STA.

TERESA COLLEGE
BAUAN BATANGAS
COLLEGE DEPARTMENT

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 102

LESSON 5: THE MYSTERY OF WICKEDNESS: SIN

Introduction
What is meant by “wickedness?”
> Etymologically, the term wickedness dates back to the 1300s and is
derived from the words wicked and -ness. Wicked is an extended form
of the term wick meaning bad and is also associated with the Old
English term wicca meaning a (male) witch. The term -ness is a word
forming element denoting action, quality or state and is typically added
to an adjective or past participle to make it an abstract noun
> Wickedness is generally considered a synonym for evil or sinfulness.
Among theologians and philosophers, it has the more specific meaning
of evil committed consciously and of free will. It can also be considered
the quality or state of being wicked.

Student Learning Objectives (SLO)

 Describe the mystery of wickedness
 Understand sin’s nature as the free and radical rejection of God,
others and one’s integrity

Content
THE MYSTERY OF WICKEDNESS: SIN
> (Gal 5: 19 – 21) St. Paul’s description of the “works” of the flesh: “lewd,
conduct, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, bickering,
jealousy, outbursts of rage, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, envy,
drinking bouts, orgies, and the like.”
> ( 2 Thes 2: 7) “The mystery of evil is already at work.”
> So we must face the reality of SIN which obstructs the coming of
Christ’s kingdom.

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> We must recognize that sin is not simply “doing something wrong” or
“making a mistake” which we can easily rectify at will, John Paul II
describes it as follows:
“Clearly sin is a product of man’s freedom. But deep within its
human reality there are factors at work which place it beyond the merely
human, in the border – area where human conscience, will, and
sensitivity are in contact with the dark forces which, according to St.
Paul, are active in the world, almost to the point if ruling it” (RP 14).
> The mystery of sin “hates the light” (Jn 3: 19; 1 Jn 2: 9f), and we,
sinners all, are often ashamed to take it seriously.
> (Jn 3: 19) “Ganito ang paghatol ng Diyos: naparito sa sanlibutan
ang ilaw, ngunit inibig pa ng mga tao ang dilim kaysa liwanag,
sapagkat masasama ang kanilang mga gawa.”
> But we need to reflect deeply on sin:
(1) to truly appreciate God’s everlasting merciful love; and
(2) to correct common distorted ideas of God, the Church,
conscience, law, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
> According to St. Augustine: “Sin is an utterance, a deed, or a desire
contrary to the eternal law. ( cf. CCC 1849 )
> ( CCC 1849 ) Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right
conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor
caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the
nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as “an
utterance, a deed or a desire contrary to the eternal law.
> We can illustrate the essence of sin:
(a) refusing to follow our own conscience’s call towards the good;
(b) rejecting God, our Creator and Lord, and our own true selves
and others, by turning away from God , and true end; and
(c) breaking God’s loving Covenant with us
> Today, personal sin and sinful structures seem to have been radically
weakened by secularism: we are caught up in the flagrant
consumerism that surrounds us. We are unconsciously influenced by
the modern behaviorist psychologies that identify sin with morbid
guilt feelings or with mere transgressions of legal norms (cf. RP 18)
ex. > bribery and corruption in business and government
> cheating in family life and lying in personal relationships
> words like: “Anyway, everybody does it,” or “I had to do it
because….”
> Despite the “natural piety” of the Filipino, an authentic Christian

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BAUAN BATANGAS
COLLEGE DEPARTMENT
“sense of sin” is gradually being eroded due mainly to religious
ignorance and the consequent secularistic set of attitudes and
values.
> “natural piety” – someone who follows the laws of their
religion and is very devoted to God
> religious ignorance – lack of knowledge ( in terms of “sense of
sin” )

Assessment and Evaluation

Evaluation/Assessment: Individual Activity
> Illustration/Sketch/Drawing
Theme: “SINS DECEIVE AND DESTROY OUR COVENANT WITH GOD
AND OTHERS, AS WELL AS OURSELVES”
> Instructions:
(1) Kindly use white short bondpaper (landscape);
(2) This activity will serve also as one of the recitations (non – verbal)
(3) BE CREATIVE! Make the best out of it.
(4) Criteria/Rubrics:
Composition ( theme-related ) : 40%
Creativity ( external ) : 40%
Virtual Presentation : 20%
Total : 100%
(5) Submission; (depends on the professor)

References
Episcopal Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education. (1997).
Catechism for Filipino Catholics. Manila: CBCP. (213 - 215)
Bible
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Copyright 1994 ( p. 506 – 507 )
Prepared: Checked: Approved:

Balita, Joseph D. ______________________ Dr. Randy M. Baja

Instructor Department Head Dean

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