Third Sunday of Lent, year C : Exo 3:1-8,13-15, Ps 102(103):1-4,6-8,11, 1 Cor 10:1-6,10-12, Luke 13:1-9
Do you gloat when others fall? Gloating is taking delight and pleasure, even rejoicing over someone else’s hardship, misery or disappointments. Our human nature inclines to it because it exudes certain pleasures. But is this pleasure favourable or destructive?
Rather than gloating and then sinning, there are three important lessons you can learn when others fall. No school, except experience will teach you this. If you want to know, read slowly…
1 Corinthians 10:1-6,10-12
I want to remind you, brothers, how our fathers were all guided by a cloud above them and how they all passed through the sea…In spite of this, most of them failed to please God and their corpses littered the desert. These things all happened as warnings for us, not to have the wicked lusts for forbidden things that they had. You must never complain: some of them did, and they were killed by the Destroyer. All this happened to them as a warning, and it was written down to be a lesson for us who are living at the end of the age. The man who thinks he is safe must be careful that he does not fall.
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
1. Child of God, the Word of God foresees our misery hence warns us of the danger of gloating. St Paul teaches us to see others’ failure as a warning and avenue to learn, not repeating what they did, otherwise we fall. And so laughing or gloating over others’ fall, even your enemy’s troubles and misfortunes would be wrong and be considered sin. For this reason the bible says: ‘Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them‘ (Prov 24:17-18).
2. Instead of gloating and then sinning, we can convert failures (of others) into moments of grace and deep encounter. There are several lessons to learn.
a. Failure teaches that Success is not guaranteed:
No one prays to fail or plans to fail. We all desire and want success. But unfortunately this desire for success can sometimes be limited by circumstances. The guarantor of success, riches and progress is God. The bible says: Remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath (Deut 8:18). Keep a good relationship with God and don’t forget to watch and pray!
b. Failure teaches you to embrace change or repent:
When others experience failure, this is Divine providence telling you that there’s something they haven’t done right. Jesus says to those recalling the abomination that happened to some Galileans whose blood Pilate mixed with their sacrifices: Do you suppose these Galileans who suffered like that were greater sinners than any other Galileans? They were not, I tell you. No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did. (Lk 13:1-2). And so I say, don’t allow self righteousness and indifference to blind you: be careful lest you fall!.
c. Failure teaches you to stay Humble:
Success is a lousy teacher. Oftentimes, after achieving a series of successes without stress, most people allow the success to get to their heads. It makes you feel invincible, like everything you do was meant to be a success. Unfortunately, this often leads to arrogance or pride. Making you believe that nothing can stop you. But as the saying goes: pride goes before a fall, this sets one up for failure. Hence the bible warns: let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall (1Cor 10:12). So I say, be careful lest you fall I pray for you you shall not end in failures, in Jesus name.
TASK: Whenever others fail or when you experience hardships ask yourself: what lessons am I to learn from this? Read Psalm 103 now and pray:
Lord, help me not to gloat over others’ failures and misfortunes; for I realize it is sin. Instead, let me have the mind and attitude of Christ in me; reaching out in humility and compassion to help others in their time of need. I do not want to be entangled in the sin of pride. I want to be recognized as one who radiates Christ’s love to all around. Amen.
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Amen, I pray for humility & to see failure as a step for self examination & reflection on the word of God concerning the situation
Thanks for reading, God bless your resolution. Amen
Lord Jesus, please grant me the grace to be humble and meek,and to support others when they fall,and not to gloat over them .
I pray In Jesus Mighty name. Amen 🙏.
Thank you Padre. God bless your works
Amen. God bless you also for supporting me always by reading and sharing.