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 even Pilate's  stony  heart,  and  converted  Longinus and the  dying  thief. Yet passive  though  He  was under wrong,  there  was  one  accusation,  one  calumny He never  allowed  to  go  unchallenged. " Do  we not  say  well  that  Thou  hast  a  devil? "  the  Jews demanded, and  prompt  and  sharp  came  His  indignant reply:  "  I  have  not  a  devil,  for  which  of you  shall  convince  Me  of  sin?  "  To  my  mind  no other  incident  in  the  life  of  Our  Lord  more  strongly emphasizes the  detestable  nature  of  sin. So repugnant was  it  that  the  mere  imputation  was  sufficient to draw  an  indignant  protest  even  from  the  long-suffering Saviour.

Brethren, sin  is  an  offence  in  thought,  word,  deed, or omission  against  the  law  of  God. It is  an  act  of rebellion  on  the  part  of  His  child  against  the  most indulgent of  Fathers. It is  an  offence  against  Him who reads  the  reins  and  the  hearts,  and  who  consequently takes  account  not  only  of  external  transgressions, but  also  of  interior  thoughts  and  desires. Its guilt  is  founded  especially  on  the  accompanying thought, intention  or  advertence  which  gives  to the  sinful  act  its  human  character. Sin interrupts the friendly  relations  between  God  and  the  soul; turns their  love  into  hate,  and  puts  an  end  to  that interchange of  gifts  which  love  entails. And since to serve  God  and  in  return  to  be  revivified  with  His grace is  the  very  life  of  the  soul,  therefore  when  this exchange has  once  been  interrupted  by  sin,  the unrepentant soul  is  thenceforth  wounded  or  dead according as  its  sin  was  venial  or  mortal. Hence the