Daily Reflections - February 28,2013

THE SIN OF DOING LESS

Wrongdoing is a word we use as a synonym for sin. Going through the parable of Jesus featured in our Gospel today, we take note though that the rich man, after his death, was tormented in the flames of the netherworld not for any wrongdoing! He did nothing wrong to poor Lazarus whom he allowed to stay at his door. He even practiced charity as he gave the scraps from his table to poor Lazarus. Scraps were pieces of bread used to wipe the oils and the remnants of a feast.

The point of Jesus is this: the rich man could have done more! If we review the many teachings and exhortations of Jesus, we know that He is never content with the minimum. For Him, the measure of giving is that more is expected from one who has more. For Him, forgiving seven times is nothing. The godly must forgive seventy times seven (or infinitely), or seventy-seven times when the offender also comes seventy-seven times asking for pardon. The minimum is the standard of the Law, but Jesus has come to perfect the Law.

The sins that we ought to examine in ourselves, and that we ought to repent of, are not just our wrong thoughts, words and actions. We ought to go deeper. We must include in our acts of contrition, and in our resolutions to amend our lives, our indifference and coldness to other persons’ great needs, our insensitivity to the cries of the poor, our non-involvement in the defense of justice and truth, our mediocre way of being Christians, our shallow show of seasonal charity and gift-giving to the sick and impoverished, etc. We should not seek to simply maintain what good things we have been doing, but rather see how we can do more. Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: What practices and traditions of charity have you been doing as part of your Lenten observance? What more can you do, given your blessings? Who are the needy persons whom the Lord calls you to minister to?

Grant me a compassionate heart, Lord, that I may always respond to the needy around me.