In Defense of Catching Mice



But the opposite is also true. When the “big picture” is correctly framed, the attention to detail becomes the only way to get the job done.

In Sunday’s Gospel, Christ teaches us that “[t]he person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones.” The Gospel’s parable concludes with “[y]ou cannot serve both God and mammon.” In the metaphors of the Old Testament, God is a jealous God and we dare not have any false gods before Him. The Lord is directing our attention to the need to do the “little things” well, provided we have the “big picture” of our service to God in focus.

It is not uncommon for people to lose sight of the importance of everyday details in our service to the Lord. In a previous parish assignment, I remember a seventh-grade teacher disciplining a student for stealing a pen. When the behavior of the unrepentant student was brought to the attention of his parents, the teacher received a disturbing response: “But it was only a pen,” they protested.

Yes, it was “only” a pen. But the attitude of the student revealed a far more serious problem. By his action, he became a petty thief. And only by acknowledging that his action was wrong would he cease “being” a petty thief. The teacher wisely endeavored to teach the student to be trustworthy in small matters so that some day he could be trusted in great ones.

The celebration of the Sacred Liturgy offers us another opportunity to consider the need to do “little things” well. The drama of the Mass is a magnificent ensemble of symbolic “details.” Each detail has a meaning that is waiting to be discovered by the attentive participant. The striking of the breast during the “I confess” reminds us of the need for an expressive and profound humility as we prepare to enter into the sacred mysteries; our attentive posture ensures that we offer the respect that is due the Lord at Mass; the washing of the hands of the celebrant reminds us that the priest will soon enter into the “holy of holies” of the Liturgy of the Eucharist; the dropping of a small piece of Host into the chalice right before Communion — the symbolic “reuniting” of the Body and Blood of Christ after the mystical representation of His crucifixion — reminds us of the glorious Resurrection.

These and so many of the symbols of the Mass have rich Scriptural allusions that enrich our participation in the sacred representation of that single sacrifice of Christ. Christ has secured victory over sin, suffering and death and has shown us the way to salvation. This is the “big picture” of our redemption, framed by His mighty Cross and Resurrection.

With our dignity as human beings and as Christians ensured, we can go about the business of doing little things well for God. These are some of the details of our personal sanctification: to avoid serious sin by struggling to avoid those pesky and destructive venial sins; to be cheerful and courteous when we are tired and impatient; to offer our full attention and devotion to our Lord in prayer. And remember to caulk around the basement windows. It’s fall and the mice will be looking for a warm place for winter.


(This article courtesy of the Arlington Catholic Herald.)

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