Morality Chp 4 Goodness vs. Sin

Goodness vs. Sin

Morality Chp 4 - Hear the Story

Poll

Which is stronger: good or evil?

• Good

• Evil

Opening Remarks

Each one of us, through free will and reason, can choose to turn away from God and choose evil over good. When choosing evil, our relationship with the divine becomes ruptured and damaged. Sin corrupts our innate nature and ‘injures human solidarity’ (Example: Gollum). But God’s mercy is never-ending. Like the father in the parable of the Prodigal Son, God awaits our return with compassion and forgiveness.

Multiple Choice

Review Check: Sin corrodes our character and undermines our ___.

• talents

• innocence

• integrity

• love

• potential

Multiple Choice

One more: Sin is a ___ to love God and to love others. It cuts us off from God, the source of life and the source of our very humanity.

• refusal

• choice

• opportunity

• goal

The Response (or Non-Response to Sin)

• Jesus Christ frees us from Original Sin and our own actual sins. By Baptism, we share in the redemptive act of Jesus’ death and Resurrection, are freed from Original Sin, and are strengthened against the power of sin and death.

• In other words, Jesus reveals God's response to sin, as well as what ours should be...

• Examples: Sermon on the Mount; Woman Caught in Adultery

Scripture Statements

• In his sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:1-5), Jesus warns about being judgmental. Jesus asks: ‘Why do you notice the speck in your neighbor’s eye when you do not see the log in your own eye?’ 

• In the account of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:2-11), Jesus challenges the onlookers, saying that those who have not sinned should throw the first stone. 

It Must Have Been Love

Jesus reestablishes right relationships with God. He reminds his listeners of the love and inherent goodness that lies at the heart of each one of us. Jesus calls people to a ‘change of heart’, to repent and return to God’s love. Jesus uses the imagery of the heart to show us that it is with the heart that we love; it is within the heart that the seeds of compassion and forgiveness are sown; it is with the heart that we forgive; it is in the heart that our desire for God ultimately resides.

Fill in the Blank

Think it Through: based on Jesus's call to forgiveness and love, we should adopt the following attitude: Jesus’ response to sin teaches us that while we are to ‘hate’ and reject the sin, we are to welcome and love the ____.

Love the Sinner!

We must condone and reject the sin itself, but we must follow the example of Jesus when dealing with the sinner if we hope to create a world where God's truth and love never fails and each day we get one step closer to right relationship with God.

Open Ended

Reflect: How capable are you of separating the sin from the sinner? Which sins would be the most challenging for you to keep separate?

Final Points

• God's Divine Law (Moral Law) = Truth

• All behavior is measured against this in our faith (sources of morality)

• We must face the reality of sin and not remain silent when we come face to face with evil and its consequences. Sign of respect and love when we try to help others follow the moral law of God, or call them out when they, or society, aren't.

• Ultimately: love the sinner, hate the sin!

Multiple Choice

Exit Questions (#1 of 3): Jesus reminds his listeners of the love and inherent ___ that lies at the heart of each one of us.

• joy

• love

• desire

• goodness

• evil

Multiple Choice

Exit Questions (#2 of 3) The ___ is the very core of who we are, of our humanity and our dignity. Also the place from which a response to the love of God emerges.

• mind

• natural law

• heart

• potential

• intention

Open Ended

Exit Questions (#3 of 3) In your own words, describe your understanding of the information today about truth and 'hating the sin, loving the sinner'.