Our Collective Sin

Gospel: John 12: 1-11

The poor we will always have because we are all Judas.  We steal from the poor each and every day, and we justify ourselves in countless ways.  We have far more garments than we need.  We could give them to clothe the naked, but we do not.  We have larger houses than we need to store the stuff we do not need.  All of it could be used to help the poor.  We could live in simpler homes that use less energy but we do not.  We could eat less, practice regular fasting, and use the money to help feed the poor, but we do not.

As a society we have the means to provide universal health care for all, but we do not.  We have the ability to provide universal education, college, and vocational training to all, but we do not.  Instead, we will build new stadiums for billionaires so that millionaires can play sporting events that we so desperately need to forget the fact that we have robbed from the poor individually and collectively.  We are the reason poverty exists.  

As Lent draws to a close, it is a time to reflect: did we learn the lessons fasting and almsgiving were meant to teach us? Did these practices help us to lead simpler lives, to be more merciful and caring for the poor among us? If not, there is always time to begin anew and apply these lessons to our life.