THE CHARACTER AND ATTITUDE OF CHRIST: CATHOLIC SUNDAY SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS: 26TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, CYCLE B, 2024

THE CHARACTER AND ATTITUDE OF CHRIST

The Christian life is an act of imitating the character and attitude of Christ in his lifestyle. He is empathic and peaceful towards all, though confrontational to falsehood. His way of doing things is nonviolent communication: words, actions and attitude, especially to those different from him. Hence, no follower of his can or should result violently in his name.

OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH DEMANDS TOLERANCE AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN OUR CONDUCT

An authentic living out of the Christian life and principles demands a sense of tolerance. In addition, social responsibility is in our conduct towards others. As Christians, we are called to think, speak and act with and in the character of Christ (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 11:1; Eph. 4:22-24; Eph. 5:1-2).

The character of Christ invites and challenges us to be tolerant towards others who might be different from us as individuals or in our Christian circle. It calls us to a life of openness and inclusion for all in Christ Jesus. Especially people who are not of faith, lifestyle, or way of doing things but who are good at heart with the attitude and character of Christ.

THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST

The character of Christ also calls us to be responsible in our conduct in private or public. We are to comport ourselves with dignity, respect and civility. So, our lifestyle does not cause scandals or affect others with our thoughts, words or actions.

The character of Christ implies that Christians are to imitate him in every aspect of their lives without expectations. What is the Character of Christ that we Christians must imitate?

Christ formed a community of disciples that is all-inclusive of all with no exception. A community he delegated with his power, authority, and selfless spirit of simplicity, humility and service. We are called to live the same way in our Christian testimony.

Christ was honest, transparent and truthful with his followers in words and deeds. There was never any sense of control, suppression or manipulation in or with Him. He was straightforward with them on everything.

CHRIST’S KINGDOM PROJECT IS FREE

The Kingdom project of Christ had nothing of compulsion “a must-do or must-be attitude”, do, or die affairs or limitations of others. It was a free project with an open invitation to all willing to join. It is a peaceful crusade with no violence, persecution or imposition. This is why the Crusade era of the Christian Church was one of the dark ages of the History of the Catholic Church.

The life and teaching of Christ were never a scandalous testimony to others. It was a simple life of witness that represented God among men. It is a kingdom project devoid of scandals socially, culturally, religiously, ethically, or morally.

Christ and kingdom project was not one of antagonistic behaviour to political or economic class. However, he spoke the truth to them without fear or favour to anyone. The Christian attitude towards civil authority must never be antagonistic but firm truth in witnessing before them with courage.

The character of Christ was one of the open confrontations to religious authority in their gimmicks to control, oppress the truth, and manipulate followers with a sense of falsity, hypocrisy and threat.

The character of Christ is one of making his followers good, authentic, honest, and truthful people. It is a spirituality of the transformations of weakness to strength, sin to grace, death to life, and disease to healing.

It does not do things with the sense of being, a nice or pretentious person or being a people pleaser in the name of prudence and worldly approval.

It is living by the will of God, which entails suffering, sacrifice and self-denial. It has nothing to do with the prosperity gospel or the rich God mentality.

OUR THEME

The readings of this Sunday draw our attention to the inclusive spirit for all. That is without, an exclusion of anyone from the project of the kingdom of God. They also call us to social responsibility and not to be the reason for scandals to others.

The readings also challenge us to authentic Christian life devoid of jealousy, envy, segregation, intolerance and giving scandals to others. They focus on building and promoting team spirit, through the sharing of charism and delegation.

The readings of this 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time articulate one of the best qualities of leadership exemplified by Moses and Jesus Christ. The delegation of power or authority enables them to work as a team with others. They advocated for tolerance towards those who are good-spirited but may be different from them.

We are also encouraged not to use our riches or privileged positions to abuse, defraud or exploit others. The truth is that there will be severe consequences for those whose actions affect others.

Hence, there is this stern warning that we should be careful to separate ourselves from any lifestyle that affects our relationship with God. ?That is anything that will make us lose eternal life or not obey the will of God. We are challenged to a kind of “spiritual mutilation” of ourselves. In other words, we should evict any pleasure of the sense, anything or anyone who could form an obstacle to us reaching God.?

