The Message That is Missed

 Bernadette Roberts

If you are always going to be hung up on what a poor, miserable, weak person you are, you are never going to get any place in the spiritual life. You really just have to trust that God says to hell with all of that -- let's get on, let's get up. This wallowing constantly in the idea of sin and repentance and forgiveness and how we constantly have to keep away from temptation and the devil's after us, and God is angry and we are going to be punished -- oh, give me a break!

But even that message has been missed, I think, and that is what is dragging us down. Ideally Christianity should say, look -- if we're really going to talk about God and this mystery, and have a good life and know the truth, let's get first things first. You are free of original sin, you're free, you're purified, you are clean. People can go to confession every day of their life, but even so, who is going to stand up then and say, "Yes, I am now sinless, I'm free!" Who dares to say that? They are going to be shot down. Isn't that a fact? Who is going to do that? But we really do have to stand up for God that way. How can you make any headway in your spiritual life if you are always wallowing in how bad you are, and if you don't trust God? You have to trust God.

Carmel Retreat notes, © Bernadette Roberts 1997