J’accuse

Hearing the words inviting us to repent of our sins

01/12/2018

Mark 2:1-12 When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, "Child, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?" Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth" –he said to the paralytic, "I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home." He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone.

            In 1973 Dr. Karl Meninger, an eminent American psychiatrist, wrote a book about sin that opened with this stunning, almost scary, scene. We read: “On a sunny day in September, 1972, a stern-faced, plainly dressed man could be seen standing still on a street corner in the busy Chicago Loop. As pedestrians hurried by on their way to lunch or business, he would solemnly lift his right arm, and pointing to the person nearest him, intone loudly the single word, ‘GUILTY!’ Then, without any change of expression, he would resume his stiff stance for a few moments before repeating the gesture. Then, again, the inexorable raising of his arm, the pointing, and the solemn pronouncing of the one word, ‘GUILTY!’” Meninger continued, “The effect of this strange j’accuse (French for “I accuse”) pantomime on the passing strangers was extraordinary, almost eerie. They would stare at him, hesitate, look away, look at each other, and then at him again; then hurriedly continue on their ways. One man, turning to another whom was my informant, exclaimed, ‘But how did he know?’” (emphasis in original) (Whatever Became of Sin?, 1-2).

           I read that book while I was still in the seminary and it left a lasting impression on me; I felt like one of those passersby on the Chicago Loop, and I felt guilty. That was precisely Meninger’s intention and hope in writing that book: to awaken a sense of shame for our sins.  Meninger’s book was like that wordless man on on the street corner, uttering, “J’accuse” to its readers. Unfortunately, when there is no sense of shame, we can feel like there is no sin.

           In the gospel today, Jesus is also trying to awaken a sense of sin in people who are oblivious to it. The gospel pericope recounts the faith of four friends, who bravely lower their paralytic partner into a crowded room, in order to get Jesus’ attention and aid. But what does Jesus do before he heals the man? He stunningly says: “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Most of the time we hear that story, we forget about the sin and focus on the friends and the healing. That healing is important, too. But clearly, Jesus’ priority is pardoning sins. He’s almost like that sternly-faced pantomime on the Chicago Loop raising his arm and pronouncing, “Guilty!” As a matter of fact, if you read that gospel passage carefully, you’ll see that the miracle of healing was only proffered as proof of Jesus’ authority to forgive sins. It’s quite conceivable that if the scribes had not questioned Jesus’ ability and authority to forgive, Jesus may not have healed the man.  Again, don’t misunderstand, Jesus certainly wants to heal the body, but like Karl Meninger, his deeper desire is to heal the heart. Therefore, Jesus solicits a sense of shame for sin, so he can move people to healing and true wholeness.

          My friends, do we feel any sense of shame for sins, or have we absolved ourselves of guilt and responsibility for our misdeeds? The biggest excuse I hear for why people don’t go to confession is, “I can’t think of anything I’ve done wrong.” And people mean that sincerely because they’ve lost that sense of shame for sins. I always suggest to such people, “Well, let your wife come up with the list of sins you can bring to confession. Or, ask your children to write down your sins. And then you can return the favor for them.” In other words, while we conveniently overlook our own faults and failings, they are painfully obvious to others. It’s easier to say “J’accuse” to others than to ourselves. 

         Another way to revive our sense of shame is to listen to our conscience. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: “Deep within his conscience man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself, but which he must obey.” And later, “His conscience is man’s most secret core and his sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths” (Catechism, 1776). That is, our conscience, if we listen to it attentively, also says to us, “J’accuse,” and awakens a sense of shame for sins.

           If we open our eyes and ears, like those people on that sunny day in September, 1972, we’ll see there is no shortage of pantomimes like that man on the Chicago Loop pointing at us and saying, “J’accuse.” But of course, shame and sin are not the last words for a Christian on his or her journey with Jesus. Nevertheless, they are necessary words on the path to peace, hope and happiness.

Praised be Jesus Christ!