Sometimes it can be tempting to puff ourselves up, that is, make ourselves seem more important than others. The Christian way, however, is to build others up. Fr Richard reflects on today’s readings from Mass.
Readings for Thursday of week 23 of ordinary time can be found here.
Various members of the animal kingdom have the ability to make themselves look bigger or more impressive as the occasion demands. For example, the male great bustard puffs out its feathers and inflates its throat during courtship, becoming almost twice its apparent size. When threatened, the pufferfish also becomes bigger so as to look much larger and harder to swallow. And of course, we’ve all seen the domestic cat arch its back and make its fur stand on end when scared.
We might be impressed or even amused by such displays. Yet this kind of thing is exactly what Paul is referring to when he says that “knowledge gives self-importance”. Sometimes it is tempting to use what we know, or a skill we have, to appear impressive to others, just like an animal uses its fur or feathers. He uses the specific example from his day of food sacrificed to idols. We might know, Paul says, that idols don’t exist and therefore it’s not a problem. But we shouldn’t use that knowledge to belittle others who might be wary about eating such food. Paul himself abstains from all meat to be sensitive to others. He recommends using love which builds up the other person, rather than knowledge which might be used to build us up.
Love is a key theme in today’s Gospel reading, and Jesus also says it should be used for the good of others. When another person wrongs us, we might think that keeping a record of that wrongdoing makes us better than them. His radical new message is “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” It is about always seeking to build others up, wanting good for them, regardless of how they have treated us. These extraordinary commands are only possible because this is how God is with us. His love for us is undeserved, but is freely given, nonetheless. God never seeks to puff himself up – he has no need to – but instead is continually building us up. As Jesus says, “Be compassionate, as your Father is compassionate”.
Mass today is in St Dyfrig & St Samson at 10am.
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