How Can We Identify Weaknesses that Lead us to Sin?

Understanding our weaknesses that often lead us to sin is crucial, but all too frequently, we are blind to these flaws. This recognition requires introspection and an earnest desire to identify both your strengths and weaknesses. This is a task that demands tranquility and solitude. Find a quiet place where you can reflect and pray. Begin by asking the Holy Spirit to illuminate your understanding.

Remember, everyone has weaknesses similar to yours. As you identify your weaknesses you will make significant strides in your spiritual journey. It's important not to let feelings of despair creep in. You may grapple with feelings of worthlessness in God's eyes, but as you identify and overcome these issues, you'll gain confidence experiencing God’s Love. We are never wholly worthy in God's sight. God calls us to become perfect, but is joyful knowing you are continually working toward this aim out of your love of Him. Perfecting ourselves to become more Christ-like is a lifelong endeavor called Theosis.

If you find it difficult to identify any obvious weakness, consider the traits you criticize in others. What you dislike in them is likely a reflection of what lurks within your own soul. Such insights may provide vital clues about your path.

While you sit in quiet reflection, review the guidelines for living provided by Jesus in Scripture. It's especially beneficial to study the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) where Jesus expands on the Ten Commandments' demands (Exodus 20:1-17). I have provided specific verses for your reflection from both sections below. There are other Scripture verses you can use as well.

A helpful way to engage in this self-discovery process is to make a list. Write the behaviors outlined in Scripture in one column and in the column opposite, note down how you currently live up to each of these expectations. Don't be discouraged. Be gentle with yourself. What you're undertaking is a task God will regard with joy.

Once you've completed this, look over what you've written and identify any patterns. Ideally, you will start to recognize one primary passion or tendency that's influencing your behavior. This will be the root of your sinfulness and the first thing you should begin to address. It's important to identify one key weakness to start overcoming.

Remember, as you embark on this journey, seek divine guidance. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you. Pray for the insight you need to make necessary life changes. Go to Holy Confession and seek the advice of your spiritual father, who will welcome you with great joy knowing you're striving to make changes to please God.

This process doesn't end here. Ideally, it should become an ongoing journey of self-discovery and improvement. It's like peeling an onion; as you uncover and overcome each weakness, you'll reveal a new layer, a new set of opportunities to become more like Christ. As you continue on this path, you'll find yourself drawing closer to God. Each step will bring more grace and aid to your journey.

Here are some passages to contemplate:

A. The Ten Commandments 

These provide foundational principles for moral living. Here are the commandments with related points for self-examination:

1. You shall have no other gods before me. Reflect on whether God is truly at the center of your life, or if other "gods" (work, money, hobbies, etc.) have taken precedence.

2. You shall not make for yourself an idol. Consider if there is anything in your life that you prioritize or revere more than God.

3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Reflect on your respect for God's name in your speech and actions.

4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Examine your observance of the Sabbath or Sunday rest and worship.

5. Honor your father and your mother. Reflect on your relationship with your parents and if you treat them with due respect.

6. You shall not murder. This can be expanded to examine whether you harbor anger or resentment towards others.

7. You shall not commit adultery. Consider your purity in thoughts, words, and deeds, whether you're single or married.

8. You shall not steal. Reflect on your respect for others' property and rights.

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Examine your truthfulness and honesty.

10. You shall not covet. Reflect on contentment and gratitude in your life.

B. Sermon on the Mount

These are key points in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew Chapters 5-7), which could serve as points for self-examination:

1. The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12): These blessings pronounced by Jesus describe the attitudes that characterize a Christian life – humility, meekness, righteousness, mercy, purity of heart, peacemaking, and willingness to endure persecution.

2. Salt and Light (Matthew 5:13-16): Jesus calls his followers to be the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world," to influence the world positively by their good deeds and upright character.

3. Fulfillment of the Law (Matthew 5:17-20): Jesus explains that he has come to fulfill the law, not abolish it, and exhorts his followers to pursue a righteousness that surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees.

4. Teachings on Anger, Adultery, Divorce, Oaths (Matthew 5:21-37): Jesus goes deeper into the spirit of the law, explaining that anger is as destructive as murder, lustful thoughts as adulterous as the act itself, and emphasizes the sanctity of marriage and the importance of keeping one's word.

