Sloth
(This sermon notes are based on a series of teachings on the topic by Rev. Robert
E. Baron and other sources as indicated along with my personal reflections.)
One of the seven capital sins which represent the “I don't care” feeling.
A man sees that the practice of virtue is hard and so resists the service of
God. He becomes slothful and his soul grows sluggish and lazy at the
thought of the painful life journey. The idea of right living inspires not
joy but disgust, because of its laboriousness. This is the notion
commonly obtaining, and in this sense sloth is not a specific vice
according to the teaching of St. Thomas, but rather a circumstance of all
vices. Ordinarily it will not have the malice of mortal sin unless, of
course, we conceive it to be so total that because of it one is willing to
reject some serious obligation. In this sense sloth is directly opposed to
charity. The man who is slothful violates, therefore, expressly the first
and the greatest of the commandments: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy
God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole
mind, and with thy whole strength.” (Mark 12:30). (Catholicexchange.com)
St. Thomas Aquinas: Sloth is sorrow in regards to Spiritual good.
There is Spiritual good but no enthusiasm for accomplishing spiritual
Good.
The Medievals called it the noon day devil
Sloth is the Leathery for spiritual things
I cannot muster any energy or enthusiasm for things of the spirit
Boredom Depression, inactivity at the spiritual level of life.
Sloth is worse than pride – we just rest at the center
Secularism and it’s by products:
Relativism – truth varies from person to person and culture to
culture
Indifference to truth
70% of Catholics do not attend Mass
Fewer go to confession
Think of a River:
The river gains its momentum direction and speed from the banks;
Knock down the banks and it loses its direction and speed and
momentum and it just spreads out to become a lazy lake going nowhere.
Sloth comes from knocking down the walls of Truth, moral, spiritual and
intellectual values.
It makes me afraid and unable to move.
Think of Children playing by a cliff/mountain slope/Ledge – erect a wall
by the slope/cliff – they will play with great energy and enthusiasm.
But there comes along a great revolutionary who thinks that the walls
restrict children’s freedom and knocks it down –
Children become stunned by the danger of falling into the slope
and their enthusiasm is curtailed and they will no longer play with the
same energy. They will become more reserved.
When truth and morals are knocked down, we will become more
cautious and afraid and become lethargic.
Antidote: Zeal
Biblical Tradition:
Everyone called to do God’s work is given a mission to
accomplish
Jesus said: Zeal for the house of God set him on fire…
Moses _ stammering- but God said go set my people free
Isaiah – Unclean lips and lived among unclean people – God cleansed
and set him on mission
Jeramiah – Too youn – God said do not say you are too you, I will send
you --Peter – Depart from me Lord, for I am a sinful man – Lord said – Go
become a fisher of man
Saul – persecutor – the Lord knocked him down – preeminent preacher
of the Word to the gentiles
We are loved into existence by God and so we have a mission to
accomplish – to spread God’s love in some way.
The love of God is poured into our hearts –
Our mission is to share the Love of God with others --- find your
way, send me Lord
Cardinal New Man said:
“We all have been made for some quite purpose”
Made by a loving God to personify love itself – that is our mission, be
on fire for it. Get busy spreading love. That is our mission.
Practical Advice:
Work hard on discerning your mission in life
What is your prayer life like? Ask God to clarify your mission –
he will send someone to make it clear to you
Read the Scripture – you will find it
Seek a good spiritual director
Go to daily mass
Listen to God’s people, read the life of saints
Engage in corporal and spiritual works of mercy
Dorothy Day (Founder of Catholic Worker Movement) said
“Everything a baptized person does everyday should be directed
directly or indirectly by the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.”
I want so serve God but How?
Corporal Works of Mercy
Spiritual Works of Mercy
1. Give food to the Hungry
1. Pray for the living and the dead
2. Give drink to the thirsty
2. Instruct the ignorant
3. shelter the homeless
3. Counsel the doubtful
4. Visit the imprisoned
4. Admonish the sinners
5. Care for the sick
troublesome
5. Bear patiently the
6. Cloth the naked
6. Comfort the afflicted
7. Bury the dead
7. Forgive offenses
(The punishment in purgatory for the Slothful is running in haste)
Marion Remedy: (Luke 1:39)
She proceeded in haste to visit Elizabeth. Doing God’s will with Zeal.