Jesus is the Just One; He is Justice Itself (1 Cor 1:30). Therefore, He seems obnoxious to the unjust. They say of Jesus: "To us He is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see Him is a hardship for us" (Wis 2:14). Thus Jesus is not only considered obnoxious but merely seeing Him becomes a hardship for the unjust.

Furthermore, "everyone who practices evil hates the light" (Jn 3:20). If we don't repent of our injustices, of our sins, we eventually don't want Jesus Christ even mentioned, and finally, we hate Him. We have become an anti-Christ (see 1 Jn 2:18).

Although they may pride themselves on being tolerant of almost anything, the unrepentant are intolerant of Christianity and militantly anti-Christian. They say: "With revilement and torture let us put Him to the test that we may have proof of His gentleness and try His patience. Let us condemn Him to a shameful death" (Wis 2:19-20).

Traditionally, preachers and teachers have proclaimed that each of us had a part in Jesus' crucifixion because He died to atone for our sins (see Catechism, 598). Yet how many of us see a direct connection between our sins and Jesus' sufferings on Calvary? However, if we don't repent of sin, we are re-crucifying Christ (Heb 6:6), and will be as anti-Christ as those screaming for Jesus' blood at the foot of the cross.

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 11, 2008

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.