MONDAY OCTOBER 30, 2023
MONDAY OF THE THIRTIETH WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME A
Roman 8:12-17
Luke 13:10-17
EVOLVING A CULTURE OF LIFE GIVING AND LIFE SUSTAINING
In life there are priorities that must come before others. Jesus teaches us today that life and well-being comes first before any other. That observance of laws and precepts are secondary to the preservation and value of life and well-being.
The synagogue officials and the Jews had valued laws and precepts over and against life. But Jesus corrected the notion, insisting that life comes first. We must promote life and well-being first before the laws and precepts.
The gospel presents this incident of a woman who had been under much burden and suffering from arthritic or rheumatic conditions and pains. Jesus feels the pain of this woman who had been in such situation for over eighteen years now. But because this woman was noticed by Jesus and Jesus cure her on the sabbath, the whole problem came out. The synagogue officials began questioning the rationale why Jesus should transgress the laws of the sabbath in order to cure the suffering, sick and bent over woman.
The intervention of Jesus to the rationale behind his action gives a greater understanding of the laws of the sabbath and the need to promote life. For indeed, the people themselves even promoted the life and well-being of their service animals, by taking them out of their stable to give them relief and comfort even in the sabbath day. So much must be done for human being.
Life is the first to be preserved and promoted. The culture of promoting life, enhancing life, nurturing life must be priced over and above any other culture. Jesus teaches us to be charitable to the motive of bringing life the best comfort, and promotion it deserves. Again, any life enhancing activity must be employed any day, any time and any circumstances. There is no time reserved or restricting man in this regard. Help must be given at all times whenever it concerns life and preservation of life. We must be sensitive to peoples needs, suffering, deprivations and peoples distress and always come to their needs, to help and alleviate their problems. By so doing we share in the work and mission of our Lord and Saviour to the effect that life is protected, sustained and preserved. And such must not be done to seek fame or praises of people.
Paul in his letter to the Roman, our first reading today, admonishes us to always seek the desires of our spiritual nature not that of our flesh. For Paul, the hunger of the flesh leads to death but seeking and following the spirit is life giving.
Heavenly Father, your gift of life is the most important gifts of all. We beg you Lord, to continue to sustain our life. Grant us good health of mind and body. Preserve our lives from the attack of sicknesses, evils in the world and jealousy of the devil. Help us to value, sustain, enhance and preserve other peoples lives. May we ever work to lessen people’s burdens and improve the quality of their lives, by bringing them solace, peace, comfort and happiness through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
