Coco Calling No.187: A Parrot’s Guide to Sinfulness

You rarely come across a parrot with a perfect halo above its head. The problem is that we’re often too mischievous to qualify for one, and then if a halo does appear, we can’t resist the urge to chew it up. I guess it’s much the same for humans. And I’ve noticed that when human ladies go to church or to the races at Ascot, they sometimes put an artificial halo on their heads, but anyone can see it’s not the real thing!

https://csecsebecse.blog.hu/2009/06/19/ascot_ascot_es_meg_egy_kis_ascot

The trouble is that we all sin to varying degrees. Today, we might look East towards the Kremlin and decide that some are bigger sinners than others, but the fact remains that sinfulness forms a part of our make-up, and it’s something that we all need to be honest about.

Do you know, there are even some humans that commit a bad sin and then joke about it in public. And I don’t think they do it out of a sense of guilt. It just goes to show how strange humans are! Let me give you an example. There was once an American who lived in a big white house. Even though he had a mate, he decided to have an affair with another one called Monica Lewinsky. It all caused a massive cacophony, and later on, a survey ranked his affair as being the 53rd most significant story of the 20th century. And do you know what this fellow (called Bill) said afterwards? It’s true; he said:

“

Gee. So what’s a man got to do to get into the top fifty?” (Bill Clinton: 1946 – present: Former U.S. President).

I know that none of us will ever be perfect like Jesus, and we must always do our best to follow His example. But what if some degree of temptation and sinfulness are really about developing and shaping us so that over a period of time, we evolve into better, more understanding and more compassionate creatures than we might otherwise have been? Is some degree of sin a necessary part for our preparation for Heaven? After all, St. Anthony the Great once said:

“Without temptation no one can be saved.” (St. Anthony the Great: 251-356: Christian monk from Egypt revered after his death as a Saint and often described as the ‘Father of Monasticism’”).

The thing is this. When we find ourselves drawn towards temptation and sin, if we are genuine and honest at the core, certain questions should pop into our minds. “

Who am I?” “What’s important to me?” “What do I believe and value?” “Where am I headed?” “How is my relationship with God?” “If God matters to me, would He approve of what I am currently thinking or the choice I’m about to make?”

Just as a young chick or a child has to learn not to touch stinging nettles or to run into the road without looking, or to wander off with a stranger, so we all have to learn which of our choices are spiritually good for us, and which can harm or disfigure us.

We’ll all make bad choices in life and fall into the trap of sin. And God understands this and won’t condemn us for it. But having done the wrong thing, the question is what we choose to do about it? Do our mistakes shape and mould us into becoming better beings, or do we simply slip deeper into the mire of sin? And that’s the big question we all have to ask ourselves on a daily basis…

“Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?... “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”…“At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time…”

(John 8: 4b-9a).

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.”

(Luke 6:37).

“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him: “Aren’t You the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God? … We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” … Jesus answered him: “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

(Luke 23: 39-43).

#sinfulness #temptation #sin