First Reading: Gen 37:3-4. 12-13a. 17b-28a; Psalm: 105. R. v. 5a; Gospel: Mt 21:33-43. 45-46

STAND FOR WHAT IS GOOD

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP

Jesus was considered a nonconformist and an impostor by the Scribes and Pharisees of his time because his ways were in dissonance with theirs. Jesus was called a man who was deceiving people through his new teachings and doing things the wrong way. And for this reason, he was hated and rejected by many. But this is not surprising. There is no one who chooses to act differently from a generally accepted standard that would not face attack and criticism. It was Martin Luther King Jr. who said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter”

When the brothers of Joseph were plotting to kill him, Reuben couldn’t hold his silence. He admonished his brothers saying, “Shed no blood; cast him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him.” The admonishment of Reuben changed the original intention of his brothers towards Joseph. Sometimes, all we need to avert evil is just to speak out against it. And then we would realise that not everyone was actually in support of it. Only that no one had the courage to be the first to speak up.  

An evil suggestion or plan is always initiated by one or two persons. The consent of others is what actually consolidates the plan. But just like Reuben, we can be that agent of light that opposes evil even when it means standing alone. When we happen to be in the midst of people planning to execute evil; we should be courageous to speak against it. Jesus was never scared to speak against evil. He was always after what was just and right and never relented in propagating it. Evil shouldn’t thrive before our very eyes. Speaking against it may have its own sting. But it saves us from the torment of the conscience.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Lord Jesus, give us the courage to defend whatever is right. Amen.