Conform not to this World

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Monday of 33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, November 15th, 2021
Texts: 1Mac. 1:10-15.41-43.54-57.62-64; Ps.119:53,61,134,150,155,158; Luke 18:35-43
The message in today's first reading is expressed in the words of St. Paul thus: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Rom. 12: 2). We see in the reading the consequence of conforming ourselves to this world. The Judeans, in attempt to secure peace, decided to conform to the world around them. It is said, "In those days lawless men came forth from Israel, and misled many, saying, 'Let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles round about us, for since we separated from them many evils have come upon us.' This proposal pleased them, and some of the people eagerly went to the king."
We learn from the life of the Judeans the consequence of being conformed to the world: they lost their identity. It is said, "He authorised them to observe the ordinances of the Gentiles. So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, according to Gentile custom, and removed the marks of circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant." Once we conform ourselves to this world, we begin to live by its rules and regulations, by its laws and command, by its values and ordinances. Some of us have conformed themselves to the standard of this world, they live by its rules and regulations, by its laws and commands, by its values and ordinances. When we conform ourselves to this world, we become its slaves. As Christians we are to be slaves of God, not slaves of the world, living by His rules and regulations, laws and command, values and ordinances.
When we conform ourselves to this world, we will stop doing good and begin to do evil. It is said of judeans thus: "They joined with the Gentiles and sold themselves to do evil." What the world teaches its own to do is evil. It is when we conform ourselves to the standard of the gospel of Christ that we know what is good, acceptable and perfect, and live by it.
The reading reminds us that there are always some people who are faithful to God; for it is said, "But many in Israel stood firm and were resolved in their hearts not to eat unclean food. They chose to die rather than to be defiled by food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die." These Judeans, who are faithful, teach us to be faithful to God till death. We learn from them that we are to stand and resolve in our hearts to keep holy the name of God always and not to sin against Him at any time.
Today's gospel reading teaches us not to pay attention to those voices trying to make us bow down from our faith, trying to make us give up our hope. We learn this from the life of the blind man: "They told him, 'Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.' And he cried, 'Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!' And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, 'Son of David, have mercy on me!'” We are not to listen to voices trying to silence us and make us not to condemn evils, injustice, corruption, misappropriation and embezzlement of public funds. Let us continue to appreciate what is good and condemn what is bad.

Lord, be the beginning and end of all that we do and say. Prompt our actions with your grace, and complete them with your all-powerful help, that we may not conform ourselves to this world but to your gospel values. Amen

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke