Thought for the Day – 5 February – Idleness

Thought for the Day – 5 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Idleness

 

“We are entitled to set aside time for lawful repose and for meditation and prayer.
But real idleness is always a sin.
It can easily be the cause of graver faults and of our spiritual ruin.
God gave us material and spiritual powers, as our talents, which we must employ for profit and not bury uselessly in the earth.
The servant who received five talents from God and increased the sum by another five, was rewarded by the praise of his Lord and admission into the kingdom of Heaven.
He dealt in a similar manner with the other servant, who had received two talents and doubled them by his industry.
But the lazy servant, who buried the talent he had received and met his master with empty hands, was condemned and flung into the darkness of Hell (Cf Mt 25:15-30).
This is a frightening lesson which the Gospel teaches us.
It should make us think about the fact that one day we shall have to render an account to God of all the gifts which He has bestowed on us.
Has He given us a great deal?
If so, we shall have to account for it all.
Has He given us only a small amount?
Even so, we shall have to account for every bit of it!
Consider the immense responsibility which becomes ours, along with the gifts of God.
Let us resolve to employ these to the best of our ability, so that when we appear before Him, our hands will not be empty but filled with gains.“

Antonio Cardinal Bacci