Some people ask us what is this sin.
First of all you must understand that it is not a sin as the others; that is, an act: stealing, killing, prostitution, adultery, corrupt, lying, etc.
It is a serious offense to God Himself in the Person of the Holy Spirit. In what way?
In §1864 the Church Catechism explains:
“Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.” There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by [not] repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss.“
Therefore, the sin against the Holy Spirit is the hardening of the heart. Not that God’s mercy is insufficient to soften this flinty heart, but it is one that does not open to welcome the forgiveness and mercy of God.This is the case of the sinner who does not repent of their sins, even being aware of them, knowing what is wrong and deliberately acting against the will of God.
The Gospels show us some cases of people who have hardened their heart to Jesus, even seeing his stupendous miracles but deliberately did not want to give him credit, and preferred to plot his death, for convenience and envy.
A striking case is what St. John tells us about the resurrection of Lazarus of Bethany. His raising was the proof of the divinity of Jesus; a miracle performed well near Jerusalem, and many Jews witnessed it.
Many of them believed in Jesus, as told John:
“Many of the Jews who had come to Martha and Mary and saw what Jesus did, believed in him.” (John 11.45)
But some Jewish authorities, instead of yielding to the evidence of the miracle, for convenience, to maintain their “status quo”, preferred to plot the death of the Lord. St John says:
“Some of them, however, were the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. The chief priests and the Pharisees called the council and said, What do we do? This man may multiply miracles. If we let him do so, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our city and the entire nation … and from that moment they decided to take his life. “ (Jn 11: 47s)
And most interesting is that the Jewish authorities also sought to take the life of Lazarus because he was the proof of the miracle of Jesus.
“A large crowd of Jews came to know that Jesus was there; and came, not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised. But the chief priests decided to take life too Lazarus, because many Jews, because of him, walked away and believed in Jesus “(Jn 12: 9-11).
This seems to me a typical case of hardening of the heart and sin against the Holy Spirit.
Another way of attacking the Holy Spirit is to despair of one’s own salvation, thinking that one’s sin is so great that God’s mercy no longer can forgive. It is the sin of despair. Any sin can be forgiven by God if the person truly repents.
A beautiful example is St. Peter; after denying the Master, sadly, three times, repented and wept bitterly, and believed in forgiveness and mercy of God. Judas instead despaired and went to kill himself. Both sinned seriously but one despaired and the other trusted in God’s forgiveness.
Our beautiful Catechism says:
“There is no offense, however serious, that the Church cannot forgive. “There is no one, however wicked and guilty, who may not confidently hope for forgiveness, provided his repentance is honest. Christ who died for all men desires that in his Church the gates of forgiveness should always be open to anyone who turns away from sin.“ (§982)
Therefore, no one can despair of their own salvation, even if you have sinned grievously and in many ways. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is always open to give us his mercy when we return to it repentant like the prodigal son.
Prof. Felipe Aquino
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