Leaving A Shadow
People have a very strong tendency to live their lives the way they want, without the slightest consideration of what effect their behavior has on the lives of others. How often do we observe the more selfish and unthinking among us forge ahead with our own agenda, crushing all in their path. The rat race begins at an early age, when we learn that if we want to win, the other team must be made to lose. This competitiveness continues into the workforce, where all kinds of dirty tricks are played to make sure we get promoted and not our colleagues. They may have the same aspirations as us, but sadly for them they lack the same driving force (a euphemism for ruthlessness).
As Christians we have a higher responsibility than others to set a good example. The light of Christ should so shine from our actions that our neighbor is attracted through us to the source of that light. St. Peter contrasts this with the scandal we give whenever our behavior is less than exemplary. He beseeches us to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. When we yield to these lower appetites, our neighbor will speak against us as evildoers. But when they behold our good works, they are inspired to glorify God instead. It is clear from the words of our first Pope that a great deal hangs upon our moral actions as Christians. Act badly, and others will join us in our sins; act rightly and our neighbor will be inspired to improve their own lives.
We should not deceive ourselves. When others know we are Catholics, and in particular Catholics of the traditional path, their eyes are upon us. While they never cease to watch us, eager to find faults as evidence of our apparent hypocrisy, they nevertheless secretly live in hope that their own lives may be improved simply by knowing us and being in the “right company”. Human psychology is not always straightforward, but you’ll find a lot of people view us with this double standard—cynically expecting that the “holier than thou” crowd will fall as usual, while meanwhile living in the unexpressed hope that they will eventually find someone who actually does live up to his own ideals of morality.
The pressure is tremendous for us to be one of those few who live a life of honor, setting the standard for others less fortunate. May God bless us in this our calling.