Friday October 29, 2021 - Thirtieth week of Ordinary Time - My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me - Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 14, 1-6

The attitude of the Pharisees towards Jesus, in this Gospel, has no other name than an ambush. On a Sabbath, a reserved day, a gravely ill man presented himself to Jesus, himself being watched by the Doctors of the Law. What they are looking for is a pretext to condemn it. But Jesus, in his leniency, quick to come to the aid of those who implore him, did not have the slightest hesitation in healing this man. For Jesus, for God, life passes above Law and tradition and man is highly more precious than animals or any other creature.

He wants to teach us that we have a duty to help each other, to take care of each other. Indeed, we have a hard time discerning what to do and what not to do. For fear of being frowned upon or of being singled out, we do not dare to express love, we refuse to be charitable towards those who are in distress. These days there are frequent cases of oppression, violence, and even murder, but we pretend not to see them, we let them go so as not to be blamed.

However, we recognize the disciples of Christ by their zeal to follow his example by opposing all forms of injustice, by refusing and correcting wrongs, and above all by making themselves the ramparts of the most deprived. Let our Christianity not be a mere fame, let us be the salt that will destroy evil and the light that will drive out darkness.

Jesus, you have puzzled those who do not know the extent of your love to save man. You revealed to them that you are Lord, omnipotent God. May we not be simple followers in our faith, but true disciples full of ardor and love.