The attitude of preventing some one's good work is devilish

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

26th Week – Monday

Gospel – Luke 9:46-50

First Reading – Job 1:6-22

 

The attitude of preventing some one's good work is devilish

1) Good work is the property of few

The disciples of Jesus, was of the opinion that, only His disciples could use the name of Jesus and perform good works

Because of this narrow thinking, they Stopped some one who were not belonging to their community, from doing such great good works. 

Their thinking was no narrow and they thought that only His disciples could perform the good works, by using masters name

Jesus corrects their wrong perception and tells them anybody can do the good work 

Thus Jesus declares that good work does not belong to only few persons or to a particular community or to a particular religion 

2) Why the disciples prevented the good work?

There may be various reasons why His disciples prevented the good work 

First of all they were belonging to different community. 

They thought only the disciples of Jesus can use Jesus' name to do good works

May be there were afraid of their popularity

May be others didn't want to do the work, in the name of Jesus 

May be they wanted to become heros and wanted to get milage for their work 

When the good works only concentrates on them, they can control other people and can claim a kind of superiority over others 

May also the issue of power and authority

3) Worldly attitude runs on this principle - Prevent the good work of others

Most of the times we see that many people try to prevent the good works of others

This may be for the sake of selfish interests, desire for power, to show that only we can do good works, to get cheap popularity and to execute the hidden agendas 

There people with vested interests who are only working to prevent the good works of others, in order to control their population

4) At times more time is spent on preventing others good work than doing the good works

This is the strategy followed by some politicians and some political parties 

Much of their energy and resources are spent on preventing others from doing good works 

Neither they do the good work, nor they allow others to do the good works. 

This is done purely for the sake of selfish purposes and to gain the power 

5) How good if all use their energy and resources only to do good work?

Just imagine the amount of money, resources and the time which can be used only for good work by all. 

In the present day context, if the above resources which are used at times for preventing good works, were to be used for the good work by all, the world would turn into heaven within no time 

Only our selfish motives do not allow us to think and act in that way. That is the tragedy of human society.

6) Preventing good works does not help in any way to any one

For the vested interests people may prevent the good works. 

But such a devilish attitude does not help in any either to the doer or to others 

It only deprives the good works which would have done by the cooperation, and such a loss of good work deprives every one its benefits 

So it does only harm and does not do any good to anyone

7) What about my life?

Do I prevent the good works of others for my selfish purpose? 

Am I frightened when others do good works. If so what is the reason

How much energy and resources do I spent either to do or to prevent the good work?

8) Preventing the good work is the act of cowardice

Only a person, who is frightened about good, does such an evil act 

Where ever there is good there is God. Therefore preventing good work is equal to preventing God from doing good work 

God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones.

Fr Maxim D’Souza

Jeppu Seminary

Mangalore