We Do the Evil We Do Not Want

October 27, Friday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: First Reading: Romans 7:18–25; Gospel: Luke 12:54–59

We do not like evil. In actuality, we find those who commit evil to be utterly scandalous. We criticize and reprove people who, in our opinion, are doing wrong. However, most of the time, we see evil as something outside of ourselves. We do not realize or do not want to stop thinking that it is also something we personally struggle with.

Paul, in the first reading today, in a very sincere and human fashion, confesses to us his difficulty in doing what is right, and, not just that, he also shares his painful confusion in understanding why he does what is evil and not what he knows to be good. And aren't we all suffering from this same illness?

Many of us experience the feeling of being unable to let go of ill attitudes, which may be hurtful to ourselves and to others. Some experience addictions of different kinds. We all deal with some sort of addiction, ranging from the very bad to the mild ones, which we do not pay attention to because we think they are not that harmful. All addictions are damaging.

In the Gospel, Jesus urges us to look around and be conscious of what is going on in our lives. We can predict weather, but when it comes to our own behavior, we have a hard time doing so. The Lord himself invites us to live carefully, paying attention to and carrying out his will.

A hypocrite is one who lives by double standards, saying one thing and doing another, criticizing others and doing the very things they criticize, predicting the weather (remaining superficial), and failing to see what is essential to life, the signs of the times.

Let us join in the prayer of the Psalmist: "Lord, teach me wisdom and knowledge, for in your commands I trust... I am yours; save me." (Psalm 119:66–94)