The Purpose of the Tomb Building

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Twenty Eighth Week : Thursday*

*Gospel : Lk 11:47-54*

*First Reading : Eph 1:1-10*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6*

*The Purpose of the Tomb Building*

*1) The Culture of Tomb Building*

The Gospel of the day speaks about the concept of tomb building 

From the Gospel it is clear that the culture of tomb building was present during the time of Jesus, even before Jesus was born into this world. So it has a long history

Even today the culture of tomb building continues and it communicates a powerful message to all of us 

*2) The Purpose of the tomb building*

First of all to remember the person 

Secondly to, remember his legacy and to communicate it to the future generation

Thirdly the tomb should reflect the good life of the person, which should be an inspiration to others

Tomb should be like a mirror which should reflect the actual life of the person 

*3) The Reason for Jesus' Condemnation of the Tomb*

Wrong motivation involved in building the tomb 

The tomb are built by those who killed the prophets. So the tomb builders are the killers of the prophets 

The tomb builders wanted to erase the blame on them, about their involvement in murdering the prophets by building the tombs for the same murdered prophets 

In a way it amounts to a serious hypocrisy. That's why Jesus condemned their act of building the tombs 

*4) Present Day Situation*

It is not quite different from the time of Jesus 

Some times when the person is alive, there is no one to take care, to serve at the bed site, when he/she is sick

Some times they don't even get the proper treatment and other necessary facility. As a result some of the elderly people suffer a lot 

But when such people die, their children are the ones who will spend lots of money for building the tomb, parties in the name of the diseased and other unnecessary things 

This culture is similar to the culture which is condemned by Jesus 

Some people become more emotional after the death and not when their dear ones where really suffering because of their sickness and negligence by their dear ones

This is purely a hypocrisy. Nothing else 

*5) Greatness does not lie in the Tomb*

The grandeur of the tomb does not elevate the dignity of the person 

Strictly speaking, building the tomb does not help the diseased person in any way 

Instead of showing the greatness in the tomb, it is better to help the person when he/she is alive or to spend the tomb building money for some charitable purpose. Which will help even the diseased person to get eternal life 

*6) Build life and not Tomb*

Life has future. Tomb has no future. Tomb is the dead end

Investment in the tomb is dead investment. Investment in life always returns with profit 

Building life is humanitarian virtue. Building tomb does not help to improve the quality of life 

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*