A Christian worked in an office that was notorious for graft and corruption. He decided not to have anything to do with this and just do the right thing in his job. The next thing he knew, there was false news about him circulating. Then he was being harassed by officemates, and eventually he was transferred to another department. What is the cost of doing what is right?

In the well-known story of events that led to John the Baptist’s death, he told Herod that it was not right for him to marry Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. Because of that, John the Baptist was jailed and eventually beheaded.

The question is then, why take the effort to continue to do what is right?

• First, we are all challenged to be salt of the earth and light of the world. We can only be such if we do the right thing. We are all challenged to make good use of the time, talent, and treasure that God has lent us. We are all challenged to be faithful to the mission God has given us.
• Second, we can live a life wherein we just don’t care. Why bother when it will make life more complicated? The question is, what kind of life do we want to live? An easy life or a meaningful life? We remember the tagalog song, “Walang sino man ang nabubuhay para sa sarili lamang.” Or We cannot live just for ourselves only.
• Third, the basis for judgment is “Whatever you do to the least of your brethren, you do unto me.” If we do not care and do not do what is right, how can we give to God an accounting of our lives?

We pray that we may be able to pick our battles; we pray that in our own circle of influence, we can make a difference; we pray that in a world that has lost its moral compass, we may continue to do what is right. After all, we remember the saying, “All it needs for evil to prevail is for good people to keep quiet.”