Matthew 25

Today's first reading begins, 'Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy'. Instantly I'm intimidated. Really, God? You expect me to be holy, like you are? You know me better than that!!

But then He goes on to list out to Moses what it takes to be 'holy, as He is holy'. And it's no more than a laundry list of how to be a decent human being: don't steal; don't lie; don't cuss like a sailor; don't be a crook; don't take advantage of the weak and suck up to the rich and powerful; don't hold grudges and be hateful to your neighbor - treat others the way you want to be treated. Not so very difficult when you stop and think about it. This is all it takes to be - holy.....

Jesus, however, proceeds to put the hammer down on me in the gospel. He details the consequences of choosing not to 'be holy, as He is holy' - Matthew, chapter 25, verses 31 through 46 - probably my least favorite passage in all of scripture. Why? Because every time I read it or hear it read it convicts me. It reminds me once again that I'm leaning heavily towards the 'goat camp'. When I go to confession, the sins of commission are pretty small and few - but the sins of omission - well, that's a very different story, one that could fill a large book. We're called to recognize and respond to the needs of others, even if that causes us inconvenience, even if it takes our time away from things we feel we 'need' to do. And when I look at myself in the mirror, I realize how woefully short I fall in terms of doing these acts of charity to Jesus, disguised as the 'least of His brothers'.

Why do others find it so easy to go out of their way to minister to their fellow creatures while I find it so difficult to force myself to do what i know I'm supposed to do? Even when the dire consequences are spelled out, it's still easier to plop down like a stubborn mule and say, 'no, I'm not going to go'..... it's madness.....

The problem, I guess, is thinking that an act of will, doing it in my own strength, is what i have to do; that will never work. Only His love can overcome the worst sin of all - apathy.  O, Lord, give me the love that you have for these least ones.....