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SCRIPTURE
READINGS
|
Leviticus |
13:1-2,
45-46 |
| Psalm |
31 |
| I
Corinthians |
10:31-11:1 |
| Mark |
1:40-45 |
The
English have the endearing quality of apologising
for other people's bad behaviour, muttering an automatic
“sorry” when jostled in a crowd or trodden upon
by a fellow passenger. The American response to
such casual indignities may be more robust: “Watch
it, bud!” Or words to that effect. We may occasionally
say “sorry” on another's behalf, but normally we
use the word in its proper sense; that is, we acknowledge
our own error or misconduct and express our sorrow
for a circumstance which we ourselves have brought
about. “Sorry” can be an easy word to use when oiling
the wheels of social intercourse. When spoken from
the heart, it can be the hardest.
Just
how hard was revealed this week when a few top executives
from the banking world were arrayed before select
committees in Westminster and on Capitol Hill for
a public roasting. With a couple of exceptions this
proved to be yet another study in the practised
art of the “non-apology”. To say “I am sorry that
this happened” or “I deeply regret the turn of events”
is not an apology. An apology requires a sincere
admission of personal responsibility, a sincere
acknow-ledgement of personal wrong-doing or misjudgement
and a sincere desire to make amends. In a system
as complex as banking, it is not easy to apportion
blame when things go wrong. The “blame game” goes
on forever. But the public feeling, as the economy
slips into further recession, is that real wrongdoing
lies at the root of this mess and someone should
be brought to account. At the least, it may be thought,
an acknowledgment of collective responsibility on
behalf of the industry would be a step in the right
direction. Or should that be on behalf of the politicians?
The fact is, even if individual banks or bankers
may be singled out, the mess is bigger than any
of them. No-one is to blame because everyone is
to blame. It is the “sin of the world”.
I
am not responsible for the sins of others. I cannot
apologise on their behalf. But I can look honestly
at my own sinfulness – my greed, my
envy, my resentment, my
anger, my arrogance, my pride.
I can acknowledge my contribution to the
“sin of the world”. And I can make my
sincere apology to the One whose goodness I have
offended and whose love I have failed to embrace.
As Catholics we have a wonderful help in making
this possible: the sacrament of reconciliation.
Here my “sorry” becomes real. Here honest confession,
sincere contrition, and a firm purpose of amendment
all bear fruit. Here there is transformation and
growth. Every confession is a victory.
Lent
begins this month!
Fr
William Pearsall SJ
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