Good or Bad

Today’s Gospel Text:  "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous, 50 and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth. 51 "Have you understood all this?" They said to him, "Yes." 52 And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old." 53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there. Matt 13:47-53

Reflection: Some hold on to a view that there is no such thing as good or bad, "it is all in your mind", they say.

Some may not hold on to this view consciously but when it comes to daily situations they do propagate this idea, especially those in the teaching profession when they affirm: “feel free to answer; there is no right or wrong views”.

There are many in this world and it is an ever growing tribe, even among the followers of Christ, with whom it a trend to hold on to a purely subjective view of life.

Someone coming to reason out with you because you oppose this view often is pulverized by their reason. Is it because they are reasonable in their arguments?

No, because their reason knows only one argument: “it is all in your mind” and if they do come out with another argument then they will only be contradicting themselves.

Surely, they should take no offence if they look at all things and everything as good and if they do take everything as bad, then, if they are true to their thinking they will never be in this world for a moment more.

This is not how it is for a Christian, where morality is well defined and may be at times carried to extreme levels, which is a sign of its existence and the immoral pull that keep exerting on us proves it all.

There is a good and there is bad, there is that which is holy and that which is evil and to affirm this moral principle God had to give the commandments to the Israelites as a sign of his objective demand.

Hence we have this parable which brings out the significance of the good and the bad, which is a everyday, every moment reality of life.

Life cannot exist without a constant decision making, based on our limited discernment, in making a choice whether while eating or moving or drinking.

Jesus is that first good; a choice that everyone needs to opt for in order to make a constantly good choice in life.

Prayer:  Lord, we know and believe that when we make a choice for you, you give us your Holy Spirit who will lead us into all truth. (cfr. Jn. 16:13)

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