Friday of 27th Week, Year II: reflection

Theme: Don’t demonize the good deeds of those who don’t agree with you.

Reading: Lk 11:15–26

Dear friends in Christ, one of the lessons from today’s gospel reading is a warning to stop demonizing the good deeds of others, even if they don’t agree with us on certain aspects of life and faith. Jesus had just healed a man tormented by an evil spirit. Instead of acknowledging His good deed and perhaps rejoicing with the man who had regained his freedom, some Pharisees, out of jealousy, decided to change the narrative, spreading the malicious slander that He was collaborating with Beelzebul, head of the devils, to cast out smaller devils.

Some of the challenges that many families, towns, groups, and organizations face today are either the result of or are centered on the issue depicted in today’s gospel. Some people are willing to do whatever it takes to discredit any good that comes from another source because they believe that good things should only come from them or from any group to which they belong. If they are unable to eliminate the person involved, they start a smear campaign against his good deeds, making sure they make all his good deeds look evil or worthy of contempt.

Dear friends, we are human beings with different perspectives on life and different choices, and we cannot all agree on everything. However, this does not mean we should regard those who disagree with us as devils or demonize their good deeds simply because they disagree with us or don’t belong to the same group with us. Our focus should be to do good always and to acknowledge this good wherever we see it. When we oppose the good deeds of others, we fight against the Summum Bonum.

May your Friday be blessed.

Fr. Isaac C. Chima