25th Week, Monday, Sept 23
Proverbs 3:27-34 / Luke 816-18
Proverbs speaks about humble people; God treats humble people kindly.
John XXIII had many admirable virtues. One of his most admirable ones,
however, was his humility. One of the first things he did as pope was to visit
Rome's central prison. He told the prisoners, "You couldn't come to me, so
I have come to you." He also told them that he had a cousin who once
served time in prison. The Vatican
newspaper, L'Observatore Romano, didn't print the pope's remarks for fear
they'd scandalize its readers. John XXIII had the kind of humility that today's
reading talks about.
***
How seriously do we take Jesus' words when he says, "Learn from me,
because I am gentle and humble in spirit"? Mt 11:29
"A mountain shames a molehill until they are both humbled by the
stars." Old adage
***
Proverbs is a wisdom book fictitiously ascribed to Solomon. Wisdom is a
set of experiences and traditions taught to the young; it secularizes the
prevalent “sacralization” of human thought, showing that God and the human
person are not at loggerheads. God does not keep people from thinking and
reflecting for themselves.
Christ speaks of the Word of God as a light that cannot remain hidden;
it should shine in the lives of those who believe in the Gospel, so that they
can bear witness to Christ and his message.
***
In many big cities, we see many "Do Not!" signs. So, there are
signs that tell us "Do not litter", "Do not eat or drink",
"Do not smoke", "Do not use phones", etc. If we abide by
these prohibitions, then we will get along fine; if not we will be
"fined"! So when we break these rules and get caught for doing it,
then the pain will be directed at our wallets.
In the 1st reading, we also hear of a series of "do not"s. But
when we do not do as what the passage of the 1st reading tells us to, then the
pain is not inflicted on us. Not initially at least. Rather, the pain will be
inflicted on our neighbour and it is us who are the cause of the pain. But we
will feel the pain eventually. Because the wilful wrong-doer is abhorrent to
the Lord, He mocks those who mocks.
In the gospel, Jesus told His disciples that no one lights a lamp to
cover it with a bowl or to put it under a bed. By the same principle, no one
should do evil, or refuse a kindness, or plot harm against a neighbour, or pick
a groundless quarrel.
Yes, no one should be causing harm to another or be a pain for another. So
let us not succumb to evil or even lean towards it. Let us strive for goodness,
and the Lord in His goodness will also bless us with His goodness.
***
Prayer
Lord our God, you want our faith to be a lamp placed on a lamp-stand, so
that people might see your light and not stumble in the dark. Speak your word
to us, give us the life-giving Spirit of your Son, his Spirit of unity and
freedom, that we may be to the world the new humanity of Jesus Christ, who
lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
