WORD 2day: Thursday, 28th week in Ordinary time
October 17, 2024 - Ephesians 1:1-10; Luke 11:47-54
It is not an impossible task to make people think that I am good, virtuous and honourable. That actually is the predominant concern for many and that has proved the root cause for many wrong decisions made and later regretted. However, we would do good to realise that we are not called to create images around us and bask in the opinions we construct among others. The crux of the problem is that we have the responsibility to account for every special blessing that the Lord has showered on us. As St.Paul today points it out, it is between God and me, and public opinions and image creation will not suffice. "To be holy and blameless before God in love"... that is the task given to us and can there be make-believes when it comes to the fact that God Himself is the judge!
Apart from reminding us of our call to be holy and blameless, St. Paul clarifies that this call is to be lived before God, not paraded before people for appreciation or recognition. An equally compelling tendency that we need to fight against is, the craving, even if not for laurels, at the least to be considered acceptable and reasonable. But as much as recognitions do not matter, criticism should not matter too, provided we are convinced and relentless about being holy and blameless, before God, and God alone.