Daily Catholic Lectio Thu, 19 October 2023

Daily Catholic Lectio

Thursday, 19 October 2023

Thursday of the Twenty-Eighth Week of the Year

Romans 3:21-30. Luke 11:47-54

Responsibility and Power

“It is our responsibility that gives us power in our faith life”

The adage that was said by Winston Churchill in 1908 and became famous in 1962 through ‘Spiderman’ movie is: “with great power comes great responsibility.” The adage is said in the context of political power. In today’s gospel reading Jesus transforms the adage and says, “with great responsibility comes great power.” It is not the power that we are vested with in the social or religious sphere that makes us responsible; but, it is through the responsibility that we take we become powerful.  

The Pharisees and the Scribes (teachers of the Law) had religious and social powers. Despite their possession of power they were careless or irresponsible. Jesus pointed to them how they were irresponsible at three levels: (a) They killed the prophets who brought forth the message of God just because the message was displeasing to them; (b) By raising monuments for those prophets they become partakers of their ancestors’ murder; by condemning Jesus to death they extend the works of their ancestors; and (c) Though they had the key of knowledge they failed to use it because of their complacency and conformism.

Despite having powers they were irresponsible. Thus, the possession of power does not automatically make us responsible. 

Let us understand it with an example. When we learn a new language the first week is the painful part of our learning process. The grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary of the new language are incomprehensible to us. At times we think of quitting the entire process. But, if we dedicate twenty to thirty hours at the initial phase we begin to have certain power over the new language. With more responsibility comes more power.

The Pharisees and the Scribes disowned their responsibility, but clung to power.

Further, today we see a lot of ‘disclaimer’ notices in the world of advertisements, publishing, and telecasting. Disclaimer notice saves a party from landing in trouble. They also make the party become ‘less responsible.’ 

In faith life, disclaimer notices don’t work. We ‘must’ be responsible. Our responsibility makes us grow.

Two lessons: one, what is the level of our responsibility in our faith life? My responsibility increases my faith; two, we need to let go ‘disclaimer’ mindset in order to grow in life.

In the first reading, Paul develops his discussion on the justification of the righteous by their faith. Our faith in God makes us acceptable to him.

How do we grow in responsibility in faith life? Faith is not a profession of a dogma; but our commitment to God. It is to keep our hand in the hand of God and to close our eyes.

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy