Aaron's Self-Reflection
When Aaron's sons (Nadab and Abihu) disobeyed God and burnt strange fire to the Lord, God sent a fire that "devoured" Aaron's sons and "killed them" (Leviticus 10:1-2). On the same day, when it was time to fulfill the law—that priests should eat the burnt sin offering—Aaron and his surviving sons (Eleazar and Ithamar) did not eat it. Moses was upset and confronted Aaron. But Aaron said, "Look, this day have they offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord; and such things have befallen me: and if I had eaten the sin offering today, should it have been accepted in the sight of the Lord" (Leviticus 10:19-20)? Aaron's reason for his sons not eating the burnt sin offering was because of what happened earlier that day.
Some people say that Aaron did not want to have the feast of the burnt sin offering in an uncheerful manner. Others claim Aaron was humbled so much that he did not see himself as holy enough—even though the priest of God. We cannot be certain of the exact reasoning behind Aaron's decision here. But regardless of why Aaron refrains from eating the burnt sin offering, we see something clearly: Aaron has self-reflection.
Aaron does not accept the day's current events that relate to him so closely without looking at himself and his family. He has self-reflection and considers how he is seen by God in the face of everything that happened that day. He decided that whatever he did for God, it would not have been accepted by Him.
If more people had this mindset today, we would have less scandals in the Church. But if I am honest, in a moment of self-reflection, I am not worthy of writing these very words about God. Regarding the sin in my life (past and future), I am unworthy of embarking on a discourse of theology. On my merits alone, these very words are not acceptable to God. However, Jesus Christ makes these very words acceptable. My acceptance does not come from my relation to sin but Jesus's victory over sin and death.
Still, this victory over sin does not give me the liberty to sin (Galatians 5:13). And times exist when we need to take time out to self-reflect and understand our humble place before God. For instance, relating to the sin of the world can humble us to the point of praying for "our" sins as a nation, a society, and humanity. Yet we can be sure that despite sin and our connection with it, when we have Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, through Him, we overcome sin and the world (1 Corinthians 15:55-57; 2 Corinthians 5:21; John 16:33). Jesus is our righteousness that excuses us from our unworthiness.