Sins of Not Bothering to Love
THE SIN OF NOT BOTHERING TO LOVE
(This essay is lifted from the book Commandments of Compassion by James Keenan, S.J. It explicitates what to my opinion is a most accurate presentation on what sin is and what it does to us. May we learn our lessons well on living and loving. Go with God! -- Ms.Lorna)
Who is the sinner? -- The parent who tried to be caring, responsible, and loving, but nevertheless caused harm, or the parent who did well but loved little? Clearly, I think sin is in the latter and not in the former. Sin is simply not bothering to love.
Not bothering to love is precisely the Gospel concept of sin. Jesus tells us that to love God and neighbor is the sum of the law. When someone asks him to clarify his teaching, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan. In it the one who loves is the Samaritan; those who fail to love - the priest and Levite – are sinners. Surprisingly we may notice that while Jesus has indicted (implicitly) the latter, he does not lead the listener to consider the wrongdoing of those who beat up the poor man on that famous road to Jericho.
In fact, throughout the Gospels, sin is not attributed to obvious wrongdoers, but consistently to those who don’t bother to love. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus, for example, tells of a man who never bothered to notice his brother at the gate and who is punished for his negligence with hell fire. Similarly, the guest who fails to bother with the proper wedding garment is cast out to gnash his teeth. Matthew’s last judgment separates the sheep from the goats, those who bothered to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned from those who did not bother and are condemned. Sin in the Gospels is always about not bothering to love.
Most people are able to recognize their own wrongdoing. We know, can easily name, and confess when we bad-mouth someone, indulge in an obsession, let our anger fly, or act irresponsibly. But we don’t so easily recognize
(This essay is lifted from the book Commandments of Compassion by James Keenan, S.J. It explicitates what to my opinion is a most accurate presentation on what sin is and what it does to us. May we learn our lessons well on living and loving. Go with God! -- Ms.Lorna)
Who is the sinner? -- The parent who tried to be caring, responsible, and loving, but nevertheless caused harm, or the parent who did well but loved little? Clearly, I think sin is in the latter and not in the former. Sin is simply not bothering to love.
Not bothering to love is precisely the Gospel concept of sin. Jesus tells us that to love God and neighbor is the sum of the law. When someone asks him to clarify his teaching, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan. In it the one who loves is the Samaritan; those who fail to love - the priest and Levite – are sinners. Surprisingly we may notice that while Jesus has indicted (implicitly) the latter, he does not lead the listener to consider the wrongdoing of those who beat up the poor man on that famous road to Jericho.
In fact, throughout the Gospels, sin is not attributed to obvious wrongdoers, but consistently to those who don’t bother to love. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus, for example, tells of a man who never bothered to notice his brother at the gate and who is punished for his negligence with hell fire. Similarly, the guest who fails to bother with the proper wedding garment is cast out to gnash his teeth. Matthew’s last judgment separates the sheep from the goats, those who bothered to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned from those who did not bother and are condemned. Sin in the Gospels is always about not bothering to love.
Most people are able to recognize their own wrongdoing. We know, can easily name, and confess when we bad-mouth someone, indulge in an obsession, let our anger fly, or act irresponsibly. But we don’t so easily recognize