PRAYER: “O GOD, WHO CAUSE THE MINDS OF THE FAITHFUL TO UNITE IN A SINGLE PURPOSE, GRANT YOUR PEOPLE TO LOVE WHAT YOU COMMAND AND TO DESIRE WHAT YOU PROMISE, THAT, AMID THE UNCERTAINTIES OF THIS WORLD, OUR HEARTS MAY BE FIXED ON THAT PLACE WHERE TRUE GLADNESS IS FOUND. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
2Thess 2:1-3a,14-17; Ps 95:10-13 and Mt 23:23-26.
Jesus continues to lash out with stinging accusations at the Scribes and the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and pretence. Today, Jesus addresses the attitude of the Scribes and Pharisees regarding the tradition of their ancestors. They have distorted their ancient traditions out of personal interest, false fame and self-aggrandisement. Jesus does not spare them for that. He reproves them for that.
Tradition/culture is good and must go on, but we must also reckon with the fact that tradition/culture is both static and dynamic. Therefore, those values in the tradition that must continue should be preserved, and people should be encouraged to observe and keep them. This is what St. Paul does for the Thessalonian believers; he urges them to hold fast to the traditions/cultural practices they were taught, but nothing else. The obsolete traditions/cultural practices must be thrown overboard. It is rather unfortunate that sometimes we preserve and even interpret and add new versions to those that should be obsolete and force people to observe them. Of course, this is sometimes due to personal interests and gains, but then it very often becomes a burden on the people, but not on those in the realm of affairs, because they do not feel the pinch.
There is a need to always distinguish between good and enduring principles and customs/traditions that can evolve and adjust to that, but replace those that are obsolete. Christianity, for example, has come with modernity, development and urbanisation. Yet, some traditional people still want to hold on to idols and images made by human artisans, claiming that their fathers/ancestors handed them over to them and they cannot discard them. While we can easily criticise our traditional/cultural set ups/systems, we cannot hold any brief for our religious set-ups or religious denominations. A critical survey may even reveal that it is worse in the religious arena/sphere than in the traditional arena. Present-day ‘over-scrupulous’ believers/Christians may even be worse than the Scribes and the Pharisees of Jesus’ time.
It is possible to obey the details of the laws but still be disobedient in our general behaviour as believers/Christians. For instance, a believer or a religious leader may be very precise and faithful about tithes, Church dues, attendance to Church everyday, reciting his/her daily prayers, fasting and giving alms, attending all Charismatic sessions and prayers, following ceremonial/ritual rubrics, etc. but at the same time refuse to give a minute of his/her time in helping the needy brother/sister, in showing mercy and love, in granting forgiveness, in being faithfully committed and dedicated to his/her duties, roles and responsibilities, etc. Let us give a second thought to this and see where we may place ourselves.
Today we are all challenged to critically evaluate the way we observe whatever traditions/customs that are set before us alongside the love of God and neighbour. For the sake of the common good, the preservation of human dignity and life, the law could be altered. Let us pray for the spirit of discernment in this direction. May Saints Louis and Joseph Calasaz intercede for us. Stay blessed and happy feast to all who bear the names of today’s feast.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, TUESDAY, ON THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN, THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR, THE CROWNING WITH THORNS, THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS AND THE CRUCIFIXION’ (WE PRAY FOR SORROW FOR SIN, PURITY, COURAGE, PATIENCE, AND PERSEVERANCE) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “COMPLETE WITHIN US, O LORD, WE PRAY, THE HEALING WORK OF YOUR MERCY AND GRACIOUSLY PERFECT AND SUSTAIN US, SO THAT IN ALL THINGS WE MAY PLEASE YOU. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN.”
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com.
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