On the Carpet

In days of yore only the wealthy owned carpets. Hence to be summoned by a rich boss was to be "called on the carpet." 

In biblical terms, to be "called on the carpet" is to give an account of your management (see Luke 16:2). In many offices and workplaces, companies lose fortunes from workers' extended "water cooler chats." But in God's "company" there is strict accountability; we'll never "get away with" anything - from time wasting to theft, from padded expense accounts to dalliance with lustful thoughts, from neglect of one's children's sex education to cheating on one's income tax.

This doesn't make the Lord a "spy in the sky" snooping on us, but a just and exacting God, who "will reward everyone for whatever good he does" (Eph 6:8) - including repentance for one's failures, for his accounting demand is clothed in his mercy. After saving the adulteress from being stoned to death, when she was "on the carpet," he didn't condemn her, but he did say, "Go now and leave your life of sin" (Jn 8:110.

Being "called on the carpet" by the Lord means being given an opportunity to correct ourselves. Only those who reject his mercy will feel his punitive justice, says Aquinas. "A bruised reed he will not break" (Mt 12:29l; Is 42:3). Let us stand "on the carpet" now, before judgment day, when "each of us will give an account of himself to God" (Rom 14:12).

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