TUESDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2024
TUESDAY OF THE SIXTH WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME B
James 1:12-18
Mark 8:14-21
LIVING ABOVE WORLDLY STANDARDS
On many occasions, Jesus continues to warn us again the tendencies of conforming our lives to the mundane worldly standards. His desire is that we must never take the world as our model or follow the world’s paradigm.
In today’s gospel, he uses the lifestyle of the Pharisees and the Herodians as examples of a standard that the world offers us. He denounces the hypocrisy of these people, their pride in action, their pretentious life style, and flamboyant display of wealth and religiosity that does not conform to their true state of life.
Jesus teaches us that these evil tendencies are like “yeast” that can corrupt a good mind. Yeast is used here as a metaphor which describes the tendencies of an attitude becoming so contagious, inviting and corrupting that one may desire and actually begin to adopt these lifestyle and behavior to the detriment of the people’s life.
And because of the inviting, corrupting and contagious nature, Jesus warns us to avoid them and flee from their influences and attachments.
In our first reading, Saint James identifies temptation as a positive way of guiding us away from these influences. Saint James understands the value of temptation not as a plot against us to fall but as a way of strengthening our resolves and making us stand firm in the journey of life.
And the world and it’s allurement is a veritable source of temptation for us in this world. The lifestyle of the Pharisees and others are temptations for us which we must see and try to overcome which will put us on a higher level for greater glory. And we must always expect such temptations and pray never to be overcome by them but to overcome and grow through them.
We must therefore try never to compromise our values or become consumed by the passing shadows of this world, and its enticements.
Heavenly Father, lead us by your spirit to follow the right course of actions and lifestyle and never be corrupted, influenced or derailed by the evil minded intentions, bad examples and wrong lifestyle of the world. Open our eye to see and conform ourselves with the good and healthy things of Christ, the holy teachings of the church and live a healthy, fulfilling and happy lives through Christ our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
