How could we have been so stupid?

The word “stupid” has been used frequently lately as people have looked back at what led to the financial and economic crises of these days.

How could lenders have been so stupid as to make all those bad loans? How could people have been so stupid as to take out mortgages they would not be able to afford? How could governments been so stupid as to do (or not do) what they did (or did not do)?

There is worse stupidity than all of this, of course.

In today’s first reading (Galatians 3:1-5), the Holy Apostle Paul calls people stupid for thinking their own good behavior can get them into heaven rather than faith and grace through Christ.

We can be that stupid too.

We can also be stupid enough to think that certain kinds of sinful behavior are “no big deal” and will not affect our eternal salvation.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, be merciful to me – a sinner.

Let’s stop being stupid.

Let us open ourselves more and more fully to the truth and the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.