christMonday of 27th Week, Year II: reflection

Theme: Beware of those who preach a gospel contrary to Christ’s (Gal. 1:9)

Reading: Galatians 1:6–12

Since the early days of the church, her leaders have never failed to correct erroneous teachings, rebuke those who taught and spread them, and warn Christians to be on their guard so that they will not be deceived and misled. They do all these because of their conviction that God gave them the vocation/mandate to help their brothers and sisters who have accepted Jesus in saving their souls, and that God will judge them according to how well they performed this function.

It is good to note that the letters of St Paul and those of the apostles were written to address and correct problems and doctrinal errors that came up in the communities founded by them and their followers. So, when the leaders of the Church of our days raise their voices or write to correct errors in the Church and rebuke false preachers, we should know that they are performing their leadership role.

In today’s first reading, St Paul wrote to the Galatians in order to bring back to the true faith and practice Christians who were being misled by those who were preaching a false gospel, a gospel that was contrary to the one for which Christ died on the cross. Paul warned Galatian Christians to stay away from such people, for they were after their own benefits.

Preachers of false gospel (those who preach a message that makes their pockets bigger and advance their other personal interests) are still present in our own time; in fact, their number has increased. They often change their masks and tactics, but still with the same message. They preach what the people want to hear and smile home with big pockets. St Paul warns that we should beware of such people.

In today’s gospel, a young man approached Jesus and asked Him a question about who his neighbour is, expecting Jesus to preach what he wanted to hear. Instead, Jesus gave him a message according to the mind of God, one that he never anticipated to hear.

True preachers don’t preach what the people would love to hear, but rather what God commanded them to preach, even if such preaching would hurt the feelings of the people. Unfortunately, many preachers today take advantage of people’s desire to hear what makes them happy by preaching to them a gospel that is not the gospel of Jesus Christ, especially the gospel of material prosperity, attacks from relatives and friends, and that of empty promises in the name of Jesus. Let us open our eyes and be on our guard.

May God bless and protect you this Week.

Fr Isaac Chima