We were talking about hypocrisy. I readily agreed that for a Christian to bear witness effectively, at his workplace, at home, in the community, wherever, he couldn’t be hypocritical in his attitudes. People would be looking to him for guidance. However, I somehow had an uneasy feeling nagging inside me that seemed to be telling me….”Quo Vadis…?”…where did I actually stand in this matter…?
The following day was Sunday, the day of the Lord. I woke up a bit earlier to go to the confectionery to order an almond cake for the feast that we were planning in honour of the new parish priest. On my way I drove past two men working outside a garage, shoveling a pile of sand. Impulsively, self-righteous indignation welled up inside of me, forcing me to grumble and judge those men, “couldn’t this work have waited for tomorrow? Why work on a Sunday? The day of the Lord? Is it possible that we cannot seem to afford not working on Sunday to dedicate the day to our Creator?”
At any rate, I drove on past them and the thought quickly passed out of my mind. In a minute, I found myself at the end of a long queue inside the confectionery. Patiently waiting for my turn, I was at the same time trying to make up my mind which pastry cakes I would buy to take home along with me. All along, I was eyeing the sales-girls behind the counter, the waiters serving at the tables, and the dolciera at the back of the premises. Everybody bustling about busily, doing their utmost to keep up with the incessant flow of customers streaming into the shop.
Now, wait for it… Throughout the half hour I spent in the shop, it never crossed my mind, not even a small inkling…to question why all those people were working on a Sunday..!! No, of course not! It just wasn’t in my interest to do so! After all, I needed to be served. It was in MY interest for them to work on a Sunday…the day of the Lord!
Quo vadis, my friend? Where are your values? How many compromises are you prepared to concede in the name of your personal comfort, and satisfaction. On the other hand, how quick you are to judge others!
Lord has mercy on me, a sinner! Either way, I was in the wrong. Lord, I admit that I cannot see the way, I feel as if I am lost. All I can do is to trust in You, that somehow, you will put things right, even in this miserable life of mine…even though this seems impossible! I pray, Lord, that you will grant me the light that will guide me along the path of life. Hoping that someday, perhaps, I too will be saved.
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