May 28, 2011 – Numbers 15

I've heard a lot of people talk about the fact that Catholics believe in two types of sin, mortal sin and venial sin. I've heard people talk about the fact that there is only sin and that's it and there is no difference or specifics or types of sin. But here in this chapter we see that this is not the Jewish tradition. We see a distinction between a certain type sin which might be called accidental or inadvertence and a sin where someone purposely turned away from the Commandments of God. Catholic understanding of venial and mortal sin is that all sins are venial until you get to a certain point where certain criteria are met and then sin becomes mortal. Mortal sin involves grave matter, knowledge, and full consent. Unless all of these criteria are met the sin remains venial but if it is a sin in which these things exist and it is a mortal sin then the Catholic understanding is that if a person dies without receiving forgiveness and absolution of that moral sin they will go to hell.

In this chapter we see the distinction between an inadvertent sin and the sacrifices and obligations a person has to do to wipe themselves of that sin and the consequences for a sin done completely on purpose with full knowledge that it was a sin. For the sin done on purpose, as in example of the man the collecting wood on the Sabbath, the consequence is death. If looking at this chapter as a foreshadowing of the Catholic understanding of sin, it is a very easy to make a connection or to draw a line between the Jewish understanding of these sins and the Catholic understanding of the consequences of sin on a person's soul. For mortal sin the consequence is the death of your soul or your soul being sent to an eternity in hell however in the Catholic tradition, unlike here, there is a way to redeem your soul from mortal sin. That is through the absolution and grace that comes from the Sacrament of Reconciliation.