I once wondered, “If I ever tried to run for president, what would people dig up from my
past in order to try and discredit me?”
Well, there’s a lot of fodder there and so I concluded, I’d be canceled within about two seconds of my announcement.
I’m not looking to run for president, but the reason I wondered at this was because, in our day and age, people are only allowed to be who they were at their worst or most immature.
We are only defined by the great sins of our past and rarely are we afforded the acknowledgment that people grow and change…and a lot of times for the better. Not always, but it does happen.
St. Augustine, whose feast day is today, did not always live a saintly life. Thankfully, the Church recognizes his sincere conversion and doesn’t hold his past sins against him.
In a time when people consistently run around social media furiously typing out “don’t judge,” it is interesting how much these same people judge people’s past and forever condemn them guilty of high crimes, never to be forgiven or given the grace to show how they’ve changed.
What it all boils down to is a cover for oneself. “I don’t want you to judge me or any sin I’m currently engaged in, but I’m happy to judge your past sins forevermore.”
We must allow for people to truly change for the better. Not everyone stays stuck as their 21-year old self. We should be pleased to see growth and progress in others and celebrate any positive change.
Thank God, Catholic Pilgrims, that Christ does not hold our forgiven sins against us. Thank goodness, He recognizes our growth and does not keep us locked in a past that we’ve moved on from.
Have a blessed Monday.
St. Augustine, pray for us!