5. Teachings on Revenge and Love for Enemies (Matthew 5:38-48): Jesus teaches the radical love of not resisting an evil person and loving one's enemies.

6. Teachings on Giving to the Needy, Prayer, and Fasting (Matthew 6:1-18): Jesus advises that acts of righteousness should not be done for show, and provides guidance on prayer (including the Lord's Prayer) and fasting.

7. Teachings on Treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-24): Jesus encourages his followers to store up treasures in heaven rather than earthly wealth, and warns against serving two masters – God and money.

8. Teachings on Worry (Matthew 6:25-34): Jesus counsels against worry, teaching reliance on God who cares for all our needs.

9. Judging Others (Matthew 7:1-6): Jesus warns against judging others while ignoring our own faults.

10. Ask, Seek, Knock (Matthew 7:7-12): Jesus encourages persistent prayer, seeking, and knocking, and reiterates the Golden Rule: "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you..."

11. The Narrow and Wide Gates (Matthew 7:13-14): Jesus describes the narrow gate and difficult path that leads to life and the wide gate and broad road that leads to destruction.

12. True and False Prophets, and True and False Disciples (Matthew 7:15-23): Jesus warns about false prophets and the importance of discernment, and emphasizes that only those who do the will of the Father will enter the kingdom of heaven.

13. The Wise and Foolish Builders (Matthew 7:24-27): Jesus concludes his sermon with the parable of wise and foolish builders, emphasizing the importance of not just hearing his words, but acting upon them.

C. The Great Commandment

While the Great Commandment that Jesus gives in Matthew 22:36-40 is not technically part of the Sermon on the Mount, it is fundamental to Christian ethics and is certainly an excellent addition for self-examination. It can indeed be viewed as a summary of the main messages of the Sermon on the Mount and the Ten Commandments. The Great Commandment says:

1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. Here, you can reflect on your relationship with God. Do you put God first in your life? How does your love for God manifest in your thoughts, words, and deeds? Do you dedicate time for prayer, reading Scripture, worship, and other spiritual practices?

2. Love your neighbor as yourself. The second commandment is equally important. In your reflection, consider your relationships with others. Do you treat people with kindness, respect, and generosity? Are there relationships in your life that need forgiveness or reconciliation? Do you show care for the poor, the sick, the marginalized?

Remember that love in the Christian understanding is not just about feelings, but actions. The Apostle John wrote, "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech, but with actions and in truth" (1 John 3:18). As you reflect on the Great Commandment, think about the ways your love for God and neighbor translates into concrete actions in your daily life.

D. Other important Passages

Throughout the New Testament, Jesus often expands on the key teachings presented in the Sermon on the Mount. While the Sermon provides a concise and powerful blueprint for Christian living, the Gospels as a whole offer a richer and more detailed picture of Jesus' teachings. Here are a few examples:

1. On Loving One's Enemies: In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus expands on the command to love one's enemies and neighbors by illustrating that everyone, even those who may be culturally, religiously, or socially different from us, is our neighbor and deserving of our love and help.

2. On Judging Others: In John 8:1-11, Jesus responds to those ready to stone a woman caught in adultery by stating, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her," emphasizing the message against judging others.

3. On Giving to the Needy: In Matthew 25:31-46, the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, Jesus expands on the idea of giving to the needy by saying that whatever we do for the least of our brothers and sisters, we do for Him.

4. On Praying: Apart from the Lord's Prayer given in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus also models a life of constant prayer and teaches about persistency in prayer (Luke 18:1-8), praying in faith (Mark 11:22-25), and the importance of humility in prayer (Luke 18:9-14).

5. On Seeking God's Kingdom: Jesus frequently teaches about the kingdom of God in His parables (e.g., the Parable of the Mustard Seed, Matthew 13:31-32; the Parable of the Hidden Treasure, Matthew 13:44). These parables offer various insights into what it means to seek first the kingdom of God.

6. On Living out God's Word: In John 15:1-17, Jesus speaks about the importance of remaining in Him (like branches on a vine) to bear much fruit, underscoring the necessity of living in accordance with His teachings.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. The teachings of Jesus found throughout the New Testament all work together to provide a comprehensive guide for Christian living, and can serve as additional material for personal self-examination and spiritual growth.

Reference:

Preparing for Confession:

https://www.stgeorgegreenville.org/our-faith/catechism/mysteries/confession