REFLECTION ON THE DAILY READINGS - Sunday, 26th October 2014 BY FATHER NORBERT ATTAH. 30th SUNDAY: The HEART of our Christian calling: 26:10:2014 The readings [cf. Ex 22:20-26; Ps 17:2-4,47,51; Mt 22:34-40] nudges us, on what is the core of our christian calling: a love for God and for our fellow human beings! The “prescriptions” of Moses to the Israelites in the first reading [Ex 22:20-26] are axed on individual responsibility to the other, and aimed at achieving social cohesion. Hence, at the centre of the “prescriptions”, is the good of all in the community (or society), especially the disadvantaged ones. We observe the specific predilection of God for those on the margins of life/society – the widows, strangers, the orphans etc, to the point of outlining retributive punishments on anyone that maltreats them. And we may ask ourselves: how do we treat strangers, widows, orphans etc? Now, at a time that extremists and supremacists [let me not use RACISTS!] are rising in Europe and even in America, like UKIP (UK), FN (France), Lega Nord (Italy); and the many professed and hidden ANTI-immigrants (and anti-immigration) energumens in the US etc -and winning more votes at elections, one would hope that this reading speaks to the heart of every christian, that NO CHRISTIAN SHOULD HATE ANOTHER PERSON – on any basis whatever!!! In the psalm [Ps 17:2-4,47,51], the author professes his love for God. It is this same theme of love that Christ takes up in the Gospel. Just like in last Sunday’s gospel, Christ turns an occasion that was meant to undo him, into one to impart Godly values to humanity [Mt 22:34-40]. He thus explains how any love of God cannot be COMPLETE without love for our fellow human being. While His traducers asked for one GREAT law, Christ lists TWO. He explains by this the link between theology, faith and sound anthropology. Our love of God should be seen, or involves our love for others, especially those living on the “peripheries” [a word that Pope Francis has given great currency!] of life. This is the core, the heart, of our Christian calling. And so, we are called not to love just our fellow Christians, but our fellow men and women, ALL: including our kith and kin, spouses, colleagues, friends, and even detractors/opponents, etc. Being a Christian is loving God, and human beings (made in His image!); and doing otherwise – hating just anyone for that matter, is not being Christ-like, a christian. So, let’s be christians, not just in words, but in DEEDS. Have a great week
Posted on: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 06:06:03 +0000
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