Wednesday, October 8, 2014

27th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 09-10-14

Galatians 3:1-5 / Luke 11:5-13

To ask someone who is mentally unstable or mentally unsound  if he is mad would be like asking a drunkard if he is drunk.

But to ask someone who is mentally stable and mentally sound if he is mad can be quite insulting.

In the 1st reading, St. Paul asked the people of Galatia if they were mad. In a way he was insulting them but with the purpose of awakening them.

They had been foolish enough to deviate from the teachings about the salvation in Jesus Christ and got distracted by outward observances and practices which they do not really understand.

In the gospel, Jesus asked questions that don't really require answers because the answers are obvious.

Which father would give his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or a snake instead of a fish? Or a scorpion instead of an egg?

If we are able to see some goodness and kindness in ourselves and in the people around us, and if we truly believe that God is the Creator of mankind, then we will also come to see that God is the source of all goodness and kindness.

Not wanting to be good and kind to others would be foolishness. Not wanting to believe in goodness and kindness would be really madness.