The kingdom of Israel received the wages of its sins, that is, death (Rm 6:23). The Israelites "rejected His (God's) statutes, the covenant which He had made with their fathers, and the warnings which He had given them...till, in His great anger against Israel, the Lord put them away out of His sight. Only the tribe of Judah was left" (2 Kgs 17:15, 18).

The culture in which we live has been called by Pope John Paul II a "culture of death." Our culture has begun to be paid the wages for its sins of idolatry, rebellion, racism, abortion, unforgiveness, and selfishness. Like the tribe of Judah, only a few Christians, families, marriages, and churches are left that have not been destroyed or warped.

Judah did not learn from the self-destruction of the kingdom of Israel. It continued to sin and eventually destroyed itself. Will we, the survivors in our culture of death, take the plank of sin out of our own eyes (Mt 7:5) and escape destruction, or will we let ourselves be sucked into the sinkhole of sin?

Sin is naturally contagious. The misery of sinners loves company. However, God's grace is sufficient (2 Cor 12:9). We have the grace to repent, be different, be uncontaminated, and live holy lives. Go to Confession at the earliest opportunity. Do not destroy yourself.

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, January 2, 2014

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