Comment: There are people who, rather than acknowledge their faults and strive to overcome them, tend to live in denial. They could even resort to practicing those vices secretly. Such ones will not prosper or have true happiness. There are also those who allow themselves to be weighed down by their past errors or mistakes. What the text for today tells us is that we should accept our faults, learn the necessary lessons, and then determine not to repeat such mistakes. Then one has to move on, believing in the promise of God to forgive the repentant sinner. – Ezekiel 18:21-23.

Seeing that those who had committed themselves – for which he had  sharply rebuked them – were full of grief for their errors, St. Paul had to write again to exhort the members at Corinth to receive them and comfort them “lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow”. – 2 Corinthians 2:5-7.

In the words of Elihu, when people sin against God He “sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.” – Job 36:9-12.