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The Time After Pentecost
we offer them a word of encouragement in the spirit of meekness and charity! Why should I
care for him? we ask ourselves; he is old enough to take care of himself. But we should have
more concern for his condition.
“Bear ye one another’s burdens.” A great misfortune has overtaken our neighbor, for he has
become the victim of passion, the dupe of his own imprudence and unchecked evil tendencies.
And what do we do about it? How do families react to the fall of one of its members, even a
religious family? Very often the poor sinner is greeted only with words of condemnation and
contempt. He is often shunned as being unclean, unworthy to sit at table with his brethren
or to associate with them. He is stoned on every hand, and men see only his sins and his
weaknesses. Is that what the Apostle meant when he admonished us: “Bear ye one another’s
burdens”? Certainly not! Precisely at such times, when our brother has met with calamity, he
stands in need of help, “so that on the contrary, you should rather forgive him and comfort
him lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech
you, that you would confirm your charity towards him” (2 Cor 2:7 f.). Especially at such times
we should show our interest in his welfare and devise ways and means of approaching him in
the matter, of assisting him and helping him. “Bear ye one another’s burdens.” We must pray
for our brother; we must know how to share his trials with him; we must do penance with
him and for him, just as Christ did penance for us and sacrificed Himself for us. That is true
Christian charity.
“So you shall fulfill the law of Christ.” Hate sin but love the sinner. We are to hate all sin and
wrongdoing, yet love the sinner with a merciful and benevolent charity. But do we act thus? We
distinguish between the sin and the sinner, but we are so severe with the sin that we despise the
sinner also. Instead of bearing patiently the sins and faults of others, we use them as an occasion
for despising our brother and for exalting ourselves.
Let us consider seriously the example left us by our Lord. How did He bear our burdens?
He poured out His blood on the cross that He might obtain pardon for all our sins and infidelities.
He offers His body and blood to the Father each day for us in the Holy Sacrifice. With what
patience, meekness, and longsuffering He endures sinners! He prays for them in His tabernacle
without ceasing. In spite of our continued neglect of Him, He continues to give Himself to us
with perfect charity in Holy Communion.
Prayer
Let Thy continual pity cleanse and defend Thy Church, we beseech Thee, O Lord; and because
it cannot continue in safety without Thee, govern it evermore by Thy help. Through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
Saturday
The Church cries out from the depths of her misery, and we cry out with her: “Bow down Thy
ear, O Lord, to me and hear me; save Thy servant, O my God, that trusteth in Thee; have mercy
on me, O Lord, for I have cried to Thee all the day. Give joy to the soul of Thy servant” (Introit).
“Let Thy continual pity cleanse and defend Thy Church, . . . and because it cannot continue in
safety without Thee, govern it evermore by Thy help” (Collect).
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