Question of the Week, November 22, 2020, Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Year A
I want to sit with the word regret a bit today. Regret: "to feel sad, repentant, or disappointed over something that has happened or been done" or over a lost opportunity. One of the synonyms for regret is "to have a conscience about."
In light of today's Gospel (Matthew 25:31-46), it seems that for each of us, the greatest regrets should center around the lost opportunities we have had to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the ill, and visit the imprisoned, for these are the Gospel mandates, the practical ways to live out the Law of Love. To these, in light of what is happening in the world around us, we should also regret the lost opportunities we have had to speak up and speak out in the face of racial discrimination and injustice.
Pandemic days can play tricks on us. They can make us feel powerless and isolated, and they can be our excuse for drawing inward, circling the camps, and caring for our own. However, the Gospel call is true no matter the times. There are still hungry, thirsty, naked, ill, and imprisoned strangers and friends alike who need to be fed, welcomed, cared for, and set free. There are still racial and societal injustices that need addressing.
Especially as winter days and the holidays approach, we need to "have a conscience" and find the ways we can share in meeting real people's real needs in our families and communities. The work of the Church and God continues despite the challenging times. He calls us each day to be a part of that work.
Next Sunday, we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent, the season of preparation for the Christmas celebration. Between now and then, prayerfully consider ways that you can honor today's Gospel call so that your celebration of Christmas is truly a celebration of no regrets!
Mary Sellars Malloy has over forty years' experience as a Catholic educator and lay minister. She is a frequent workshop presenter on prayer, liturgy, spirituality, the Sacraments, and the RCIA. Also, Mary leads retreats and parish missions throughout the country. Her goal is to encourage Catholics of all ages to appreciate and to live their Catholic faith.