Though Our Lord brought fresh graces without
number, and privileges without end, which
made the path to Heaven easier to find, yet at the
same time those additional graces involved additional
responsibility for those on whom they were
bestowed. Under the light of the Gospel, with the
sight of Christ crucified before them, with all the
privileges of the Church, their venial sins were far
worse than those of the Jews and Pagans. Do I
ever remember all that Christ has done for me, and
think how it increases my guilt?
The punishment of sins committed by Christians
will be far heavier than that of those committed
by non-Christians. He that knew his Lord's
will and did it not, shall be beaten with many
stripes. The fire shall try every man's work, and
it will indeed be a searching, penetrating fire. Just
in proportion to the light and grace given will
be the punishment for refusing it. When I think
of the clear light and strong grace I have enjoyed,
what must I expect?
That which makes sin so grievous now, is
that it is not only an offense against God, but an
act of unkindness and ingratitude to Jesus Christ.
It basely returns Him evil for His love towards
us. God treated far more leniently those who lived
in days of ignorance when He had not revealed
Himself in His Son. Now, He calls on us all to do
penance in this life, else we shall have to do a terrible
penance hereafter. Pray for a conviction of the evil of sin, as an insult
to Him who died on the Cross to save us from
our sins.