Media advertise, and people think that a sinful life is overall enjoyable. So, sin is not so bad. The only sore point is that it brings about divine punishment because sin does not match God's will. Behind this idea, there is a big misunderstanding. Sin would be capable of bringing joy and fulfillment. On the other hand, God would prevent us from being fully happy by forbidding conduct that he arbitrarily considers wrong.

Everybody is pursuing his or her happiness and fulfillment in life. This is much right because we are created for an infinite beatitude. The problem arises when we take the wrong way to reach this goal. The devil tempts us by saying: “You will be happy only by committing sins.” So, those who indulge in his invitation do it because they believe that through sinful conduct, they will attain happiness. That is why people live in lust, are greedy, corrupted, some steal or kill… Even not believing in God is for the pursuit of illusory personal fulfillment.

We all know that sin cannot give permanent and profound happiness. The actual outcome of a sinful life is sadness and remorse. Excitement vanishes very soon, while the regret is forever. This is why Jesus is proposing the Gospel as the real way to pursue the goal of our life and command us to avoid sin. He knows how harmful and dehumanizing sin is, and he cannot stand seeing his brothers and sister destroying their lives with their own hands. It is for our own good that Jesus tells us to live according to the Gospel. Punishment is not from God but from sin itself. The Gospel saves and sets us free to attain the joy promised by our Heavenly Father both in heaven and on earth, while sin condemns us to a miserable life.

This is why Jesus asks the church to help the sinners return to the Gospel and explicitly entrusts this responsibility to each of us. If we know that a brother lives in a sinful way, which brings him sadness and makes him become less human, we must make him aware of this danger. We need to do our part to help him return to the Gospel. The Gospel does not talk about punishing, cursing, denouncing… or even gossiping the wrong. The Gospel invites the church members to help our brothers and sisters who are victims of the alluring and deceiving invitations of the evil one. Even when our attempts seem to fail, Jesus invites us to “treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector," referring to the fact that Jesus never stops loving Gentiles and tax collectors despite their mistakes.

The conversion of a sinful person is a miracle and requires power from above. Only Jesus can enlighten the person and attract him or her back to a more meaningful life. Only Jesus saves. For this reason, the Gospel tells us how to treasure his presence in our midst. Our unity in his name, which is the fruit of mutual love in the Christian community, is the condition for enjoying his real presence. And Jesus among his disciples operates miracles, including the conversion of sinners. At the same time, Jesus among us brings about many other graces, including the efficacy of prayer, but also the strength, light, enthusiasm, joy, and courage needed by the disciples to face the challenges and difficulties of this and any time.

Finally, it would be interesting to know the story of people who converted from a sinful life to the Gospel. These people are real experts on what conversion means. They can testify from their own experience about the sadness generated by sin and the joy that springs from their restored communion with Jesus. It is passing from death to life.