Opportunity Knocking

The sad tale is told of a shipwrecked man who spent  months alone on an island, scanning the horizon daily, hoping for a ship to pass nearby. When a cruise ship finally came in sight he was recognized from a distance as a survivor, and a rescue party was immediately launched. But suddenly ashamed of his tattered clothes and unshaven face, the man hid from his would-be rescuers, as they called and searched for him in vain. With their hopes dashed, they returned to the ship. His hopes also dashed, the survivor fell to his knees in the sand, weeping at his lost opportunity. 

The story epitomized the mentality of persons who would like to escape from the bondage of sin, but are ashamed of what others might think of them if they admitted their weakness and failures. Similarly, some recognize a void in their life, but are afraid or are unwilling to pay the price of filling that void. Such was the rich young man in the gospel who heard the call of Christ, but wasn't prepared to make the sacrifice required to follow the call.

Refusal to come to grips with a real conversion of heart - a metanoia of the soul - is a form of the bondage that Jesus spoke about: "Everyone who sins is a slave to sin...A slave has no permanent place in the family" (Jn 8:34-35). Nothing is more morally enslaving than to become addicted to sin. but the "Great Emancipator" is always ready to liberate any humble penitent: "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (v.36).

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