Dear Parishioners:
We continue our journey through the Spiritual Works of Mercy. The Spiritual Works of Mercy are acts of
compassion by which we help our neighbors with their emotional and spiritual
needs.
·
admonish sinners
The Spiritual Work of Mercy most
difficult to do in our day is perhaps that of admonishing sinners. This has traditionally been “easier” because
society used to have a common sense of sin and a common desire to be well-ordered
in relation to God. Nowadays “separation
of church and state” has been pushed to the level of denying even a right to
tell others that what they are doing is sinful.
What at one time was common agreement is no longer so. We may agree that we are, in general,
supposed to “do good and avoid evil,” but saying anything more specific is
rejected.
Nonetheless, it is a Work of Mercy,
to admonish sinners. In order to be able
to respond to this work, we must concentrate on the meaning of admonish. To admonish is to speak to another person in
order to urge some action or behavior be done or be avoided. In other words, it is to offer a correction
or advice about moral action in the well-founded hope that the other will
respond and change the behavior in question.
To admonish is not to judge a
person, but an action, according to the standard of the Gospel. It is not a condemnation. Rather, it is an invitation to a new way of
living.
It is helpful in present-day
circumstances to acknowledge that new lines have been drawn in society. We can only admonish those who can be
expected to value or to receive our words as something of importance in their
decision-making process. Parents can and
should admonish their children, no matter what the age. However, the truth must be spoken in love and
not harshly. There must be a founded
hope of being heard.
In the end, admonishment is a
question of trust. Whom do you allow
into your circle of trust in such a way that they can tell you that you are off
track? God has entrusted us to one
another. When we open our hearts to
accept others’ counsel and to give true and honest feedback to those with whom
we share a relationship in Christ, we fulfill the Work of Mercy to admonish
sinners. This is one aspect of the prophetic
role we receive through our Baptism into Christ.
Lent begins this Wednesday! I admonish all of you entrusted to my care as
Pastor to live this Lent well. Open your
heart to God’s Mercy as He calls you back.
Be ready to acknowledge that you are a sinner among sinners. Pray, Fast and Give Alms to overcome sin and
increase virtue.
This year, as a Family, find a way
to pray together. Stations of the Cross every Friday of Lent is a good
practice. Accept the Knights of Columbus
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