Monday of 21st Week, Year II: reflection
Theme: Don’t make life difficult for others
Reading: Mt 23:13-22
Among the main motivations behind scientific
and technological advancement is the desire to make things easier and better
for human beings. Science and technology provide us with easier and more
effective ways to solve big problems in every aspect of life on a daily basis.
Human beings are also supposed to adopt the
same initiative of helping to make things easier and better in their affairs with
others in all aspects of life. Even though we are aware that nothing good comes
easily, it will be inhuman if people deliberately make things difficult for
others.
At the core of the woes Jesus pronounced on the
religious leaders of his time in today’s gospel was their attitude of making
religious life difficult for their fellow adherents of Jewish religion by
overburdening them with unnecessary man-made laws and regulations as the
essence of Judaism. Worst still, those laws were not being totally observed by
the Pharisees and Scribes who forced them on others. Jesus challenged them to take
the burden off the people, so that religious life will not be a burden, but a
relationship between a loving Father and His children.
Jesus’ challenge is addressed to people of all
walks of life: religious, political and community leaders, lecturers, managers
of companies, superiors of institutions, family leaders, etc. It is a warning
to everyone at the top to stop making life intolerable for those placed under
them.
Making life easier and better for people doesn’t
imply helping people to jump over the essentials or compromising standards and
principles, but helping people to grasp the essentials without having to die in
the process or regretting ever venturing into it.
Peace be with you. May God give you the grace
to handle the challenges of this Week.
Fr Isaac Chima.
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