Abuse of Spiritual Power!
23rd week Friday in Ordinary Time
1
Tim 1:1-2, 12-14
Abuse of Spiritual Power!
St Paul thinks of his past life as one who was against Christ and a traitor to the Christians. Though he
does not deserve to be in the ministry of Jesus, the mercy of Jesus allowed him to be a preacher. He was ignorant of the things he did to Christ
and Christians. Jesus has enlightened
him and is transformed.
One’s past is not a matter of life. Everyone has a past that may not be good enough to
face life. But the Lord gives a second
chance to blossom. The grace that Jesus
gave to St Paul is not half and half but full.
So much so, St Paul said it, not I, who love Christ lives in him. God liberates us from sin completely for a
new life.
Are we aware that the freedom that Jesus gives is complete? Do we give freedom to be themselves?
Year Two
1 Cor 9:16-27
Preaching and Teaching are Gifts with Responsibility.
“For when I preach the gospel, I
cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the
gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am
simply discharging the trust committed to me. What then is my reward? Just
this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not
make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel" (1 Cor 9:16-18).
While preaching is a gift and a
duty for those who are called. It involves the responsibility to live what one
preaches and preach those things one practices. Preaching is one aspect of
life, but it has to be integrated with life. Preachers and teachers should not
preach and teach what is impossible, but what can be lived and make it
possible to live with the Grace of God and human effort. If not, preaching is a useless exercise, one who preaches and for those it is preached.
Do we make an effort to practice
what we preach to the people?
Lk 6:39-42
Blind Guides!
He also told them a parable: “Can
a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above the teacher, but
every disciple who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. Why do you see
the speck in your neighbour’s eye but do not notice the log in your own
eye? Or how can you say to your
neighbour, ‘Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself
do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of
your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your
neighbour’s eye (Lk 6:39-42).
For most of us, the other is a problem. We realize we are also a
problem to others. We look for guides to
lead us on the right path. For those who
believe in blind faith, good may happen. If
one is not filled with the spirit of God and lacks certain clarity of mind in spiritual matters, one may be a blind guide. One
may be aware of the matters, but if he uses the guiding familiarity and knowledge
for selfish ends, it will have harmful effects.
The abuse of spiritual power is
dangerous. There are people who knowingly and unknowingly abuse their spiritual guidance and the authority for their selfish motives,
like to control, exploit and weaken the persons of guidance. One’s guidance has to liberate from within
and without. God liberates and does not
mistreat us because of the knowledge He has of us.
Everyone who is in a spiritual ministry and authority needs to think over their attitude toward those who approach them for guidance.
If not, we will be blind guides.
A Good guide checks himself in his interior
life!
How often do I try to remove the speck in my neighbour’s eye?
Fr Putti Anthaiah, sdb
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