“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea.”
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Thursday 23rd May 2024 – MARK 9:41-50.
So, sometimes, our actions or inactions cause other people to fall into sin unwillingly, but sometimes, quite regrettably, wilfully, too.
For example, stopping at the traffic light, the vehicle we are driving could be higher than the ones behind us. If after waiting for some seconds and we decide to just charge through, we have erred before the law.
That singular act may bring about series of other reactions.
The vehicles behind us unaware that the light hasn’t turned green yet and having not checked, may also follow the erring vehicle.
This may cause accident, bringing about several damages and even threat to life.
In all of this, the erring vehicle may have wriggled it way out of the traffic logjam that may have ensued and has since gone.
Rest assured, any of us who so does such would definitely share in the wrath of that sin as well as any death that may occur, to talk less of the law.
When we have upper hand on others and we tend to become bullies, we could be affecting the psychological well-being of our victims.
And when these victims in future become socio-paths or psycho-paths and start affecting the society wrongly, rest assured, we share in whatever sins they perpetrate.
Even those of us who dress flagrantly, we are equally culpable.
In our thinking and opinion, we could be dressing for ourselves, to make us feel good. Nevertheless, the world is not blind. Of course, the rest of the world may turn a blind eye to us, though, we could have already abused the sensibilities of all those who deliberately chose to turn a blind eye to us.
Since sinning also includes our thoughts, when those whose sensibilities we have abused start harbouring sinful thoughts as a result of what they saw of our dressing, rest assured, we will most definitely share in their sinfulness.
When a child in our home gets up in the morning and doesn’t greet any of their elderly ones, we must correct that child. If we notice this and are less concerned or deliberately refuse to correct that child, we have not only sinned by our inaction , we also share in the delinquency that may arise from the dismal nurturing of the child.
That’s why, my dear friend, when we do penance, we pray for the sins we have committed knowingly and unknowingly, from our thoughts, actions and inactions as well as omissions.
Dear friend, Christ Jesus in today’s teaching says of us so guilty, that it is better if a heavy millstone were tied round our neck and we are thrown into the sea.
This☝️ is heavy, mark it and take note.
May God grant us the grace to avoid leading others to sin knowingly and unknowingly from our actions and inactions.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.