Millennial Lenten Reflections: All you need is love

Editor’s Note: The following is part of Millennial Lenten Reflections, a blog series in collaboration with Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good. Short reflections on the day’s readings, written by young adults from FMS and other organizations, will be posted everyday throughout Lent. 

Joseph in his beautiful tunic is a familiar image from the Bible and appearing together in popular media. Although Joseph was sold and went through all his struggles, he triumphed in the end and was able to provide for his family. However, I think this is where I fall into the same trap as his brothers. I am justifying the action.

In our society, a white-dominated society, it is easy to justify our actions with what we believe is right.The temptation of power and the struggle with envy, similar to Joseph’s brothers, pervades our lives and is perpetuated through racism. While we make our excuses and turn our blind eye to the injustices, we “sell” our morals, values, and Christian beliefs. We can easily get consumed with our benefits and don’t think about how our actions affect our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Most of the time, I have no idea what to do. I am scared that what I think is right causes more harm than good. Yet when I remember that the most important commandment to follow is that of love, I pray that it leads and consumes all my actions. I can only do it through Christ.

Jamie Hitro is a Jesuit Volunteer working as a resident care aid at Joseph’s House in Washington, DC. Joseph’s House provides care to homeless men and women with late-stage and end-stage AIDS and terminal cancer.