Woe to those who plan iniquity,
and work out evil on their couches;
In the morning light they accomplish it
when it lies within their power. (Mi 2:1)
There are a lot of people who sin in this world.
Let me rephrase that: Everyone sins in this world.
That is part and parcel of living in a world tainted in sin and being born in original sin.
Thank God for the wondrous sacrament of reconciliation where we can go to the Lord for His great love and mercy.
However, as much as all people occasionally sin, there are some people out there who do more than sin.
They do evil.
Not only do they do evil, they plan it.
Micah speaks about that in the reading. He speaks about the people who plan evil through the night and, when morning comes, they go to carry out the evil they planned.
I could not help but think about the terrible tragedy in Aurora, Colorado when I saw this reading. That shooter certainly had to plan what he did. He took enough firepower with him to accomplish terrible evil. He booby-trapped his home so that others would get hurt or killed when they entered it. We are still waiting for the final numbers of dead.
Those who survived will live with that trauma for the rest of their lives.
Evil is quite real. That is something each and every believer needs to keep front and center in his or her mind.
Because, the moment that we do not believe in evil, we can become ensnared in it ourselves.
FAITH ACTION: Quite simply, today, pray for the victims of the terrible shooting in Aurora, Colorado as well as for victims of evil throughout the world. Pray, as well, that the Lord’s Kingdom may become more established in our world.