The New Saint Joseph Baltimore
Lesson 6
Actual Sin
Herod drove Jesus out of his life by sin.
We read in the Holy Bible:
Matthew Chapter 2
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem
saying, "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage."
When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem
King Herod asked the Magi to return to him. But God warned the Magi not to return to Herod. God told Joseph to take Jesus and His Mother into Egypt
When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem
Explanation
Sin offends God
Here we have a terrible example of what sin is. The sin Herod committed was a big sin, a mortal sin. And every mortal sin is something like the sin of Herod. Every mortal sin drives Our Lord out of the life of the one who commits it.
Little sins grow into big sins
But this was not the first mortal sin Herod committed. All his life Herod did not want anyone to be over him or to tell him what to do, not even God. So he committed little sins when he was small and big sins when he was big.
How our sins can grow
Let us remember what Jesus has said: “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in a very little thing is unjust also in much” (Luke 16, 10). Those who commit venial sins on purpose when they are young and do not try to do better will commit big sins when they grow up. They will drive Jesus out of their life the way Herod did.
Practice
Look at a crucifix each day and think how much Jesus suffered for our sins.
CATECHISM
32. Is original sin the only kind of sin?
Original sin is not the only kind of sin; there is another kind, called actual sin, which we ourselves commit.
We did not commit original sin, but we do commit actual sin.
33. What is actual sin?
Actual sin is any willful thought, desire, word, action, or omission forbidden by the law of God.
34. How many kinds of actual sin are there?
There are two kinds of actual sin: mortal sin and venial sin.
A. Mortal Sin
35. What is mortal sin?
Mortal sin is a grievous offense against the law of God.
36. Why is this sin called mortal?
This sin is called mortal because it takes away the life of the soul.
A serious, or mortal, sin drives Our Lord out of the life of the one who commits it.
Little boys and girls are not usually in danger of committing mortal sins. But they can commit little sins. And if they commit venial sins on purpose when they are small and do not try to avoid them, they will commit big sins when they grow up.
37. What three things are necessary t make a sin mortal?
To make a sin mortal these three things are necessary:
first, the thought, desire, word, action or omission must be seriously wrong or
considered seriously wrong;
second, the sinner must know it is seriously wrong;
third, the sinner must fully consent to it.
B. Venial Sin
38. What is venial sin?
Venial sin is a less serious offense against the law of God.
Some venial sins are deliberate. This means they are committed on purpose.
These displease Our Lord. Some venial sins are not fully deliberate. They are committed through fear or without thinking. If we are sorry afterwards and do our best to improve, Our Lord is pleased.
For example: Suppose a boy says “no” to his mother without thinking when she asks him to help with the dishes in the middle of his favorite TV show. But afterward he thinks of how Our Lord said “Yes” to His Father, even when His Father asked Him to die on the Cross for us. If that boy is sorry for saying “no” and is willing to say “yes” to his mother the next time, no matter how good the program is, then Our Lord is pleased.
39. How can a sin be venial?
A sin can be venial in two ways:
first, when the evil done is not seriously wrong;
second, when the evil done is seriously wrong, but the sinner sincerely
believes it is only slightly wrong, or does not give full consent to it.
Discussion Questions
1. Why did Herod want to kill Jesus?
2. What does mortal sin do the soul?
3. If we commit venial sin without thinking or through carelessness, is God
displeased? Explain.
4. Why should we avoid committing venial sin on purpose?
5. What helps us not to commit sin on purpose?
Yes or No
1. Was King Herod a good king?
2. Are there two kinds of actual sin?
3. Is mortal sin a bad sin?
4. Do we commit actual sin?
5. Is venial sin a serious sin against God’s laws?
Fill in the Blanks
1. The sin we ourselves commit is called ..................... sin.
2. The sin we are born with is called ……………..…… sin.
3. A small sin is called a …………… sin.
4. The sin that Herod committed was a ………………. Sin.
5. Mortal sin is a ………….. offense against God.
Other Readings
1. Sin makes the sinner want to hide, John 3, 16-21.
2. Sin makes the sinner a slave, John 8, 31-36.
3. Sin makes Jesus sad, Luke 13, 34-35, and 19, 29-48.
Class Liturgical Action
Say the Confiteor together and learn it by heart.
Confiteor (I Confess)
I confess to almighty God, I confess to almighty God,
to blessed Mary ever Virgin, and to you my brothers and sisters,
to blessed Michael the Archangel ,
to blessed John the Baptist,
to the holy apostles Peter and Paul,
and to all the saints
that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, that I have sinned through my own fault,
word, and deed, through my fault, in my thoughts and in my words, in what
through my fault, through my most grievous fault. I have done and what I have failed to do.
Therefore, I beseech blessed Mary ever Virgin, I ask blessed Mary ever Virgin,
blessed Michael the Archangel ,
blessed John the Baptist,
the holy apostles Peter and Paul, all the angels and saints,
and all the saints, and you my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God. to pray for me to the Lord our God.
Amen. Amen.
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