The unforgivable Sin
October 15, Saturday of 28th Week in Ordinary Time
Daily readings: Ephesians 1:15-23; Gospel: Luke 12:8-12
Any sin conceivable can be forgiven, except the sin against the Holy Spirit, declared “unforgivable.” This statement of Jesus is so significant that all three synoptic gospels mention it.
It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that one can call out “Abba, Father.” If one rejects that Spirit, we have rejected God forever. The official Catechism explains it thus: “There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit” (CCC, #1864).
This again informs us that we make the possibility of hell a reality and not God. As Pope John Paul II said, “‘Eternal damnation,’ therefore, is not attributed to God’s initiative because in his merciful love, he can only desire the salvation of the beings he created.
In reality, the creature closes himself to his love” (General audience, July 28, 1999).
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.