Jesus is right there for us, closer than any human or spirit, but we separate ourselves how?

Mainly, through lack of faith. Faith binds us to Him. We live in the Holy Spirit.

And sin: this especially separates us.

Sins are the building blocks of a wall between us and Him.

How about “lesser” sins—transgressions?

Yes, the Lord can still easily penetrate. He can see beyond them. He can rise easily and far above anything we do, think, or say. Nothing can truly inhibit the Lord.

But Our Father in Heaven allows us free will—strictly adheres to this—and has His rules about closeness, remaining aloof when we veer off course to any degree.

The extent of that aloofness is naturally determined by the depth of sin.

Always in mind that the Bible frequently uses the term “transgression” to describe human rebellion against God.

That means big sins. It means lying, sexual immorality, pornography, lust of all types, certainly hatred, and of course violence, robbery, stealing, adultery: those sorts of obvious ones.

But it also includes “smaller” and often subtle transgressions like insult, arrogance, rancor in all forms, lack of love, gossip, greed.

Each time we fail in those ways, it is actually we (not He) who is causing the separation. We build the wall between us.

Meditate often on God’s patience.

When there is a wall, there is a decrease in faith because Grace no longer arrives in expedient fashion and we lose communication. It’s a quick slide downward from there.

While Confession is a great need when this occurs, most important is not committing the transgression, even minor failings, again.

Be careful not to distance yourself; be careful not to put money, pride, or politics before closeness with God. How worldly am I, Lord? That’s a question to ask at every turn.

Worldliness is a diversion, a wall, and a distraction.

The closer we draw toward perfection (just toward it, for we will never reach perfection on this earth), the brighter is His Light through a prayerful day.

Call it a clearing of spiritual debris. Call it removing roadblocks. Call it a purge. Purging is something to keep in mind all day every minute through this new year.

We purge here, or we do it in purgatory.

[If you haven’t already, read this and pass it around: An Unpublished Manuscript on Purgatory]