This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.
Sometimes, Scripture reminds us that Christian life is really quite radical.
In today’s first reading, Paul doesn’t specifically speak about gluttony or other sins of excess. But he does speak about those for whom “their God is their stomach,” people whose “minds are occupied with earthly things.” Christians who aren’t focused on Heaven, where our true “citizenship” lies.
But isn’t that you and I? How often we think more about what’s for dinner than whether our day has impact for the salvation and sanctification of our neighbor–or even their earthly welfare. We plan for our next vacation, the age at which we’ll be able to retire in comfort, but rarely, perhaps, is our day obsessed with using our short time on earth to prepare ourselves and others for that which matters: Eternity.
Like the dishonest steward in today’s gospel, we are squandering the Master’s property–that is, the gift He has given us of our time on earth–and if we are brutally honest, we merit the same dismissal applied to that steward.
So, what are we to do? We look around, like that steward, at the other servants around us, and we realize that they too are in deep debt with the Master. So we begin to work at diminishing their debt.
We can diminish the burden of sin which is the debt owed to the Master, to God, both by our brothers and sisters on earth, and by the souls in Purgatory. We can do so by praying and sacrificing for them tirelessly; by forming the habit of offering every hangnail, every stubbed toe, every suffering of any kind for others, that their hearts may be converted to the Lord and their sins may be forgiven.
This opportunity hearkens back to the lesson of the Our Father: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We could say, per today’s gospel, “Forgive us our worldiness, because we have spent our lives helping to alleviate the burden of sin that others carry.”
Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Elsewhere, St. Paul tells us, “Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 2:5) The attitude of Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word, can be summed up as passionate love for His Father and the salvation and welfare of every human. In the midst of our worldliness and sinfulness, a shortcut to intimacy with Him is self-giving for our fellow persons, in line with His passionate love. Contemplate Him carrying His cross to Calvary. Ask Him why He cares so much, in the midst of so much obliviousness and ingratitude. Ask Him how you can make up for your worldliness by growing in effective self-offering to Him for others.
Follow the Author on Twitter:Follow @mvhaywilliams