Failure by Apathy

Apathy is a pattern of failure through which the essential Christ-focus can be lost.

Sometimes our response to a time of grace is not a no, but neither is it enthusiastic. Such was the case of King Jehoash who was directed by the prophet Elisha to strike the ground with his arrows. This he did, but only three times. “You should have struck the ground five or six times,” the angry prophet cried out; “then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it” (2 Kgs 13:19). As a result of his half-hearted response, Jehoash defeated the Arameans only three times, instead of achieving total victory.

Another story illustrates the opposite type of response. A newly appointed prison chaplain noticed two chairs draped in black near the chapel pulpit. He was told they were reserved for two men who were to be executed after the Sunday service he was preparing. His sermon would be the last they would ever hear. Imagine how conscientiously the chaplain prepared that sermon! Imagine also how attentively those death-row inmates absorbed the words of the preacher!

There are indeed special moments of grace which stir us to apply ourselves intensely. Most often, however, our spiritual response is more cavalier than enthusiastic. But, as some quipster has put it, the sobering truth is that “what we go after here determines where we go hereafter.”

This excerpt is from the book The Art of Loving God by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications, 1995. This and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/visual materials can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408.