Pushing Aside God’s Commandments

 

Everyone has obligation to take care of their parents.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Tuesday of 5th Week in Ordinary Time II, and the Memorial of St. Paul Milki and his companions, February 6th, 2024 

Texts: 1 Kings 8: 22-23.27-30; Psalm 84:3-5,10-11; Mark 7:1-13 

Jesus Christ reminds us, today, that we are prone to pushing aside God’s commandments for human tradition. This means we are to review our ways of life to see whether we are guilty or not. 

The example of tradition Jesus gives is that which we can easily fall into. It is a tradition which makes us believe we love God and serving Him but in fact deluding ourselves. Such tradition encourages selfish interest and disregard to love of neighbour. Keeping such tradition is claiming to love God while denying love of neighbour whom we see.

The example Jesus gives is even worse than denying love of neighbour, it also denies obligation. He says, “For Moses said, 'Honour your father and your mother'; and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die'; but you say, 'If a man tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is Corban' (that is, given to God) -- then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother” 

Everyone has obligation to take care of their parents. Hence, it makes the adherents of the tradition irresponsible as it denies obligation.  

 Giving to God is not sin

Jesus gives example of tradition which encourages the use of God’s name for selfish interest. In this way it also contradicts the commandment not to call God’s name in vain. The tradition is not altruistic, it is rather motivated by the flesh. It is not according to the spirit but flesh. 

However, giving to God is not sin. Jesus praised the widow who gave everything she had to God but not at expense of love of neighbour. Such show of devotion to God did not deny her obligation.  

We celebrate, today, Saint Paul Milki and his companions. Paul Milki “joined the Society of Jesus and preached the gospel to the Japanese people with great success. When a persecution of the Catholics arose he was arrested together with twenty-five others. Mocked and tortured, they were eventually taken to Nagasaki on 5 February 1597, bound to crosses and speared” (Universalis). He teaches us the need for courage and passion for the gospel.  

Prayer 

O God, strength of all the Saints, who through the Cross were pleased to call the Martyrs Saint Paul Miki and companions to life, grant, we pray, that by their intercession we may hold with courage even until death to the faith that we profess. Amen (Collect) 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke