The presence of
righteous is a stumbling block for the wicked. The proclamation or voice of
righteous against wicked and the existing evil are threat to the prosperity of
the wicked. The voice of the wicked pricks the conscience of the
unrighteous. Unless, there is knowledge about good and bad, everything seems to
be right. The very knowledge of right and wrong makes the person responsible
for the act. The righteous person works for the enlightenment of right and
wrong or good and bad in the society. Their voice compels the conscience of
the wicked and the indifferent minds to introspect. In the first reading, we
see this situation. The wicked people perceive the righteous person as
stumbling block. And so, they are planning to try the patience and forbearance of
the righteous person. Jesus is the victim of this trap. He is tried by the
liars and double standard people to see whether His righteousness bears fruit. The
crucifixion of Jesus is a plan of Pharisees, Elders and Scribes to teach Jesus
and His followers that the righteousness has no place in this world. With their
test on righteous person, they proclaim survival as the goal in earthly life. The
virtuous life is replaced with vicious life. The adherence to the law with
conviction is replaced with adjustment of the law on convenience.
We are in a
period of the predominance of evil. The numerical strength of the wicked chocks
the ideological strength of the righteous. The wicked are more in number, but
the righteous are strong in their conviction and beliefs. The ineffectiveness
of wicked to confront the righteous person makes the wicked to do away with the
righteous. On the one hand, the wicked chooses the numerical attack (physical attack)
on the righteous; on the other hand, the righteous persist in peaceful protest.
The second reading instructs selfishness and envy as the root of every
wickedness. The conflict comes when one’s want becomes threat to the wants of the
other. The decision to gain one’s want irrespective of the danger that it
creates for the other is selfishness. The persistence to remain in the decision
to gain one’s want without taking into consideration of the other is envy. Selfishness
seeks one’s want by hook or crook. Envy seeks misfortunes of the other. From these two,
all other evil acts are built on.
The culture of
dichotomy, lie and adjustment seems to be right. It attracts the virtuous person
to consider his/her life is in wrong path. The philosophy of competition, hierarchy,
division, ranking system and so on rule this world. These philosophies are ideas
that are needed to govern the world. The upholding of these ideas as end in
itself, thwarts the goal of life. The disciples of Jesus are not alien to this
notion. They discuss who is the greatest person among them? The life in Kingdom
of God is to reach heaven, the would be apostles still haven’t come to awareness
on this aspect. Thriving and prosperity in this world is only a pleasure not a
goal. The changing of goal creates havoc. The change of destination seeks
change of path. Similarly, the change of goal pursues change of means to attain
it. The goal to beget child creates awareness of one’s responsibility to care for
the pregnancy. The goal to persist in one’s right and views creates destruction
to whatever comes onto his/her way.
From the
readings of today it is clear that torture, persecution, trials and suffering
for the virtuous are inevitable. They are the trap of the wicked. Persistence in
torture is the fulfilment of the virtuous life. Jesus as the model for perseverance
in unjust suffering, teaches us to forbear the unwanted pain. The attainment of
the goal is important. The gain and loss on the way to goal is not a matter. If
wicked are courageous enough to execute the righteous to gain their goal, how much
are we, the righteous need courage to show them that it is in their devise to
do away with us helps us gain our goal faster and sooner. If wicked wants to be
first, let us choose to be last and servant of all (Mk 9:35). If wicked shuns
to listen to us, let us decide to listen to the wisdom that comes from simple
child. Jesus invites us to welcome simple child in His name (Mk 9:37). At times,
we get enlightenment from simple people. Let us persevere in our righteousness,
beliefs and goal. Let us allow the wisdom to come to us from all quarters of
life. The numerical strength of wicked may not remove our ideological conviction
on truth.
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