On this 11th day of our lenten observance the Lord wants to teach us that as the food chain and web describes how creation is interconnected physically, there is also the spiritual dimension that connects man and creation to its Creator (God) such that any problem in one part can upset the whole system. Only those with deep spiritual insights can understand this. It is on these aspects that Jesus’ teachings cannot be called a teaching for christians alone, but a universal teaching that anyone, no matter their creed or religion will find it interesting and obliging. If this is difficult to understand read slowly…
Luke 6:36-38
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’
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| Like a spider’s web, man, creation and God is interconnected |
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
1. Being compassionate, not being judgemental, not condemning others, and pardoning and tolerating others are laws of social justice set by God to harmonize creation in its various shades, colour and flavour. And so, unlike Adam and Eve- our first parents who ‘transfer’ blames of their disobedience, we are called today to accept our blames and accuse ourselves for the failings in the world, our nations, societies, families, and individual lives.
2. When the prophet Daniel was beset and downcast with the desolation of his people, pondering on the length of years they must remain exiles as revealed by the Lord to the prophet Jeremiah, he went down on his knees, fasted, prayed and begged God for forgiveness of his sins and that of his people (Daniel 9:1-10). He prayed: ‘we have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly, we have betrayed your commandments and your ordinances and turned away from them. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.’
3. You: what do you do when difficulties confront you- staring at you in the face? Do you start looking for who to blame or take responsibility, seek good solutions and ask for God’s mercy? Life have shown that everything is interconnected such that we are directly or indirectly responsible for all that happens to us and around us. So I say to you: don’t blame anyone this lent, rather blame yourself, it will make you more responsible next time.
