Are You Holier Than a 5th Grader?

Hello Friends!

I got to speak to one of our fifth grade classes about sin this past Monday. It was fun seeing again how 10 and 11 year old minds work. I described sin as the New Testament defines it as “missing the mark”. Whenever we attempt or fail to attempt anything that does not reach its ideal target it is a sin, as St. Paul writes about sin. We can miss the mark by a little bit, as in telling a white lie, or in very serious ways, like taking someone’s life or intentionally trying to hurt someone with our words or actions.

What was entertaining to me about talking to the 5th graders about the topic were the questions afterwards. They had all sorts of “what ifs?” Like: “What if a “certain fifth grader” had a “certain little sister” who tried to push the “certain fifth grader” down the stairs. Would the “certain little 3 year old sister” be committing a sin?” Another example was: “If you were working in a haunted house and scared someone so much that they had a heart attack and died, would that be a sin?” Some of the kids were very serious and I could tell that there were behaviors that they or “someone that they knew” needed to be changed.

Jesus talks to us disciples about a needed change in attitude and behavior today also. In the Gospel from St. Matthew Jesus addresses the crowd on the mountain with His teaching about following the “law”. He says, “I have not come to abolish (the law), but fulfill (it).” Then he improves the commandments and Jewish teachings to say that even having the desire to steal, commit adultery, divorce, tell lies or slander, or wish harm upon another person is as sinful as actually following through with the sinful act. His standards for us disciples to follow are necessarily on a higher plane than others. Later He will say, “To whom much has been given, much will be required.” That statement is directed at us, since we have been given the very life, soul, Body, and Blood of Christ. We also have been given the promise of Eternal Life. With such wonderful gifts come huge responsibilities.

The good news is that we are also loved by the most perfect Forgiver that we can imagine. As imperfectly as we attempt to be good disciples and do as Christ teaches, we have a Loving Father Whom always welcomes and heals a contrite heart. This is not permission to sin though. It is an encouragement to try our best and then trust in the Lord.

paz,
Fr. Chuck