The unforgivable sin

Reflection

Jesus came into our world with a sweeping message of forgiveness.  A woman caught in adultery is freed from a sentence of death.  Peter is told to forgive not just seven times but seventy times seven.  And then as Jesus hung dying on the cross, he asked his Father to forgive his enemies.  Given these strong statements of forgiveness, how could Christ ever mention an unforgivable sin?  

I think that Christ is speaking out of a deep sense of frustration.  He can’t understand why people won’t accept the Good News of salvation and God’s overpowering love.

Still, he speaks of this serious sin of rejecting God’s love.  May we continually try to surrender to God’s Good News.

Scripture

Mark
Chapter: 3


²²Some teachers of the Law of Moses came from Jerusalem and said, "This man is under the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons! He is even forcing out demons with the help of Beelzebul." 
²³Jesus told the people to gather around him. Then he spoke to them in riddles and said:

How can Satan force himself out?   ²⁴A nation whose people fight each other won't last very long.   ²⁵And a family that fights won't last long either.   ²⁶So if Satan fights against himself, that will be the end of him.
²⁷How can anyone break into the house of a strong man and steal his things, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can take everything.
²⁸I promise you that any of the sinful things you say or do can be forgiven, no matter how terrible those things are.   ²⁹But if you speak against the Holy Spirit, you can never be forgiven. That sin will be held against you forever.

  ³⁰Jesus said this because the people were saying that he had an evil spirit in him.

Prayer

Lord, of all the things you ask of my, accepting your love is probably the most difficult.  I know who I am.  I know my sins and failings.  I feel so unworthy of your love.  Help me to surrender to your love.  Don’t let me be a fool. Let be believe that you love me, forgive me and want to be with me forever in heaven.  Amen