Avoid, as you would a venomous serpent, the error of supposing that you may willfully sin and not suffer for it in consequence. Beware of being influenced by others to act on this supposition. For this will be to put aside the whole testimony of God's word, a great mass of recorded and traditional facts, and what is weightier, it will contradict and condemn the teaching of the cross of Christ. You put the crucified Saviour to an open shame, not only by the sin you presumptuously commit, but in thus declaring that in suffering the just for the unjust, He suffered without adequate cause. For God did not overlook or pass by sin in Him who was wounded for our iniquities, and bruised for our sins. Will He, can you presume to think, pass it by in us, when we willfully commit iniquity? You perhaps think of your sin, "It is a little one." But can any willful violation of God's known will and commandments be little? The Psalmist says: Who can understand sins? From my secret ones cleanse me, O Lord. How much more, surely, from known and presumptuous sins? We read again: Wherefore hath the wicked provoked God? He hath said in his heart, he will not require it. But, Thou seest it, the Psalmist says. Keep yourself, then, from the suffering you must have in time or eternity, as that which as surely follows willful gin, as a consequence can follow an adequate cause in due time; and when conscience brings it home to you, be quick to repent thoroughly, to confess, and to seek pardon. Delay not, but hasten to Jesus, having this encouragement: My little children (writes Saint John), these things I write to you that you may not sin. But if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Just, and He is the propitiation for our sins.
- text taken from Daily Bread - Bring a Few Morning Meditations for the Use of Catholic Christians by Father Richard Waldo Sibthorp