FIRST READING: NUMBERS 11:25-29

Leadership could be cumbersome when it is a one-man show or thing. God understands the burden that comes with leading the people of Israel. He does not want Moses to carry that burden task alone.

?Hence, we see God taking a little bit of the leadership spirit from Moses and sharing it with the seventy elders who are to help him in governance. This is the power of delegation that comes with good leadership. A good leader is more than willing to share his power or authority to govern with others. Simply and beautifully, it becomes a shared responsibility and not a burden on them all.

The delegation of power to the seventy elders was God's way of showing Moses. That, he does not have to do it all alone by himself. The delegating power was confirmed through the manifestation of the gifts of prophecy. Though, it was a one-time manifestation of the gift of prophecy among the elders. Even the two elders, Eldad and Medad, were registered with the elders. Though they stayed away in the camp, they also received the spirit of prophecy.

Some people had concerns over the manifestation of the gifts of prophecy through the elders since they were no prophets. These individuals like Joshua, son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, and one of his chosen men wanted Moses to stop the elders.

However, Moses as a good leader knew the importance of delegated power and authority. He called on these zealot interventionists to be open-minded and tolerant towards differences and inclusion.

?OUR LESSON FROM THE BIBLICAL TEXT

The lesson for us in the world and the Christian church. We must be open and tolerant towards those who are different from us. We must also have all-inclusiveness of all people of goodwill in the salvific work of God.

Therefore, one of the great qualities of a good leader is his ability to share his power or authority. That is the ability to work with others, especially with those who work for him or with him to achieve set goals. In other words, His ability to foster teamwork or team spirit of all-inclusiveness and tolerance for others who might be different from him.

Hence, Moses called his assistants to be tolerant and not to be controlled by envy and jealousy. At the same, Moses wished all of Israel could be prophets. That is prophets who had the spirit of the Lord to declare about his goodness.?

PSALM 19

The responsorial of Psalm 19 invites us to anchor our lives and behaviour on the precepts of the Lord, which give joy to the heart. It also guides our spirit in worldly and religious affairs. It helps us how we can be pleasing to the Lord our God.

These precepts of the Lord are holy, perfect, trustworthy, truthful, and abide forever. The commandments of the Lord revive our souls from human errors, presumptions, and hidden faults. When they are instructions, we live a blameless life before God.

SECOND READING: JAMES 5:1-6

Today’s second reading touches on one of the central themes of the Letter of St James. That is the topic of riches and poverty in the community of believers. For James, most wealth is often gained by exploiting the weak. Equally, he acknowledged the high tendency in society and the Christian Church to despise the poor and the weak.

One fact that stands out in this passage of St James is that ill-begotten riches and wealth are bound to be no profit. They spell doom and worthlessness to the rich who acquired them at the expense of the poor.

SOURCES OF WEALTH IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Contextually, in the Middle East, there were three sources of wealth. These sources James has a word for the decay of each of them.

a.?????? There were corn and grain. That is the wealth, which grows rotten. St James asserted that “Your riches have rotted”.

b.????? ?There were garments. In the Middle East, garments were considered a sign of wealth. ?In addition, James said, “Your clothes are moth-eaten”.

c.?????? There was also gold and silver. They were not just precious items, but also they were seen as great wealth. Equally, James affirmed that “Your gold and silver have rusted”.

The impermanence and ultimate valuelessness of all earthly things are in the fact of their rot or rust. Moreover, it is a dread warning to us never to make the centre of our lives, worldly possessions.

For James, this ill-gotten wealth will bring the rich, nothing more than misery but destruction on judgment day. Likewise, their injustice and fraudulent wages against the Labourers are a clamour for vengeance against the rich before God.?

For God, no act of injustice, evil, and exploitation of the poor and defenceless goes unnoticed by Him. In addition, there will be great retributions for their exploiters and oppressors on the Last day.

THE SOCIAL PASSION FOR JUSTICE IN THE BIBLE

Prophet Amos and the Letter of Saint James are two biblical books that stand out clearly for social justice. One is for the people of Israel and the other among believers in the Christian communities.

