Monday of 21st Week, Year II: reflection

Theme: Don’t make life difficult for others

Reading: Mt 23:13–22

Among the main motivations behind scientific and technological advancement is the desire to make things easier and better for human beings. Science and technology provide us with easier and more effective ways to solve big problems in every aspect of life on a daily basis.

Human beings are also supposed to adopt the same initiative of helping to make things easier and better in their affairs with others in all aspects of life. Even though we are aware that nothing good comes easily, it will be inhuman if people deliberately make things difficult for others.

At the core of the woes Jesus pronounced on the religious leaders of his time in today’s gospel was their attitude of making religious life difficult for their fellow adherents of Jewish religion by overburdening them with unnecessary man-made laws and regulations as the essence of Judaism. Worst still, those laws were not being totally observed by the Pharisees and Scribes who forced them on others. Jesus challenged them to take the burden off the people, so that religious life will not be a burden, but a relationship between a loving Father and His children.

Jesus’ challenge is addressed to people of all walks of life: religious, political and community leaders, lecturers, managers of companies, superiors of institutions, family leaders, etc. It is a warning to everyone at the top to stop making life intolerable for those placed under them.

Making life easier and better for people doesn’t imply helping people to jump over the essentials or compromising standards and principles, but helping people to grasp the essentials without having to die in the process or regretting ever venturing into it.

Peace be with you. May God give you the grace to handle the challenges of this Week.

Fr Isaac Chima.