Monday of the First Week in Lent
(Leviticus 19:1-2.11-18; Matthew 25:31-46)
The Scriptural readings for today’s mass strike a balance between negative and positive acts. Leviticus enumerates several “thou shalt nots” (although modern translations make it, “You shall not”). Knowing that humans are as likely to do evil as they are to fail doing good, the Church wants to remind us not to steal, judge harshly, or hate. The gospel, on the other hand, emphasizes that avoiding evil is not enough for salvation. The saved will also feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit the imprisoned.
We might ask which is more important – to avoid doing what is wrong or to do what is good? Can we risk doing harm by trying to do good? Or is it better to play it safe by never taking any chances? In medicine, at least, an answer to these puzzling questions seems to emerge. The Hippocratic Oath, which physicians took for centuries, clearly sides with the need to avoid malfeasance. After promising to offer dietetic measures to heal the sick, the oath-taker swears not to hasten death, induce abortion, or to molest patients or householders whom they visit. By nature conservative, the tradition means to temper the penchant of risk-taking.
It is fair to say that avoiding harm is essential but insufficient. If love is the supreme virtue, it entails that we act positively toward others by at least praying for them when we cannot offer physical or moral support. During Lent we may take stock of our lives by daily asking ourselves two questions: What evil have I done today? What good have I failed to do?
