ALWAYS COUNT TEN ... POSSIBLY HUNDRED
Do you recall your childhood days? DO NOT pick your nose! DO NOT eat with dirty hands! DO NOT answer back! DO NOT interrupt when grown-ups are talking! The litany of DO NOTs is interminable. Parents need a little bit of psychology to realise the harm done to their children when such orders are given. But that was in my boyhood days, circa 70 years ago.
Yet, funnily enough, though its more tragical than funny, is the fact that the outlook of some Christians regarding their Christian duties, is built on the “DO NOT” system. We find this, as quoted by Christ, in next Sunday’s Gospel.
The young man declared that he used to follow the Commandments; ‘You must not kill’; ‘You must not commit adultery’; ‘You must not steal’, and so on and so forth. Christ was quoting what was written ... DO NOT, DO NOT DO NOT ... But Christ’s message was loud and clear: “Go and sell all that you have and give it to the poor.” Christ di not say: “DO NOT squander your wealth.”
So, Christ’s message was the following: It’s no use saying, ‘I do not steal’, rather, do you give alms to those in need?’ It’s no use declaring, ‘I do not kill,’ rather, ‘do you do your utmost to defend the unborn?’ What’s the use of saying, ‘I do not swear with God’s name’ but ‘do you use your lips to give praise and honour to God?’ So one has to take the ‘positive approach’. One can’t justify oneself by saying: “I do not offend or harm anyone’, yet in the process closes one eye, or both to injustice in life, without lifting a finger to defend the victims.
We have to bear in mind that Christ was addressing a young leader of the Synagogue, a wealthy person, a man of authority, who, notwithstanding his position in the Jewish society, ran to meet Christ, an unknown carpenter from Nazareth, he knelt in front of Him and gave Him homage. He even dared to call Him ‘Good’. We know from the Gospel Text that Christ, sort of felt sorry for him and he loved this young man.
It is clear that this man came to Jesus in a moment of overflowing emotion. Christ, sort of told him: “Stop and think! You are all wrought up and palpitating with emotion! I don’t want you swept up to me in a moment of emotion. Think calmly about what you are doing. Then act.” Jesus was suggesting to him to count the costs. One can’t become a good Christian because of emotional passion for Christ.
Following Christ means that you might have to be ‘a loner’; your wife, your children, your parents and friends might take another path (God forbid). BUT, you have to follow the Light the Truth, and the Way.
Do you recall your childhood days? DO NOT pick your nose! DO NOT eat with dirty hands! DO NOT answer back! DO NOT interrupt when grown-ups are talking! The litany of DO NOTs is interminable. Parents need a little bit of psychology to realise the harm done to their children when such orders are given. But that was in my boyhood days, circa 70 years ago.
Yet, funnily enough, though its more tragical than funny, is the fact that the outlook of some Christians regarding their Christian duties, is built on the “DO NOT” system. We find this, as quoted by Christ, in next Sunday’s Gospel.
The young man declared that he used to follow the Commandments; ‘You must not kill’; ‘You must not commit adultery’; ‘You must not steal’, and so on and so forth. Christ was quoting what was written ... DO NOT, DO NOT DO NOT ... But Christ’s message was loud and clear: “Go and sell all that you have and give it to the poor.” Christ di not say: “DO NOT squander your wealth.”
So, Christ’s message was the following: It’s no use saying, ‘I do not steal’, rather, do you give alms to those in need?’ It’s no use declaring, ‘I do not kill,’ rather, ‘do you do your utmost to defend the unborn?’ What’s the use of saying, ‘I do not swear with God’s name’ but ‘do you use your lips to give praise and honour to God?’ So one has to take the ‘positive approach’. One can’t justify oneself by saying: “I do not offend or harm anyone’, yet in the process closes one eye, or both to injustice in life, without lifting a finger to defend the victims.
We have to bear in mind that Christ was addressing a young leader of the Synagogue, a wealthy person, a man of authority, who, notwithstanding his position in the Jewish society, ran to meet Christ, an unknown carpenter from Nazareth, he knelt in front of Him and gave Him homage. He even dared to call Him ‘Good’. We know from the Gospel Text that Christ, sort of felt sorry for him and he loved this young man.
It is clear that this man came to Jesus in a moment of overflowing emotion. Christ, sort of told him: “Stop and think! You are all wrought up and palpitating with emotion! I don’t want you swept up to me in a moment of emotion. Think calmly about what you are doing. Then act.” Jesus was suggesting to him to count the costs. One can’t become a good Christian because of emotional passion for Christ.
Following Christ means that you might have to be ‘a loner’; your wife, your children, your parents and friends might take another path (God forbid). BUT, you have to follow the Light the Truth, and the Way.
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