THURSDAY 23RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR II
1 Corinthians 8:1-7,11-13, Luke 6:27-38
DO IT FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE WHO LOOK UP TO YOU
There are many things we are sometimes tempted to do, but we cannot because we are Christians. As Christians we are never aware that many people are looking up to us until we do something wrong. The faith of many people may depend on us. Whatever they see us do, is the right thing, and when we do what is wrong, it can be a devastation and a serious scandal for them.
St Paul in the first reading of today tells us that though he knows that food sacrificed to idols are like normal food, he would advice that Christians should not eat them, not because they will harm us, but because it will affect the faith of others.
There are many things we do as Christians that affect the faith of those around us especially those whose faith are not as strong as our own, as well as the little ones around us.
Jesus tells us in Luke 17:1-2, that 'causes of falling are sure to come, but alas for the one through whom they occur. It would be better for such a person to be thrown into the sea with a millstone round the neck than to be the downfall of a single one of these little ones'.
Let us therefore be conscious of ourselves and what we do. We preach more as Christians, by our way of life. People believe more of what we do than what we say. Our life is intertwined with that of others. When we fall as a Christian, many may fall down with us also. God help us. Amen.
Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP.
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