Men's Rosary

There have been many things that I have not done for a multitude of reasons or excuses.  I am sure many share this company!  I have heard people say “if only” way too many times, me included.  Most of the time it was in regard to secular affairs.   A business opportunity passed on, a savings plan not pursued, a job opportunity not taken, schooling not undertaken, etc.  These things are rather simple to overcome or correct.  What concerns me most; is failing to do in matters of faith.

Our sins of commission, those we bring to the sacrament of Reconciliation are rather plain and obvious to us.  However, I have found  it to be more challenging in an examination of conscious to identify the sins of omission.  Where did I fail to do?  “For whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”  (James 4:17)  We know right from wrong and are able to recognize wrongdoing and ask for God’s mercy and forgiveness for our actions. Should we not be doing this for our inaction?  If we are to live  life in Christ we must walk as He walked.  We are to walk by faith, faith in Jesus, and imitate Him in our lives.  “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”  (1 John 1:6)  I find the corporal works of mercy; feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, visit the prisoners, bury the dead, give alms to the poor;  as well as the ten commandments, a good barometer of my sins of omission.  The challenge is to have a Christ-centered faith and not a self-centered faith.  Coming away from the point of view of what I did wrong, how I offended God;  to an understanding of how I offended God by failing to do things for others.  We really know all of this but simply fail to recognize it and act.  Our complacency will let us simmer in what we think to be sufficient in our spiritual life, not what God calls us to in our spiritual life.   That is the kiss of death!  “Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning.  For some have no knowledge of God.  I say this to your shame.”  (1 Corinthians 15:34)

As also regards inaction and omission, are the times we fail to heed God’s call.  Many times, in life, in all areas of life, that nudge to do something which we shrug off, is really the Holy Spirit at work.  When comforts of life cause us to say no to serving this is not paying attention to God, rather it is following the flesh.  This does not put us in a position of pleasing God and growing in our faith.  “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law;  indeed, it cannot.  Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”  (Romans 8:7-8)  When we get those “gut” feelings, think of them as God speaking to us, as movements of the Holy spirit.  “I should visit the friend in the hospital,” “I ought to visit mom,” “perhaps I should cut the grass for the elderly neighbor,” “I should buy this for a friend,” all these thoughts are not random.  To ignore them is omission.

Turning to our prayer life, the same is true.  The feelings of “needing” to read scripture more, to pray more, to serve in a parish ministry, to evangelize more and share the faith; these are not thoughts that we produce.  It is God speaking to us.  How will we answer?  To not answer is omission.  To answer is to serve, so God can speak loudly through our lives.  This is part of our entering into the priesthood of Christ by virtue of our Baptism and Confirmation.  “For no prophesy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”  (2 Peter 1:21)  So it is, by prayer, that we keep open to God to discern His will for our life and be courageous and act. 

Our entire life, every aspect, must be kept the in framework of our faith.  A Christ-centered life is just that…everything and every decision revolves around Him and our desire to imitate him.  Even when things seem uncertain or hopeless, when the grips of fear try to drag us down, when our pride tries to keep our focus on ourselves, when the flesh is strong and the voice of complacency is loud, we need to lean on God and trust in our belief.  This is the time not to lean on ourselves and our judgement and understanding. We simply need to follow God.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

“If we wish to follow Christ closely, we cannot choose an easy, quiet life.  It will be a demanding life but full of joy!  (Pope Francis)