The Computer Between Your Ears
Ignorance Is Not Bliss
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A priggish little old lady inquiring about a European tour was told by the travel agent that one particular tour included the famous Oberammergau Passion Play. Misconstruing the word "passion" she indignantly exclaimed, "I'm tired of all this sex stuff; and now it's even featured as a travel highlight! Shame on you!" With that, she stormed out of the office.
"Ignorance has something to be said for it," Mark Twain once quipped., "It gives rise to about nine-tenths of the world's conversational output." But certainly much ignorance fits into the moral category of "inculpable" or "invincible" ignorance. Jesus refused to consider anyone a sinner who acts in ignorance; the soldiers crucifying him were ignorant of his divinity, so he prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Lk 23:34).
Many times we do not know the evil we're doing, but even when we are aware of it, we can still in a way remain ignorant - ignorant of how much we are loved by God, inspite of our sin. If we knew of God's awesome love for us, how differently we would act!
Ignorance of God's love for use leaves us in a kind of spiritual darkness. Jesus, asking his Father to pardon his executioners on the basis of ignorance, intimates that this "darkness" - that of not knowing the gift of God's love - is a sad deprivation. Let us be always ready to let his love shine brightly in our souls.
This excerpt is from the book One-Minute Meditations for Busy People, by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications. It and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/video recordings can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408 or www.Catholicbooks.net
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About the Author
The Rev. John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., ordained as a Catholic priest in 1952, is a member of the Claretian Missionaries, and is founder and director of the Claretian Teaching Ministry. Listed in Who’s Who in Religion in America, he has served as parish priest, seminary professor and rector, college professor, lecturer, magazine writer, newspaper columnist, editor, retreat master, hospital chaplain, prison chaplain, campus chaplain, Cursillo director and director of suicide prevention programs in Texas and California.
He earned degrees in philosophy from Loyola-Marymount University in Los Angeles and from Notre Dame University, with postgraduate work at the University of Southern California and the Dominican House of Studies in River Forest, Illinois, in ascetical and mystical theology.
Find his many books and audio/visual recordings at www.Catholicbooks.net
