Rules And Responsibility

 

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I recently contravened the rules of a Facebook group.

I posted an advert for a family member who was trying to sell some kittens. I had no idea that the content of my post broke the rules set down by admin.

Now these rules were a technicality but they were rules none the less. My post was removed and I was sent a warning message from admin that explained that if I was to post again in a way contrary to their rules they would have to block me from the group.

I found this quite confronting.

I knew I had done something wrong, even though unintentionally, and I felt a tightening in my stomach. I felt awful and this was only a frivolous Facebook problem!

All of this had me reflecting on how we feel when we do something wrong and wondering why I didn’t feel like this after every sin that I committed. I know that because of Original Sin I suffer from concupiscence which is simply a tendency to sin, and I know that I sin frequently but why don’t I have this sickening feeling in my stomach every time I lose my patience with my family or fail to respect my parents?

God’s judgement worries me more than the admin in the Facebook group, and yet this one incident had left me feeling more stressed about my failings than I had felt in recent times. If God was to call me to his Heavenly home tomorrow I’m certain I would be found wanting. I am often complacent, my prayer life is routine and arid and my living out of the virtues leaves a lot to be desired. But why doesn’t this fill me with more dread?

The answer, I think, is immediacy.

I could live another sixty years during which time I would have ample opportunity to make good spiritual use of my life whereas this recent post has immediate consequences. So I challenge you to take stock of your own soul. If God called you today, tomorrow or next week, how do you think you would fare in his judgement? I think we ought to try and live every day as though it was our last on this earth and not in a pleasure seeking, live life to the fullest way, but rather in a keep your soul ready for departure way.

We don’t know the hour that the master will return and I for one don’t intend to be one of those silly maidens caught without enough oil for their lamps. 

 

Originally posted 2015-05-05 12:00:33.

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