Wednesday of the
Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
(I Corinthians 7:25-31; Luke 6:20-26)
The man could not stop gambling. He had been in the casino some while. He lost all that he could afford to lose and much
more. Then he dipped into his
savings. Soon the money reserved for
taxes was bet and lost. He felt he could
still beat the system. Of course, it
beat him. He went home broke, worried,
and angry at himself. This scenario holds
for other kinds of compulsions as well as gambling. People often lose what is very important in
attempt to achieve some elusive satisfaction. In the first reading today St.
Paul warns the Corinthians not to allow sex to be their downfall.
Paul knows that sex is not intrinsically evil. He does not condemn it, but he expresses his
reservations about it candidly. If one
can live without it, the apostle advises, he will probably be happier in the
end. Believing that Christ is to return
soon, Paul does not mention having children.
All that really matters is to prepare oneself for that great event by
living righteously. It is paramount that
the person not lose herself in the pursuit of pleasure.
Although even yet Christ has not returned, we still will experience
a shortage of time if we spend it profligately in vain pursuits. Sex, of course, is a prime suspect. Other potential pitfalls are alcohol,
gambling, and even acquiring electronic gadgets. These pursuits need not be judged as evil in
themselves. But if they take control of good
judgment, they will detour us from Christ.
That would be a pity because Christ brings the lasting happiness that
our hearts desire.