These books of the Holy Bible condemn dishonest and selfish wealth with such searing Passion. For Amos and James, it is an act of violence and robbery to cheat or exploit the poor and the weak in human society or the Christian Church.

Yet, there are books of the Holy Bible that not only curse the rich but also declare how difficult it will be to attain eternal life (Lk.6:24; Lk.18:24; 1Tim.6:9-10; Enoch 97: 8; Wis.2:6-12).

Finally, it must be clear, that there is no condemnation of riches and wealth in the Bible. However, there is a strenuous insistence on the responsibility of the wealthy to the poor. There are perils which surround a man who is abundantly blessed with possessions.

IMPLICATIONS OF SOCIAL JUSTICE IN JAMES

Besides, the second reading from the Letter of St James advocated for social justice.? It challenges our sense of social justice, integrity, and respect for the poor, the needy and the less privileged. James also invites us to be God’s instrument of social justice and peace through our thoughts, words, and actions. But also in favour of the poor, the oppressed, and the downtrodden of our society.

In summary, James 5:1-6 has two aims. First, to show the ultimate worthlessness of all earthly riches. Secondly, it also demonstrates the detestable character of those who possess them. James’ advice is to help his readers, from placing all their hopes and desires on earthly things.

WHY SELFISHNESS HAS ITS WRETCHED END

According to James 5: 4-6, there is condemnation for selfish riches and warning of where they must end. This is because the self-centred rich have gained their wealth by injustice. It is because the insensitive rich have used their wealth selfishly.

Equally, selfishness always leads to the destruction of the soul. Most of the rich in our society acquire their wealth through ill-gotten ways that tramp and crush the poor and the weak. This dishonest and cruel way of begotten wealth is the surest way that ends their pleasure in grief and their luxury in death (Romans 6:23; 1 Timothy 6:10).

Again, the selfish rich have slain the unresisting righteous man whose lifestyle reproaches their evil way of life. The wicked man would gladly eliminate the good man, for he reminds him of what he is. And of what he ought to be. This is the greatest evil of the ill-gotten wealth of the selfish rich.

THE GOSPEL: MARK 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

Today’s passage from the Gospel of Mark with its logically incoherent verses, presents a challenge. That is how a priest or pastor of souls can articulate a coherent homily or sermon. This outrageous incoherence makes it almost impossible for any preacher to understand all these knots of its messaging.

The Gospel text of today focuses on a cluster of moral teachings. It vignettes discipleship as lived or expressed within the believing community, the family, and a larger social sphere. This Sunday reading from Mark considers the boundaries of the Christian Church in operation with good souls or spiritual individuals outside it.

It articulates the internal responsibilities of a Christian towards others. That is, he or she must not be the source of sin and scandals in the Christian communities.

WHY SHOULD HOLY SCRIPTURE TEXT OF MARK BE OF IMPORTANCE TO US?

Fundamentally, the gospel text is an anchor on personal rather than communal tolerance towards those different from us and outside our circle. It emphasises the social or moral responsibility of Christians not to cause sin. Or give or be a source of scandal in the society or Christian community.

?It challenges us to take a hard look at our treatment of little ones who believe in Jesus. Our fundamental question is: are we supporting these little, honest, and innocent ones as they grow in life and faith? Or do we strew rocks, fences, and walls that break them down or make them stumble in their spiritual and human growth?

?A LESSON IN TOLERANCE: MARK 9:38-40

In the time of Jesus, everyone believed in the existence of demons. In ancient Palestine, mental and physical illnesses were seen as being caused by some influence of evil spirits.

Now, there was one common way to exorcise them. If, one could get to know the name of a more powerful spirit and command the evil demon in that name to come out of a person. The demons were supposed to be powerless to resist.

This is the image, we have at the beginning of today’s Mark gospel. John had seen a man using the all-powerful name of Jesus to defeat the demons. And he had tried to stop him because he was not one of the bands of the disciples.

However, Jesus declared that no man could do a mighty work in his name and be his enemy. Then Jesus laid down the great principle that “he who is not against us is for us.” The lesson here is tolerance or acceptance for others, especially those outside our circle or different from us.

This is a fundamental lesson that we all need to learn in life. We need to learn how to respect the way of being of other people. That is how we think, express and act about others who are not us.

