Thursday in the Second Week of Advent
Deacon Robert Banet
Charlie, did you ever hear of idle curiosity?
I think I’ve heard the term. What makes curiositry idle?
When you want to know something that has no bearing or no use to you. Like when you wonder how old that person over there it.
Is there a good kind of curiosity?
Let’s say a biologist looks at a certain feature of a specimen and wonders what it’s for. That’s a profitable curiosity. You know, in the Bible we find curiosity. You remember Zachaeus?
Yes, the tax collector. He was curious about Jesus and climbed the tree to get a look at Him.
Yes, and Jesus called to him and invited Himself to dinner.
I guess that would be a profitable curiosity, right?
Yes. But then remember St. Peter.
Ah, he was curious about what would happen to Jesus, so he followed Him.
Yes, and that led him into trouble. He put himself into temptation and he fell. He denied the Master.
So that idle curiosity got him into trouble.
Yes, he wept over that sin all his life. They say his cheeks were furrowed from all the tears he shed.
I guess I’ll have to watch my idle curiosity. Hey, I just thought of something.
What’s that?
Stifling your idle curiosity would be a good way of self-denial.
I believe you’re right, Charlie. Good thinking.