Look at the definition of “sin” in the original Biblical languages = “Missing the Mark”
When Jesus, in John 8, told the woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more,” he was NOT telling her, “Go and run away from every possibly sinful situation that you see.”
He was saying, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not miss the mark again.”
The woman went.
Where did she go?
She went looking and aiming for the mark of purity and did those things, hitting that mark everywhere she saw it.
She did not go in trepidation asking “Is this, is that, impure? Do I have to avoid this and that?”.
She went away LOOKING AT THE MARK. Prior to this she was not looking at the mark, not aiming, and of course, missing it, missing the mark.
You are trying to avoid things. But your command is to look at what is good and right and true and think on these things. Positive movement rather than always looking at what you are trying to avoid.
You will not miss the mark if you always keep the mark before your sight and aim at it.
You will miss the mark if you are not looking at it but only noticing and looking at a thing you are avoiding (because you are not looking where you are going when you are backing up).
This is why the priest gives us a Penance for doing after leaving the confessional - he is seeking to focus our sight on a good target of activity - if the priest tells you to do a Hail Mary and an Our Father (two acts of faith), think about them as you are praying, and maybe do ten of each instead of one. That is practice at seeing and doing something good and right and true, and all the while, without trying, you are not missing the mark (not sinning).
What is the target? What is the truth about sexuality, matrimony, chastity? Aim; hit this target.
John Martin
