Avoidance of sin

We have been looking at the causes of sin.  Now let us see how we can avoid them.

Original sin – self-denial

We cannot avoid this disease within souls that we were born with, but we can weaken it by self-denial, as for example in Lent when we do without things we like.

Sinful thoughts – turn them out

As regards dealing with sinful thoughts which come into our souls, the important thing is to pounce on them at once and show them the door.  We cannot stop their coming in, but we can stop their staying if we act quickly.  A sinful thought or wish becomes wrong only if we turn it over in our minds instead of turning it out.  So, when such a temptation comes, we should without delay send an SOS to Heaven for help, saying the prayer, “Jesus, help me” and keep on saying it if necessary.  If we are alone we can also make the sign of the Cross and remind ourselves of what Jesus suffered to save us from our sins.  But we must be quick, otherwise the sinful thought may fill our minds so that we do not even want to pray.

Occasions of sin – avoid if possible

So too with the occasions of sin.  These we should keep clear of these, if possible, altogether.  Very often occasions of sin take the form of bad companions, boys and girls who do no one any good.  One should have as little to do with them as one can.  Jesus put this very vividly when he said, “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off…if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off…if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out…” (NRSV, Mark 9:43-47).  And he said that it is better for you to enter into (eternal) life maimed or lame or with one eye, rather than having your two hands or your two feet or your two eyes, and to be thrown into Hell.  Jesus is not speaking literally here – he is not saying that we should really harm ourselves physically.  But he is saying that we should be very careful to avoid the occasions of sin if we possibly can.