Monday 20^th October – Monday of week 29 of the year

Reflection: Luke 12:13-21

NO MAN IS AN ISLAND

No man is an island; every man is part of a vast continent. In these days of individualism when everyone tends to live for himself, there is a tendency to forget that there is no one whose life concerns him alone. “None of us lives for oneself and no one dies for oneself” (Romans 14: 7-8). This fact of our interdependence on others invests life with such tremendous significance; others have great influence on us, whether positive or negative, also powerful influence flows out of our lives to contribute to the character formation of others. When a student excels in his/her academics, the success is multifactorial; consider the parents/guardian who paid the school fees, provided the pocket money and food, consider the friends or siblings that form part of their life. They all contributed in one way or the other. This applies in all cases.  The human society is a vast network of reciprocal influences and in view of this the rich who receive great advantages from the society must also contribute to it.

The story of the rich man in our Gospel reading is not to discourage us from achieving success in our chosen path in life; rather, it is remind us of our divine duty to our fellow brethren. We are called to be our brother’s keeper irrespective of our differences in social class, tribe, religion etc. There is nothing we have that we have not been given (1 Corinthians 4:7), and He who gave us wills that we use them to help other as ‘Good Samaritans’. God in His benevolence has blessed us in our individual capacity and it is our responsibility to use them for the common good of all.

The dignity of the human person requires the pursuit of the common good, everyone should be concerned to create and support institutions that improve the conditions of human life.

PRAYER: Lord, please give me the grace to seek the good of my brethren in my thoughts and actions. Amen

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 1906 – By common good is to be understood “the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily”. The common good concerns the life of all. It calls for prudence from each, and even more from those who exercise the office of authority

HIDE A TREASURE: “Truly I say to you; whenever you do this to these little ones who are my brothers and sisters, you do it to me.” Matthew 25:40 CCB

Readings for Today: Ephesians 2: 1-10, Psalm 100: 1-5, Luke 12: 13-21