Forward persistently !
There are people, who look very naively at confession. They think, that it is enough to say sins, beat your breast and at most say a prayer, so that everything is alright. And then they are surprised, that they have sinned again, that it was good for a short time. And they get discouraged, because it's not worth confessing, since there is no improvement.
Who owes it : confession or this, who confesses ?
A constant threat from within
Confession, even the best, doesn't do everything. It does remove sins, but the roots of evil remain in man : sinful inclinations. St.. lists the three most important tendencies : the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life (by. 1 J 2, 16). But there are practically many more. Well it is ? - These are some mysterious flaws in our nature, which make, that man may lose measure in satisfying his needs and desires.
Here are e.g.. we feel the need for nutrition, rest, and our sex drive comes into play. They are gifts from God, given to every human being. But as a result of contamination, man can misuse them against their natural purpose. This is how drunkenness arises, laziness, impurity.
We want to own some property, own something and that's good, but "the lust of the eyes" can turn that desire into greed and greed, and even lead to dishonesty and harm. We want to mean something, have recognition and respect, but even this uncontrolled inclination soon turns into an exuberant ambition, otherwise known as pride, often combined with a lie, or in bragging and self-conceit.
We have more similar inclinations. We carry them within us as the germs of evil, Which can turn any of our best desires into sinful temptation. And here is the reason, why some people go back to their old sins so quickly. They don't know themselves, they don't control, they do not try to weaken this influence, influenced by our actions, contaminated by original sin, human nature.
Therefore, be vigilant, if you want to persevere in goodness after confession as long as possible. Reflect on yourself, which is the most difficult for you to fight. It is good to do this often, and even every day, make a brief summary of your thoughts, desires and deeds. You'll notice soon, which is the most common thing, what defect grows in you. Sometimes the custom of writing diaries helps in this work, but such, in which we write down our most secret thoughts, desires, resolutions, successes and failures. Sometimes your attention can help you too, how you will hear about yourself from others. They know us better than we know ourselves. Conversation with a friend, trusted educator, father or mother, especially asking the confessor, these are great opportunities to get to know yourself, your weaknesses and sinful inclinations. Use them often and willingly, and you will see, how much light they will bring to your soul.
The known enemy is always less dangerous. Therefore, do everything, that you may know your nature well and its evil inclinations. Only then can evil be remedied.
Every sin makes you stronger and strengthens your sinful tendency. The sacrament of penance weakens her a little. If you don't keep up the willingness to do good, you had at confession, you may fall soon.
So what must you do? ? - Apply the words of St.. Paul : "Everything is allowed to me, but not everything benefits " (1 Disease 6, 12). Therefore, learn to be prudent in satisfying your desires, wants and desires. You don't always have to have everything, see and hear everything, to taste everything, what do you feel like doing. Sometimes it is good to deny yourself something, give up something. It will be a kind of spiritual training. So trained for self-control, not having to deal with myself, it will be easier for you to suppress such a desire, which leads to sin. Learn to do this too, which is contrary to the sins you commit and the shortcomings you know, e.g.. if you are prone to selfishness and comfort, look for opportunities, to help another in something, do something for him.
Allies from the outside
Believe in yourself, but be careful and vigilant. Because we carry a hidden weakness, we cannot rely on our own strength. You also need to look for help outside yourself : in God and in man. ,,Without me you can do nothing " (J 15, 5) Jesus assured him, and St.. Paul added : "I can do everything in it, who strengthens me " (Flp 4, 13).
In these words, you get a clear clue, what should you do. As a rational person, always look for the right motives. You will discover them thanks to the word of God. Therefore, refer often to the Bible. and read them. Also listen carefully to the liturgy of the word during the Eucharistic Assembly. Reading and listening to the inspired word combined with good prayer can fill your soul, that new temptations will have very difficult access and will lose all their current impetus.
Sin, especially more frequent, it weakens our will and can lead to addiction. This condition breeds discouragement and can reduce the enthusiasm for working on oneself. Where's the cure? ? - At Christ's again : "Who remains in me, and I am in him, this one bears much fruit " (J 15, 5). This is what the fruit is all about. That you may do good, you must abide in Christ. And it will happen through frequent participation in the Eucharist : Who eats my flesh […] abides in me, and I am in him " (J 6, 56).
You probably noticed a long time ago, that it is easier and more pleasant for you to live with your friends. We do not like loneliness and we are looking for someone around us, who to play with, instruct, make friends. But you must have noticed that too, that sometimes among some colleagues it is also easier to do evil. remind yourself, if you were not badly influenced by any colleagues ?
Is it necessary then to run away from company and live alone? ? Probably not. Don't run away, but also not to be passively influenced by colleagues. They can affect you, you can and you on them. You certainly have such colleagues as well, who, like you, want to live well. They want to change for the better and lead a new life all the time. Search for them, get closer to them and together try to influence others. And only when someone does not want to change their behavior, then it is to be carefully avoided, so that it does not negatively affect you.
When you create a group of noble colleagues around you, fair, hardworking, in a word - on a level, then it will be easier for you to do well. In them you will find support against your inner weaknesses and tendencies towards evil. Colleagues can very effectively encourage you to do good or save you from sin.
And the skill of choosing a company and influencing your environment, acquired during your school years, will be useful for a lifetime. After all, you will be in constant contact with different people afterwards : good and bad, and such, who want to be good, but they are weak and succumb to evil. You can't completely avoid bad people, but you will have to deal with them, to change them or at least to protect against their bad influence. Then the current experience with colleagues will be very useful to you. So here you have the answer to the question posed in the introduction, where to look for the reason for this, that after a good confession, despite the strong intention to improve, more than once we sin again. You have to look for it in yourself. If you want to live a new life in Christ, go deep inside yourself. And direct your evil inclinations slowly, day by day, to good. Sometimes it will be difficult, it won't work right away. But don't be discouraged. Look for support around you : light and inspiration in Scripture., strength and perseverance in the Eucharistic Bread, encouragement and a good example among sincere colleagues. And be sure, that if you persevere on this path, you will go very far. You will become a valuable man and a true "salt of the earth" in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
How will I answer God ?
Do you like this future? ? You are already finishing your year of catechesis. Look back at the year you lived, at confession, acts of sincere penance and firm resolutions, participation in the Eucharist. Do you see any progress… ?
Think now : you become more and more adult every day, and as such you take control of your own future. It will depend on you, what kind of person you will become. Every confession you make is to be your conversion. When will it be ? - When you understand, that the priest's absolution does close your past, but it does not release you from your efforts for the future.
So what will your answer to God be ? - You will not treat confession purely formally or occasionally. You will not only go to confession ,,on the occasion…”, but out of an inner need. Pick a day in the month or quarter and name it ,,day of conversion ", day of your inner transformation. On this day, prepare very carefully to meet Christ in the sacrament of penance and think carefully about your future.
Pray with words :
"We ask you, Lord, grant us constant righteousness in thinking and in action, that we, unable to exist without you, managed to live according to your will " (17 Sun. during the year).
■ Think :
1. Why is there still a danger of sin after confession? ?
2. What are the most important bad tendencies ?
3. What can help us get to know ourselves better ?
4. How can you master yourself ?
5. How God's Word shapes our conduct ?
6. Who strengthens us in the fight against evil ?
7. What role should you play among colleagues? ?
8. What determines the durability of conversion after a good confession ?
■ Remember:
66. “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation " (Mt 26, 41).
■ Task :
1. The Church Fathers call confession "a busy baptism". How can we understand it ?
2. How to respond to allegations : "It is not worth confessing, because he will sin again anyway " ?