This article discusses why God's grace triumphs over the popular social and religious notion of karma.
Kyrie Eleison. Christe Eleison. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
In a world where phrases like “what goes around comes around” or “karma will get them” are thrown around so casually, it’s easy to believe that our actions always lead to an inevitable cycle of reward or punishment. But is this truly how life works? To be honest with you, I am only about 2/3rds of the way through my RCIA but I'm surrounded by faithful Catholics and my ability to learn, reason, and analyze is pretty good (I would say) so I'm confident that this article might help you understand the topic better or even, have a change of heart.
As Catholics, we believe in something far greater than karma—we believe in grace. God’s divine mercy is not bound by human notions of payback, but rather, it overflows with forgiveness, renewal, and redemption. Unlike karma, which suggests that our fate is locked into an inescapable cycle of consequence, God offers freedom from sin, no matter what we have done. Of course, it's not that you say bad things about someone (flase witness) knowing it's a sin and think you're forgiven like that. There will be the element of the Sacrament of Reconciliation through confession but of course, you will be forgiven when you seek to be forgiven.
If you’ve ever felt unworthy of a second chance, or if you’ve struggled with the idea that your past mistakes define your future, then this message is for you. God is bigger than your past, and His mercy is deeper than any wrongdoing. God's love is the love we are called to share with others too.
The Problem with Karma: A System Without Mercy
Karma, which originates from Eastern religions, is based on the idea that the universe balances out good and evil. If you do something wrong, it will eventually come back to you, and if you do something good, you’ll be rewarded. On the surface, this may seem fair. But the problem? There is no room for mercy, redemption, or transformation. We don't even have to look that far -- If you remember the story of Jesus healing the blind man with dirt and spit, remember how those around him assumed he or his parents had sinned greatly for him to be as he was. But Jesus, the new and eternal covenant, said that was not the case and healed him.
If karma were true, then someone who has sinned greatly would always be destined for suffering, with no way to escape their fate. But this is not what we believe as Catholics. Our faith teaches us that grace interrupts the cycle of sin. Through Christ, we don’t get what we “deserve” – we receive what we could never earn: unconditional love and forgiveness.
God’s Mercy Transcends Human Logic
Jesus Christ did not preach karma. He preached forgiveness.
In Luke 15, Jesus tells the parable of the Prodigal Son—a young man who squandered his inheritance on reckless living. According to karma, he should have been forever cursed by his bad decisions. Yet what happened instead? His father (you can think of him "representing" God) ran to him, embraced him, and celebrated his return.
“For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” (Luke 15:24)
This is grace. Not earned. Not deserved. Pure, undeserved mercy.
If we had to “pay back” every sin with suffering, then Saint Paul, Saint Augustine, and even Saint Peter (who denied Jesus three times) would have been doomed. But God does not keep a ledger of debts. Instead, through Christ’s sacrifice, He erased our sins and called us to new life.
The Cross: The Ultimate Proof That Grace > Karma
If karma ruled the universe, then we should have been condemned for our sins. Instead, Christ took our punishment upon Himself.
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
Jesus was sinless. Yet He was crucified for our sins, breaking the cycle of sin and punishment we hear of in the Old Testament. He didn’t wait for us to “balance out our bad deeds”—He offered Himself in our place as the unblemmished lamb.
That’s the difference between karma and grace:
• Karma says, “You must pay for what you’ve done.”
• Grace says, “Christ has paid for you—come home.”
Does This Mean We Can Do Whatever We Want?
Some might ask: If God’s grace is so abundant, can we just sin freely and expect forgiveness? Absolutely not.
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2)
God’s mercy is not a free pass to live recklessly—it’s an invitation to be transformed. When we truly receive grace, we don’t want to stay the same. Grace doesn’t just forgive, it changes us from within (you also need to have faith that it will).
Saint Paul himself was once Saul, a persecutor of Christians. By karma’s standards, he should have lived and died in disgrace. But God’s mercy turned him into one of the greatest apostles. That’s what grace does—it takes the lost, the broken, and the sinful and makes them new. That is what we too can apply in our day to day lives. It's why we forgive all who have wronged us. It sounds crazy to those who don't get it but think of St. Paul. Those who are mean to you need your prayer, the grace of God and the Holy Spirit to move him or her to God's everlasting light and be reborn again as someone who will do so much good for the whole world!
How to Embrace God’s Grace Today
1. Turn to Him in Repentance – No matter what you’ve done, God is waiting for you. The Sacrament of Confession is a beautiful gift where we can receive full absolution and healing. You have to acknowledge it and ask for forgiveness!
2. Receive the Eucharist Worthily – The Holy Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Christ, the living proof of God’s mercy and the source of grace to strengthen us. Oh, and this is only for baptized Catholics. I'll tell you why some other day. Soon! I just learnt this in RCIA so you're goint to want to know why!
3. Forgive Others as You Have Been Forgiven – If we have received undeserved mercy, how can we refuse to show it to others? (Matthew 6:14-15)
4. Live in His Love – God’s grace calls us to a life of holiness, not fear of punishment. Strive to do good, not to “earn rewards,” but out of love for Him. After all, he is our Father.
Final Thoughts: The Call to Mercy
To my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, especially the youth (you are one if you think you're young): you are not trapped by your past mistakes. You are not bound by a spiritual system that dooms you to suffering because of one wrong move.
Instead, you are loved beyond measure by a Father who is always ready to forgive, restore, and guide you to new life.
So the next time you hear someone say, “What goes around comes around,” remember that the Holy Spirit has moved you as He moves in everyone.
✝️ What came around was Jesus.
✝️ And what He brought was mercy.
Go forth in grace, and let His love transform you.
Kyrie Eleison. Christe Eleison.
Share this message with someone who needs to hear it today. Let’s spread the truth that grace, not karma, reigns in our world. 🕊️🙏