After a Saturday morning meeting many years ago, I went for a jog and left my car in the parking lot. When I returned to my car, I found a broken front signal light and a note on my windshield. A relatively new member of that morning’s recovery meeting had backed into my car and he mentioned he would get the replacement part and fix it at my house that morning. I called him, calmed him, and told him it was not that big of a deal. He came over later and fixed my turn signal lens.

I light-heartedly shared the story in the next morning’s meeting and in a follow-up share, another member quipped, “I’m glad it happened to you, you could handle it.” I knew she meant it as a compliment so I chuckled and smiled. Yet, inside I thought, “How do you know what might be going on inside of me right now?” I realized this woman really had no idea of my spiritual life or recovery state despite my outward appearance. It taught me never to make assumptions about the spiritual condition of others. As a member of a recovery community with decades of sobriety, what if I fall back into my addiction despite how I look to others on the outside? How might that jeopardize the faith and recovery of my fellows? It is never good to be placed on such a high pedestal since it risks the inflation of pride and a fall back into addictions, compulsions, or unhealthy attachments. Therefore, as our first reading reminds us, let us instead treat ourselves and others in recovery with a spirit of humility, not assuming we know what’s going on in another’s heart. Instead, let us keep our focus on the program of 12-step recovery and our Catholic faith.

Reflection Questions

• Is there anyone in recovery you are unwisely placing on a high pedestal? How can you better practice embracing “principles before personalities?”
• Do people come to you for recovery insight, advice, and guidance? If so, how do you keep this from feeding your ego and inflating your pride?

Daily Mass Readings

First Reading: 1 Corinthians 4:6b-15
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 145:17-18, 19-20, 21
Gospel: Luke 6:1-5

Reflection by Kevin S.