For many of you who have gotten to know me, you are well aware that I am a proud Catholic.

This of course shapes my world view. How can it not?

A respected pastor has recently reminded his congregation that Catholics are among a people who have fervor for Christ Jesus.

Are we to boast of our supremacy? He reminded us, that we are not to. This is the dichotomy perhaps, between knowing right from wrong; but also being embarrassed for knowing it. And believe me, as I age, I feel embarrassed about what I know more often. Another fine word attached to embarrassment, is “humility”. To be humble in being firmly rooted in our faith- that is good. And, so is being ever patient to teach it the best one knows how to.

And many religions do acknowledge the very same virtue, thanks to God.

So with that brief background, I write to you about “sins of omission”. For those of you who have never heard of “sins of omission”, it means to engage in a sin by not doing, as opposed to doing.

In other words, failing to relay information that you know will help another. It could manifest in failing to be kind to another. It could manifest in failing to assist a poor person. It could manifest in failing to recognize the contribution of another with gratitude and/or recompense. It could manifest in the failure to share joy with another person. It could manifest in the failure to evangelize or to share the Good News with another.

There are so many examples of how one of us can (and do) fail to assist another. This is summed up as a “sin of omission”. In other words, we omit the teaching of God; and thereby we engage in sin. That might be partaking in the 7 deadly sins, or, breaking a commandment. It also might be less grave, but still damaging to a neighbor, friend, or any person.

So omission becomes an action. The failure to do, becomes a sin. The failure to do what we consciously know that we should, becomes an engagement with evil.

None of us is, or ever will be, equitable to Christ Jesus. So, we are all very prone to engaging in “sins of omission”; if we are conscious of our sin of omission, we are sinful.

But, before you get down on yourself, and start feeling guilty about all the things you don’t do for God, take it easy. Some missions are beyond your grasp. And, that simply means that sometimes it is beyond your reach to help another. God loves us all. He does not want you to waste your time “aiding” someone who does not love Him above all else. It’s really that simple.

So with regard to “sins of omission” – do your best to help others in the way you are equipped, and don’t self hate, if others fall away. That is the very loyalty that God desires of us in His infinite wisdom. The loyalty that He wishes for, is to trust in His ways; and to not get needlessly frustrated with those who are works-in-progress. Those who outright reject Him, may even be within reach, but this is best left to Him.