I have some “sobering and staggering statistical thoughts” for you to consider.
Think for a moment about the people living right now, today, in places like Iraq, Syria, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan and Afghanistan. Picture the lives of “innocent little children.” These places have been “wracked with violence” for years, in some places for decades…and decades.
Those not directly threatened by the “violence of war” are in many cases still threatened either by the “consequences of war,” or by “government corruption” or simply by “crises in nature.”
World Aid Organizations estimate that ½ of the world’s population (let me say that again, roughly ½ of the world’s population) some 3 billion people plus – live – at a level of subsistence, and are only one drought or one flood away from extinction. And in this country, millions are just one paycheck away from being destitute or homeless. Equally sobering – millions more “ARE” homeless. And here we sit. …Here we sit… Are they worse sinners than we are? Are they somehow, less deserving?
Do not answer too quickly…
It happens every day in “religious circles” – where all sorts of “religious people” are quick to condemn “others” – while “beatifying themselves” of course.
And that was true – even in the days of Jesus.
People thought that the “victims of disasters” – both “manmade and natural” – were sinners who were being condemned by God.
Just so you know, before anyone starts to feel even “a little bit self-righteous” – there are still “false prophets” galore who teach “similar things” today.
They see a hurricane or a tornado or a disease as being God’s punishment against “some people’s sins.”
And to this – Jesus says, “Baloney!” OK maybe he didn’t exactly say, “baloney” – but he did say, “NO!” – “Absolutely NOT” – “That’s not how God works.”
How dare these people speak for God How dare they spew “their venom” in God’s name! And how dare “good” people listen to them and follow them!
As Jesus clearly says in Matthew’s Gospel – “the sun shines and the rain falls on the just and the unjust alike!”
Why is it people overlook that one verse?
Nope, I tell you, we are all sinners.
We all need to repent. Each and every one of us…
Remember, “Thought, word and deed?”
And you do realize – that the very first thing we do – when we gather together at each and every liturgy is to confess our sins and repent. There is a good reason why that is how we begin. There is a good reason why we do that first and foremost. There is good reasoning why this ancient rite continues today.
It is because we are ALL sinners.
How dare you look beyond the end of your own nose? How dare you point a “self-righteous finger anywhere.” How dare you even consider the thought – that you might “possibly be” better than someone else!
We need to acknowledge that. We need to believe that. We know it is “true” in our heart of hearts. Now, we need to practice it!
One of the things that we need to do is to repent right from the “get go – right from the start!”
How dare we have the “audacity” to regard ourselves as “ok” – and regard “others” as being somehow “less-than-ok.”
Who made you judge?
We live in a world where good things and bad things happen to good people and to bad people alike.
We reap what we sow. Our actions do have consequences.
Whatever happened to “personal responsibility?”
We sure do like “denial.”
We sure do like to shirk any and all personal responsibility.
You need to know and to realize that this happens and occurs without any direct intervention by God. Bad stuff happens. Sure, go ahead and blame God, if it makes you happy. God can take it.
I believe – one of the great recurring themes of the entire Bible is that – “the line” that separates “the sinner and the saint” – is really no line at all.
We are the ones who like to draw lines.
We are the ones who like to cause division and separation. We are the ones who like to build walls. And that, folks is a classic definition of sin.
We all sin. We all fall short. We are all in desperate need of mercy.
Therefore, as Jesus himself said, “Repent!”