TOLERANCE AND RESPECT FOR THE BEING OF OTHERS

1.?????? Every man has a right to his thoughts, and we should respect that right. First, there is far more than one way to God. It is a fearful and dangerous thing for any man, religion or church to think the monopoly of salvation is with them.

2.?????? Secondly, it is necessary to remember that truth is always more profound than the grasp of any man. No man, religion or institution can grasp all truth. That is the classical definition of fundamentalism or extremism.

3.?????? Tolerance is not blind obedience, sheepish acceptance, or conform mentality of yes to things people say. It could mean our acknowledgement, acceptance, and respect for diversities or differences. There are in others and around us.

4.?????? ?Tolerance means reverence or charity greater than faith or hope. Hence, intolerance is a sign of arrogance and ignorance. For, it is a sign that a man, a religion or a religious institution believes that there is no truth beyond the truth he or she sees.

5.?????? It is not that every man, religion and institution has the right to do his thinking. They also have the right to do their speaking. However, there are limitations to this right especially, when the self-express liberty of a man or group inculcates doctrines calculated to destroy morality.

6.?????? Thus tolerance is the source of peace and intolerance is the source of disorder and squabbling. Pierre Bayle

7.?????? Some teachings or ideologies aim at eroding the foundations of Christian society and civilisation. Such a person or group of people must be combatted. However, the way to fight or challenge them is not to eliminate them by force but to prove them wrong.

8.?????? There is a high tendency to filter sensory speech or thought in Christendom. In the guide against heresies or errors, the Holy Spirit is being stiffened out of the lives of Christians.

9.?????? ?We must remember that any doctrine or belief must finally be judged by the kind of people or results it produces. The spirituality of Christianity, as an instrument of good is seen in the type of fruits it bears in the world. Hence, what matters is not how the Christian Church, but the kind of people it produces in the world today.

10.?? Tolerance means that we may hate the belief of a man. We must never hate the man. In other words, we may wish to eliminate what he teaches, but we must never long to destroy him.?

REWARDS, SCANDALS AND PUNISHMENTS MARK 9:41-42

Many believe these are dislocated verses to the theme of tolerance. This is not true. The statement by Christ that “whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.”

It has a connection to the context of tolerance. It deals with how we treat or respect those who are not like us or different from us. Those who are outside our circle but pertain to Christ in character and nature. In other words, it is not a literal act of kindness or mere giving a cup of water to a thirsty person. It implies doing that in the name of Christ or to those who belong to Christ.

The act of kindness means something profound beyond a cup of water. It means gracious reception of anyone whose action, bold or modest, genuinely conforms to the character of Jesus. It does not matter if the person is outside the Christian Church and if he is different in his belief, character or personality from us.

THE TEACHING OF THIS PASSAGE IS SIMPLE AND UNMISTAKABLE

a.?????? It declares that any act of kindness shown or any help given to the people of Christ will not lose its reward.

b.????? We are not asked to do great things beyond our power. A cup of cold water means doing something simple, sincere and unconditional to others without underlying conditions or motives.

c.?????? An act of kindness could be a word of encouragement to a depressed soul. It could be putting a lost man on the right road to his destination. At the same time, it could also mean giving a thirsty man a drink of water or material kindness to relieve a needy person.

d.????? Kindness or charity to others could be smiling to understand or motivate someone despite his trouble all will be well.

A GREAT MILLSTONE IN ANCIENT PALESTINE

Equally, the themes of tolerance and kindness have something to do with not giving scandal to the little ones of Christ. The logic is simple. The willingness to help is to win us the eternal reward. Equally, our carelessness that causes a weak brother or sister to lose faith will lead to everlasting punishment.

Hence, the punishment of a great millstone hanging around the neck of someone who causes scandal and is thrown into the sea is an image of the gravity of causing others to lose faith in God.

In the Middle East, hanging someone with a great millstone was a form of punishment and a means of execution in Rome and Palestine. Indeed, it was cruel punishment or death of those who revolted against King Herod or the Roman authority.

