First Reading - 1 Corinthians 5:1-8
Gospel - Luke 6:6-11
In the first reading, Paul deals with the problem of incest that was still tolerated by the community in Corinth. Paul reproves the action of tolerance of the community for such offence against the commandment of God and condemns the people concerned in sin. Paul incites the community to take an action of expelling the persons from the community if they were not ready to amend their sinful union. Furthermore, the strong tinge of anger of Paul transforms in his filial advice to exhort the community to be able to get rid of old yeast of sinfulness for the sake of Christ so that they would become new batch of bread which is animated by sincerity and truth. In short, Paul invites the believers to embrace a change in Christ although it is demanding and above all involving sacrifices of evil and wickedness on their part. Paul tells the believers to become a new batch of bread for the sake of Christ or be transformed from sinful life into a new life in Christ; a need to make a sacrifice for Christ.
The gospel of the day recounts the suffering of Jesus in the form of opposition and conspiracy by the scribes and Pharisees, subsequently foreboding his passion and death. The sabbath controversy continues in the gospel of the day sparked by the healing of the man with the withered hand. Jesus heals the man on the Sabbath teaching all that the Sabbath is meant to do good for the people. He acts it according to his teaching. He takes upon himself the suffering so that he could give a new life to the man in particular and to all humanity at large. He undergoes suffering for a cause that is to give a new life and a new beginning.
Dear friends, the sufferings we undergo often shatter or devastate us altogether. However, the sufferings that we undergo for a cause, may be for the sake of Christ or the good news, will certainly never discourage us rather embolden us. When we flip through the pages of the history of the Church, we chance upon many people who gave up their lives, families and everything for the sake of Christ and the gospel. They did it happily. This reminds us of a cause for which they were ready to suffer.
At times, we find that we are not ready to make small sacrifices or ready to suffer. We find it difficult to go to the Church because it's little away from our home; we find it difficult to go to mass in the morning because it's too early; we find it difficult to sacrifice our little time for our needy friends who want our company and advise because we are too busy; we find it irritating to talk about spiritual things because they are outdated; we find it absurd to practice our faith because it is irrational etc. They all need our sacrifice. Why do we find hard to make sacrifices? It's because we become selfish and self-centred. A selfish and self-centred person will never do sacrifices but selfless person. Jesus is an example par-excellence of selflessness.
What will help us make sacrifices joyfully? It's a cause and that cause is Jesus. Saint Teresa of Kolkata has beautifully said: "... I do it for Christ." Indeed, when Christ and His teaching become the cause and reason of our lives, we will go extra miles to do anything for the good of others. We will be able to give up everything readily and happily for Christ, for he becomes the treasure of our lives.
May Christ become the reason and cause of my life.
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