The sin of Sloth is an apathy towards the reality that God made the universe and became a human being so as to take on all of our offenses and sins so that we might sped eternal life with him in Heaven.
Chew on that reality for about a minute.
Really think about what type of sacrifice that must have been. Not to die on the cross, but to become a human being. We have so many problems with our own ego when we don't want to accept a certain place in line or a seat at the table because it is below us. We think that we deserve all of this honor.
Imagine that you have created something and then given someone else the control over that creation. They have the ability or the dominion to manipulate it, to change it, to basically form it the way that they want.
Now suppose the others that you have given control of your creation to have completely rejected you. Not only doing things with your creation that you didn't want them to do, but also essentially telling others and themselves that you weren't even the creator! You aren't getting credit!
Well, in order for you to spend the rest of your life with these folks who have control of your creation, you have to become one of them. You have to disguise yourself. You have to pretend you are not who you are so that you can start to reveal to them how everything really works.
I don't know about you but if I had that kind of power I would just go back to square one and re-create something else and leave the old project to rot. There is no way I am going to go through all of that.
Yet that is exactly what Jesus Christ has done for us.
It wasn't just that he was crucified, which in and of itself changes the game, demanding a reaction.
It wasn't just that he came and taught the correct interpretation of the law, which also demands a reaction.
It is the fact that Jesus Christ even became human in the first place that demands a reaction from us.
This is where Sloth enters the picture.
There is a fundamental choice that is made when someone chooses to be apathetic or slothful when it comes to the faith. It is a deliberate laziness in regards to their immortal soul and the actions that they need to take to improve their lives.
Now, if you are taking the Sainthood Challenge, then you certainly are rejecting sloth to a certain extent. Today is evaluation day.
Are you giving the Sainthood Challenge your all?
Are you living as if sainthood is the most important thing one could aspire to? As if it is the one thing that you desire?
Have you started to "fall off" and let little things slide? Didn't read the Scriptures yesterday? The prayer has not been what it was at the beginning?
Today is a day to confront the growth of sloth in your Challenge and in your own life. Today is the day that you recommit yourself to completing the Challenge for the next 16 days.
How to do that? Welcome to another list:
- Recognize that the past is the past and today is the only thing that matters. Apologize, pray, move forward.
- Realize that tomorrow is too intimidating for you to confront today. That is why it is tomorrow. Concern yourself with how you are becoming a saint RIGHT NOW.
- Stop comparing yourself to anyone else. The people around you, the other people in the Challenge, even to people that you admire. You have a path that is uniquely your own. To get caught up because you are not living up to someone else's standards only hurts you in the long run.
- Have a completely honest moment of prayer. A moment where you recognize Jesus as the Lord and Savior that He is. Let your soul talk directly to God and just put yourself in His presence.
- Answer this question: can I help anyone else in my life if I am not pursuing holiness to the best of my ability?
- What do you think the greatest cause of Sloth is in the world today? Why?
- What are some triggers that cause you to be apathetic about your faith? Is it a lack of faith on your part or a fear of the responsibility that you may have to take on in your own life?
- Why is Sloth so easy to point out in other people but so hard to see in ourselves?
- How can we overcome apathy in ourselves? What steps can we take in order to avoid the attack of Sloth?
- What is the best way to fight Sloth in others without coming across as "preachy"?
- Do not allow yourself to have a "give-or-take" attitude with God today. Either be passionately in love with God or passionately despise Him. Which is easier?
- Share with someone your passion for God. If you don't find that this is an easy thing to do, remember that it is a "Challenge" not a "Comfort."
- Be single-minded for one day. Don't allow yourself to be distracted in prayer, with your family, or at work. It is easy in our lives to let our minds wander and to start to multi-task, but when we tend to lose our passion and focus.
- Make a list of the things that you are passionate about. Then make another list of the things that you spend the most time on during the course of the week. Do the two of them match?
- What about your own life would cause someone who is Sloth-ful about the Faith want to change their lives? Is there something about your life or the way that you are living that would cause those around you to want to engage the Faith? If there isn't, start to make active changes that would cause those around you to desire the faith that you have.
Pray the Lectio Divina at some point in the day.
Psalm 51:12 (pray in the morning)
Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
