Excuses , Excuses
In accord with the dictate in the law of the Lord. –Luke 2:24
Don’t you find it strange that Jesus had to be brought to the temple and be presented to God? He is the Son of God! Surely, He’s exempt from these ceremonies.
Joseph and Mary had the perfect excuse to stay home and avoid the trouble of traveling all the way to Jerusalem for Jesus’ presentation. But they still went through the trouble and, without any intention of offering an excuse, followed the ceremony because “it is written in the law of the Lord.”
Seeing Joseph and Mary, it is shameful how we make excuses for ourselves. When we’re too lazy to hear Mass, we say that missing it will not make us evil and we’re still better than others who do hear Mass but are worse sinners than us. When we’re too proud to go to Confession, we justify that God already knows our sins and how sorry we are. When we’re too stingy to give tithes, we rationalize that we give to charity anyway.
The excuses are endless. But if we know how much God loves us, we will realize that He asks so little and offering excuses actually makes no sense.Pepper Bruce (pepper.bruce@gmail.com)
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REFLECTION:
“The real man is one who always finds excuses for others, but never excuses himself.” (Henry Ward Beecher)
Lord, sometimes we fail to appreciate that You love us so much that You gave us Your own Son. May we show our love in return through the sacraments and through serving You.
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