GETTING OUR OWN HOUSE IN ORDER
(Friday, January 3)
“He that is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much: and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.” (Lk 16:10)
I’m thinking today about the man who mowed down the crowds of people in New Orleans. His story seems to be one of a person who can’t manage to bring his own, “least” personal affairs in order, so he takes his anger and frustration out on his “much” broader society. According to reports I’ve read, he had financial and personal problems at home, was going through a messy divorce, and “at first planned to gather his family for a ‘celebration’ with the intention of killing them.” But finally, he opted for going out and killing strangers in a very public space in New Orleans, while also intending to connect his “message” with that of ISIS.
I think this is an extreme example of personal frustrations being channelled into political and criminal actions. It’s probably the personal anger and frustrations (or just boredom) of certain people in power that lead them to start wars and mow down innocent people, as Putin is doing in Ukraine. But let’s forget about the extreme cases. A lot of our own politics, insofar as we engage them with anger or frustration, might also be coming from unresolved personal issues at home.
It’s important for me to be faithful “in what is least,” at home, so I can also be faithful “in much,” as a citizen of our broader society, is the lesson I glean for myself from the crime committed in New Orleans. And by being “faithful,” I mean maintaining faith and peace in God, throughout the difficulties, which is no small challenge in a world that can be cruel and unjust. Our own family can be cruel and unjust. But our faith in God is tested first through our closest relationships, and it is fortified through overcoming resentments and taking responsible action, rather than crashing and burning either internally or externally (like the man in New Orleans). Our Father! Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, and deliver us from the evil one. Amen!
