Sins that cry to Heaven

[Timidity]

Looking at old missals and such, I find a commonly repeating list of “sins cry to heaven for vengeance.” (In the new(-ish) Catechism the same list is still there, though in this kinder and gentler age, apparently the sins just cry out, but not necessarily for vengeance.)

So does it mean that these sins “cry out”? Every answer I come up with on my own seems to either diminish God’s omniscience or His forgiveness.

I’m stumped, but I know that there are many on here who are far wiser than I. Could someone please enlighten me?

 

[PaulDupre]

One reason that the relics of martyrs are placed below altars in our churches is because they are said to cry out to God for justice.

Romans 12:19
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

By uniting the cry of the martyrs with our own yearnings for justice (and mercy) at mass, we trust that our Lord will avenge all wrong doings in His own way, in His own time.

Remember what Jesus said:

Matthew 18:6
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

All sin cries out for justice (vengeance?). And there will be justice. Make no mistake about that.

God love you,
Paul

 

[itsjustdave1988]

These four grave sins are: Murder (Genesis 4:10), the sin of the Sodomites (Genesis 18:20, 19:13),the oppression of the poor (Exodus 3:7-10, 20:20-22), Injustice to the wage earner (Dt 24:14-15).

And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.” (Gn 4:10)

Then the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry which has come to me.” (Gn 18:20-21)

“You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. If you do afflict them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry.” (Ex 21-23)

“You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brethren or one of the sojourners who are in your land within your towns; you shall give him his hire on the day he earns it, before the sun goes down (for he is poor, and sets his heart upon it); lest he cry against you to the Lord, and it be a sin in you.” (Dt 24:14-15)

Some also distinguish the cry of the people oppressed in Egypt, [Ex. 3:7-10]: “The LORD said, "I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings.” However, others simply include this as oppression of the poor.

 

[itsjustdave1988]

Given the scriptural passages above, I believe this simply emphasizes or puts an exclamation point on the gravity of these sins in the eyes of God.