Daily Reflection — February 20, 2026

Rebellion and Expiation -- The great sin of the human race is rebellion. We are rebels against God. Let my upright finger stand for the will of God, and my horizontal finger stand for my will. As soon as I put the horizontal finger against the vertical, I have physically a cross. Both sin and rebellion demand not only forgiveness, but also expiation. Suppose you had the authority to command me. And you said to me, 'Take three steps to your right.' Preferring to do my own thing, I take three steps to my left. Later, I regret my action, and I say to you, 'Will you forgive me?' You forgive me, but before I can start acting normally, I have to take three steps backwards. Where I put my foot down in egotism, I now have to put it down in humiliation. That's the expiation. Only then can I begin to obey.