It is a terrible thing to sin against God, but also it is worse to teach others to do the same. The gravity of doing so is spelt out in the punishment a scandalous person deserves. Even the practical solution of “self-mutilation” is not in the literal sense proposed by Christ. To live a life devoid of self, persons, or anything that leads us to sinful or scandalous life is severe.?

This is why the sexual scandals against the innocent and vulnerable little ones that engulfed the Catholic Church in recent times are not only grievous but deserve mortal punishment. God is not as hard on the sinner as he will be stern to the person who makes it easier for others to sin. Someone whose conduct were thoughtless or deliberate puts an obstacle in the path of a weaker brother or sister.

SELF-MUTILATION: A MEANS TO A GOAL THAT IS WORTH ANY SACRIFICE

The vivid truth was spoken by Jesus of our “self-mutilation” if our hand, foot or eye will cause us to stumble. That, it is better to enter life eternal as lame or blind than to languish in hell.?

This saying of Jesus is not something we should take literally. Instead, it is a vivid Eastern way of saying that there is a goal in life that, is worth any sacrifice to attain.

What is the goal for which everything without exception must be sacrificed? It is called Life or the Kingdom of God. In the opinion of Christ, to attain life or the Kingdom of God, we ought to give up everything and anything that stands against our attaining salvation.

The fundamental truth of the sense of “self-mutilation” proposed by Christ. It is personal to each one of us. It is not about communal mutilation. That is the ex-communication supposing wicked individuals or spoilt eggs in the Christian communities or among us.?

Personally, it means that it may be necessary to exercise some control. To abandon some pleasure, to give up some friends, to cut out something, which has become very dear to us, to be fully obedient to the will of God.

It is a matter of conscience for the individual to live an obedient life to God. A life that demands of him to root out as painful as surgical operations anything that stands against reaching out to God, or that makes him an obstacle to others reaching God.

FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS

A.????? What is the level of your tolerance and acceptance of others different from you or outside your circle of social, cultural, religious, or ideological views?

B.????? ?How conscious are you of your thoughts, words and actions not an obstacle to others' potential?

C.????? ?Does attaining your interests or ambitions, wealth or positions in life come with using or crushing others?

D.????? Do you use wealth, affluence, knowledge, privileged position, power or authority to suppress, belittle, or abuse others?

E.?????? What are you willing or disposed to sacrifice to attain life eternal or the Kingdom of God??

THE MOST BASIC POINT OF THE READINGS OF THE SUNDAY

First, we give scandal and become obstacles to others:

(a) When we are unkind or unjust in our treatment of them.

(b) When we humiliate them by hurting their pride and damaging their self-image.

(c) When we discourage, ignore, or refuse to accept them.?

(d) When we become judgmental of those still struggling to reach a level of commitment that we feel

???? ??for them to be worthy.

Let us learn the Christian virtue of tolerance. Christian tolerance asks that we bear with the weaknesses of others (without condoning the evil they do).

(a) By remaining true to our conscience and beliefs.?

????????????? (b) By respecting the differences we encounter in others.

????????????? (c) By working together on projects of common interest.

??????????? ??(d) By affirming what is good in the position or view of other people. Even when we

disagree on certain things.

???????????? ?(e) Ultimately, by allowing the light of Christ to shine through our loving thoughts,

words and deeds towards others.?

?Finally, the readings of this Sunday challenge or warn us against jealousy and intolerance. Notably, they encourage us to be aware of the gifts and blessings of others outside our circle. Or who are different from us in their way of thinking, viewing or doing things.

Unlike Jesus Christ we are full of jealousy and envy when we think, say and act out in our human relationship. Let us then, ask the Lord to help us turn our selfish, narrow-mindedness into board-mindedness and our self-absorbing importance into others’ oriented consciousness and appreciation.

Above all, we learn and promote the culture of inclusiveness to love, share and accommodate the unique differences of others around us.??

OUR PRAYER?

Lord Jesus Christ, the central invitation to us all today is to live out the Christian life and virtue. May we live with the culture of UNITY in diversities and INCLUSIVENESS for all in the project of God in a world full of religious, political, cultural, moral, social, gender, and economic exclusiveness. Open our hearts to accept those who are different from us or difficult for us. We also learn to forgive those who have hurt or caused us scandals. Amen