The Unforgivable Sin

Yesterday morning, I greeted students as they walked into religious education class. One student saw me and said seriously, “oh, Father Greg, I need to confess my sins to you”. I said to the teacher that if anyone wants to come to Confession, they can be excused from class to do it. I went upstairs to the confessional and every student from that class came to Confession! This was all in their own and they did a great job confessing. They seemed happy…when they were done haha.

There’s a lot of good going on there. Obviously, the desire to confess and repent. Whether they know it or not, they receive Grace from the Sacrament that will help them. And, every visit to the confessional is an act of faith, hope, and trust. But, they also avoid the unforgivable sin which Jesus names in today’s Gospel (Mk 3:29): blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

“But whoever blasphemes against the holy Spirit will never have forgiveness,

but is guilty of an everlasting sin.”

The unforgivable sin is the one that is not confessed. If someone does not confess it, it is never forgiven. That’s why they “never have forgiveness” and are “guilty of an everlasting sin”. The sin and guilt last forever. Not confessing a sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit because it’s not trusting in God’s mercy or power. It can happen when someone never goes to Confession (mainly for mortal sins) or Mass (the Eucharist can forgive venial sins). It can also happen if someone withholds a sin during Confession; if they do, they are not even forgiven for the sins they confessed.

God forgives any sin we confess. That is the faith and hope that the students so beautifully showed yesterday. I hope that that continues throughout their lives!