Some people "do nothing" because they can't. This includes spouses and parents like chant, who have households to run, jobs to work and pretty much 0 time and money in-between, people who live in cloister walls, and probably a good many others.
For instance, a priest's calling is to his priestly duties. His job is to give the sacraments, advice his sheep and preach to and educate them. His duty is NOT to go out and become a public figure, or get involved in politics. God will expect him to do precisely that which a priest does and is supposed to do, nothing more, nothing less.
The same applies to most states of life. Most people get married, and have families and jobs and a lot of duties that leave them with virtually no time to rest, let alone battle freemasons in the media or organize "free tradition" rallies at the Vatican. Most people cannot go door to door or speak publicly about social, political or religious problems. The media, for one, would never allow it. But most of us simply, realistically can't.
Then there are the singles. If anyone COULD it would be them. The unattached single person can work and has only themselves to think about (other than God, of course) for the most part. If there's to be any great speeches, rallies or other overt and drastic action, it will probably be done by either these, or by people who have neglected what God will make them answer for... the duties of their state in life.
Finally, some people are not physically or mentally well. They are actually unable to do much more than care for themselves. The teen crowd needs to live a little longer to even know the real problems, and chances are there aren't too many glorious revolutionaries of justice and faith lurking about in old folks homes.
The number of people who CAN and SHOULD "do something" (overt) ... is drastically cut down by the obligations of our state in life (which is what God will expect of us, and nothing more or less), and by our own personal situations and capabilities.
I, for one, happen to be single. But my health is such that I can't hold a 4 hour (usually less) a day office job. The chances of me, or anyone like me "going out there and doing something" are pretty much nill. The real responsibility rests upon those in AUTHORITY... (wow, what a novel idea!) ... which means the leaders. They are the ones (for those who don't recognize them anymore) who have the POWER to "do something" ... The power difference between the average burger flipper at a fast food chain and, say... the politicians... is pretty stark. If they are evil, or don't feel like doing anything, then we are all pretty much up the creek without a paddle, because most of us can not effect world-changing level changes by making speeches, or phone calls to politicians who label us as "right-wing lunatics".
It's very nice to sit and dream about each of us being able to change the world, but the reality is that it is very much in the hands of God, and those who are in positions of actual authority... whether or not they actually do anything with that power or want to.
Finally, most of us must content ourselves with our rosaries, and with the very real truth that God is the one Who is in control here, not the politicians, not the sheep. Finally, nothing happens in this world without God's express permission... which means if it's going on, and it's bad, it's probably a kind of chastisement... and even if we could stop it, God would simply find another way to chastise us, because that's His right, and nobody can keep him from it.
In the church, it boils down to what one wise bishop said... In so many words, he said, don't be too anxious for this crisis to pass. This world is a valley of tears, and we will never have total and lasting peace in this life. As soon as one crisis ends, another will come along. (Thus are the wages of sin...)
We human beings don't have nearly the power we often like to think we do. Usually, the common man is best served fulfilling his personal duties. If every Christian were doing that, the world would be in a totally different state than it is today. That, in reality, is the one thing we CAN do, which WILL make a difference. Everything else is just the pious (but unrealistic) dreaming of people (however well intentioned and honorable) who are zealous for the truth.
Topic: What's the difference... (Read 695 times)