BE WEARY OF SCANDAL

⏰Tuesday of the Thirty-Third Week of Ordinary Time 1 (19 Nov. 2019)

📖2 Macc 6:18-31; Ps 3:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 (R.v.6b); Luke 19:1-10

🎤BE WEARY OF SCANDAL

In his Motto for for his episcopate, my Bishop, Most Rev. Michael Odogwu Elue prayed, “O God, do not allow those who seek you to be brought to dishonour because of me.”

That is a very important prayer which every leader must be saying at all times. See what Jesus said in Matt 18:6, “If anyone should cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble and fall into sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the depths of the sea with a large millstone around his neck.”

Eleazar, a pious Jew (cf. 2 Macc 6:18-31), knew the importance of what Jesus said there when his friends, who were in charge of implementing the law of eating pork which is against the Law (cf. Lev 11:7-8), wanted him to cheat and save his life. He declared,

“Such pretence is not worthy of our time of life, lest many of the young should suppose that Eleazar in his ninetieth year has gone over to alien religion, and through my pretence… they should be led astray…” (2 Macc 6:24-25).

St. Paul shares the same view in 1 Cor 8:1-13, which is why we say that clear conscience fears no accusation, alright, but clear conscience must also embrace the virtue of prudence.

Have you have been guilty of setting bad example? It is never too late for a change. Learn from Zacchaeus (cf. Luke 19:1-10) and try to overcome the greed and all kinds of selfish desires that makes one a spiritual dwarf, and seek the face of God.

May God also grant us the grace to live above standard and so be good examples to all, for our salvation and that of all men. Amen.

Have a grace-filled day. Peace be with you.