Why Do We Need a Savior?

The 2nd reading this past Sunday was taken from the book of Romans. Today, my aim is to delve deeper into this reading and offer some insights into what Paul intended to convey to us in the context of the 21st century.

Through one man sin entered the world,
and through sin, death,
and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned—
for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world,
though sin is not accounted when there is no law.
But death reigned from Adam to Moses,
even over those who did not sin
after the pattern of the trespass of Adam,
who is the type of the one who was to come.
But the gift is not like the transgression.
For if by the transgression of the one the many died,
how much more did the grace of God
and the gracious gift of the one-man Jesus Christ
overflow for the many.

What is Paul discussing? 
Paul is explaining the concept of original sin. Personally, I cannot comprehend how the transgressions of my ancestors have been passed down to me. That is something only God understands. We don't need to fully grasp the inner workings of what happened to us though Adam, the "one-man." All we need to do is look around us with an open mind and we will see the dysfunction around us.

Death permeates our surroundings, encompassing all aspects of existence and extending into the vastness of the cosmos. The perpetual decay of everything is an undeniable reality. It is a widely recognized fact that nothing endures eternally, except of course for God. Yet, it is intriguing to reflect on the original intention behind His design blueprint. From the very outset, every creation of God was constructed with the purpose of lasting forever. Sin transformed everything in ways beyond our wildest expectations. Its implications were far greater than we could have ever fathomed.

If we're honest, we must admit that there is something fundamentally wrong with humanity. Even without a degree in psychology or divine explanation, we can recognize this truth. Taking moments of silence and reflecting on our own thoughts often reveal a thought process that is not well ordered and organized.
Our minds seem to be a blur of chaotic energy, a zoo from which the animals have all escaped.

We are faced with the conclusion that we are flawed in many ways.

Without going into extensive historical details, let's take an honest look at the past century. Nearly 1 billion people died due to war, famine, genocide, and murder. Presently, we witness radicalization, anger, and closed-mindedness in the world. Whether it's water cooler gossip that sometimes includes slander, or death on the battlefield, we all experience the dysfunction of sin around us. This is precisely what Paul is addressing – we have a sin problem that we cannot resolve on our own. Hence, the need for a savior.

The life, teachings, and mission of Jesus are predicated upon the assumption that all is not well with us, that we stand in need of an entirely new vision. A whole new orientation.
The teachings of Jesus and the church do not make sense if we think everything is fine, and we need minor improvements only. Sin is not a struggle exclusive to others; it is a power that resides within all of us.
Bishop Barron

Acknowledging that we are sinners is the beginning of our journey with Christ, a bridge we all must cross. It is the start of our spiritual journey. 

This marks the beginning of our spiritual quest. It represents the second path towards attaining holiness, with the initial one being the discovery of Christ as our ultimate focal point, our center.

Christianity is not about polishing our image. It is not about becoming more ethical or virtuous. It is not a set of rules or principles. At its very root God creates something entirely new within those He calls. St Paul says we become new creations. This transformation is Christianity's miracle.

What did Paul mean by saying, "Sin was not accounted for when there is no law"? 
Paul explains that the law, specifically the Ten Commandments, awakens and activates our sinful nature. He states, "For I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. I would never have known that coveting was wrong if the law did not say, 'You must not covet.'" (Romans 7)

How can we define wrongdoing without a framework to measure it? 
The Commandments serve that purpose. They show us that we are trapped, enslaved, and in need of external help. Jesus is the source of that salvation. That’s why God gave us the commandments. Ultimately, they are impossible to follow consistently. God wants us to look heavenward for our answers. Thats the point! Your answers do not lie within yourself. They never have.

Even those who lived before Moses and the Law were not exempt from their sin. Paul states that death still reigned from Adam to Moses, the Law Giver. The sacrificial system initiated under Moses provided temporary atonement for sin until the time of Christ, who became the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. The Law demonstrates that we fall short of God's holy standard and will never measure up.

But where is our hope? Jesus is our hope. St. Paul expressed the struggle of sin when he said in Romans 7, "I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate." He recognizes that it is not him doing wrong, but sin dwelling within him. He acknowledges that nothing good resides in his sinful nature, and he longs for liberation from a life dominated by sin and death. The answer, thankfully, lies in Jesus Christ, our Lord. So, in Pauls mind, he desires to obey God's law, but his sinful nature keeps him enslaved to sin. This, brothers and sisters, is our plight and explains why we need Jesus Christ. Everyone of us is enslaved in some fashion.

What is Sin?
Bishop Barron answers that in this rather pithy way. 
When asked about his insights gained from hearing confessions over the years, a Pastor shared, "People are often much sadder and unfulfilled than they appear. There is a longing within them." We have a yearning for truth, but it comes to us in fragments. We desire goodness and rarely achieve it. We sense that we should be a certain way, but in reality, we fall short.” 
This internal struggle and spiritual frustration are what defines sin.

We long for truth, genuine joy, and goodness, but often we substitute them with inadequate substitutes and miss the mark completely. We can end up addicted to material possessions, fleeting emotions, or the constant approval of others. The list goes on and on. Our misguided attempts to find fulfillment or true goodness often lead us on lifetime journeys away from the one place where we can truly find satisfaction. This is what sin is. 

In his book named "The Strangest Way: Walking the Christian Path" Bishop Barron succinctly frames  the homilies of the Greek father Origen from the book of Exodus.
"Origen offers a unique perspective on the nature of sin and its effects on us. He explains that the Israelites symbolize the positive aspects of the soul such as creativity, intelligence, energy, and love. On the other hand, Pharaoh and his armies represent negative forces like fear, hatred, and violence. In our fallen state, sin has taken control and harnessed our positive energies for its own purposes. This is what Adams fall did.  Our minds, which still yearn for truth, are enslaved by falsehood. Our wills are coerced into serving evil, and our creativity is directed towards ugly ends. Just as Pharaoh compelled the Israelites to build fortifications and monuments to himself, our sinful souls construct barriers to protect our own pride, our own ego. This enslavement of our best qualities to our worst is what constitutes sin."

Think for a moment about some of the inventions, and creative ideas that seemed, at first glance, to benefit mankind and how they later became instruments that harmed rather than healed. Social media and the internet had so much promise for example but the downside probably outweighs the good. Nuclear technology was supposed to benefit us with cheap energy but instead it's used as a tool of war to harm rather than heal. 
The good we desire to do is hijacked thus echoing St Paul. “For I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate."

Augustine described sin as being caved in on oneself. Our souls are meant to be oriented towards nature, other humans, and ultimately, the cosmos and the infinite mystery of God.  We were meant to soar as eagles, however, instead of focusing outward, we fixate on our small and uninteresting egos. Like a black hole, our sinful nature draws in all the light and energy around it, trapping us in self-centeredness.

Does our sin negate God's love for us? 
Absolutely not. God does not evaluate us as we do to each other. However, God has called each of us to enter into a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus. We can only recognize our own sinfulness when contrasted with God's grace. God must begin the process in order for our salvation to occur. Although God has lofty expectations for us, the key point is that we are incapable of achieving them by ourselves. We require the assistance of God.
The Gospel message reminds us of our tremendous worth. Jesus tells us, "Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge. Even the hairs on your head are counted. So, do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." 
Paul might have been thinking of those words from the Gospel when he said this in his letter to the Romans. "Who can save me from this body of death? Only God through Jesus Christ Our Lord can save me!”

God reminds us all is not lost. There is help for our condition. Have you reached out to him?
Ask God to begin the process of salvation in your life. Cross that bridge and begin your journey today.