All Have Sinned

   “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” (Luke 18: 13)

   How easy it is to see the sins of others while ignoring our own.  Why is it that we can readily see the splinter in our neighbor’s eye but ignore the log in our own?  We are appalled at the angry outburst of one whom we have hurt by our own insensitivity but see no fault in ourselves for causing the hurt.

   We are all sinners, but somehow our own sins seem less obvious or destructive than those of others.  We are willing to condemn the liar while forgetting the times we have “stretched” the truth in the things we’ve said.  Sometimes it almost seems as though we look for sinfulness in others, almost hoping to find it.  Do we perhaps see another’s sins as lessening our responsibility and fault for our own?  After all, if everyone does it, how bad can it be?

   As we look around it is not difficult to find sin in others in which to be offended.  At some point we need to look in the mirror and see the sinner who looks back at us.  There is every likelihood that the very sins that offend us the most are some we have committed ourselves.

   We are too often upset and offended by the sins of others while never considering that our sins are perhaps upsetting and offensive as well.  Thankfully, God forgives our sins.  Our challenge is to recognize that God also forgives all those who repent of their sins.  Even more of a struggle is to love those who sin against us and leave judgement to the Lord.

Father, no one is without sin.

 You forgive all who are sorrowful for their sins.

May I forgive those who sin against me.

May I recognize my own sin and repent.

Amen

“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”  (John 8: 7)