums.
It is OK to swear and give hand signals to other drivers when you have your kids in the back of the car.
Come to think of it ... whenever I drive slowly I'm usually overtaken by the car behind me and then they gesture with their hand that I am Number 1. Some people do appreciate my careful driving!
God bless.
PM,
ReplyDeleteWe should be pot stirrers, shouldn't we? I feel especially bad for young people who are growing up in our secular society. It isn't exactly nourishing to the spirit.
Anne,
ReplyDeleteHave no doubt that you are bringing others with you into the world of holiness. This is very clear to me.
Thank you for your kind comment on my poem. Sometimes I am embarrassed to put them up but I love the Lord dearly and want to share this love so I do it anyway :)
Victor,
ReplyDeleteYou are too funny! Your number one remark cracked me up! God certainly blessed you with a wonderful sense of humor. The funny thing is my careful driving is well appreciated, too, as I often receive the same signal! How wonderful that folks think so highly of us ;)
Mary, are you familiar with Holy Experience? Her post today reminded me of this one, right near the end...
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! What a BEAUTIFUL post! I got shivers reading it! Thanks for pointing it out to me. Perhaps this is why human hearts seem so full of sorrow these days. We were never meant to walk in the middle but to embrace life fully.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm not the only one thinking of the frog analogy these days.
I think that what you say in your post is the case. Without a doubt. The world we live in is so good at desensitizing us to evil. I find that so frightening because apathy and indifference are terrifying prospects. I see this in my own life too, after only six years of living in Norway (where Catholicism is rare and Christianity in general very politically correct) I am having to remind myself of things I know are wrong...I feel like my vision is clouded, like I know something is wrong but why again? That sort of feeling...
ReplyDeleteI wonder how to raise Godly children in today's world? It feels so discouraging...