Daily Retreat 05/21/08
2008 May 21 Wed: Ordinary Weekday/ Christopher Magallanes, p, & co., mts
Jas 4: 13-17/ Ps 48(49): 2-3. 6-7. 8-10. 11/ Mk 9: 38-40
From today’s readings: “So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, it is a sin.... Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.... For whoever is not against us is for us. ”
You know what to do....
"Doing the right thing" is not always easy, a fact that the sins of our lives give sad testimony about. To be sure, there are times when it's difficult even to know what is the right thing to do, which is why it's essential for us to practice virtue in even small matters, and to educate our consciences with continuing schooling from the divine Teacher and the Magisterium of His Church.
But more often than not, we do know, with the help of God's light, what is the right thing to do, so when we fail to do it, the breakdown betrays a selfish or an anemic will much more often than a retarded or deficient intellect. Note that, even when there is no obvious transgression of divine commandments, as St. James points out, simply refraining from doing the right thing is a clear wrong in itself, a "sin of omission," in common parlance.
Personally, I know I'm far too fast to excuse my many sins of omission - I'm busy, or tired, or distracted, or unprepared, or not absolutely sure what is best - there's always some seemingly good reason to simply not quite get around to doing what God has patiently helped me realize really is the right thing to do. But all such self-justifications come from the Devil's Excuse Mill! So, instead of short-changing our God-given will by with poor rationalizations for not doing the right thing, you and I need to invest ourselves in the portfolio of Providence, for whenever God shows us, in whatever manner, what is the right thing to do, He concurrently pledges to assist us with super sufficient grace to just do it!
Jas 4: 13-17/ Ps 48(49): 2-3. 6-7. 8-10. 11/ Mk 9: 38-40
From today’s readings: “So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, it is a sin.... Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.... For whoever is not against us is for us. ”
You know what to do....
"Doing the right thing" is not always easy, a fact that the sins of our lives give sad testimony about. To be sure, there are times when it's difficult even to know what is the right thing to do, which is why it's essential for us to practice virtue in even small matters, and to educate our consciences with continuing schooling from the divine Teacher and the Magisterium of His Church.
But more often than not, we do know, with the help of God's light, what is the right thing to do, so when we fail to do it, the breakdown betrays a selfish or an anemic will much more often than a retarded or deficient intellect. Note that, even when there is no obvious transgression of divine commandments, as St. James points out, simply refraining from doing the right thing is a clear wrong in itself, a "sin of omission," in common parlance.
Personally, I know I'm far too fast to excuse my many sins of omission - I'm busy, or tired, or distracted, or unprepared, or not absolutely sure what is best - there's always some seemingly good reason to simply not quite get around to doing what God has patiently helped me realize really is the right thing to do. But all such self-justifications come from the Devil's Excuse Mill! So, instead of short-changing our God-given will by with poor rationalizations for not doing the right thing, you and I need to invest ourselves in the portfolio of Providence, for whenever God shows us, in whatever manner, what is the right thing to do, He concurrently pledges to assist us with super sufficient grace to just do it!
posted by FrPitstick | 5/20/2008
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