FRIDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT
Harming someone may not always result
in physical pain. Many people get caught up in major traumatic events and
forget to notice the everyday occurrences that derail societies. Lent, however,
reminds us to take a step back and examine the daily interactions and routines
of our life. Mental harm may be just as, if not more, detrimental to a person
as physical harm. Often times, we carry out an action even though in our hearts
we know God would not approve. It is easy to tell white lies since they appear
to be less harmful than an actual lie. Joseph’s brothers sold Joseph into
slavery because they saw it as less harmful and wrong than outright killing
him. Why should they fire the bullet when they can have someone else do their
dirty deed? Have you ever found yourself stuck in a sticky situation as this? (Aiding
a harmful action without directly making it occur.) Lent reminds us that even
though our actions may not directly bring about physical or mental harm, we
must take into account all the current and future consequences that could
result from our wrongdoing. I like to think of actions as a pebble hitting the
water. Though the initial impact of the pebble may only span a few inches, the
momentum of the pebble’s contact spreads immediately as ripples through the
rest of the water. No matter how small an action may be, its impact is endless.
Many wrongdoings are a result of our
jealously. Like most people, I find myself being jealous of others’ success,
happiness, and possessions. But, jealously will only lead to my demise. We live
in a world where bigger is emphasized as better: bigger houses, fancier cars,
more money, better bodies, better jobs…However, when focusing on the objects we
lack or want, we loose site of the riches we already posses. Everyone is
blessed in his or her own way. Lent offers us a time to reflect on the
blessings we currently have. Not all blessings will be evident at first. You
may over look the tender hug you received from a friend or the warm smile
shared by a stranger, but all blessings matter, big or small. Joseph’s brothers
got caught up in the favoritism their father showed towards Joseph that they
forgot to cherish the love their father had for them. By having food on the
dinner table, a place to sleep, and clothes to keep them warm, they were
already extremely fortunate. Even when we feel that we have lost everything, we
must never forget that we still have the one thing that means the most: God’s
love.
The overall theme I would like you to
contemplate is the following: the little things matter. Pope Francis’ Lenten
message is “He became poor so, that by His poverty you might become rich.” By
consciously reflecting on the impact of our everyday actions and remembering
our many blessings, we too will become rich, as the Lord has promised. We will
be rich in the sense of an enriched spirit, humble thoughts, and compassionate
actions.
Emma Dwyer is a junior studying
Biology.
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