Saturday 6th June 2020. Read 2nd Timothy
4:1-8, Psalm 71, Mark 12:38-44
“For the
time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching
ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and
will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths.” (2 Timothy
4:3-4)
Both our first reading and
Gospel passage today spoke about false and fake teachers. How do we identify
such teachers? Firstly, they are teachers who do not practice what they teach,
wolves in sheep clothing, actors on stage and devils in secret. We are not what
we say we are, we are what we do. Jesus referred to such teachers as blind
guides, (Matthew 14:14), whitewashed tombs outwardly appearing beautiful but
are full of uncleanness. (Matthew 23:27).
Sighting the example of the
widow’s offering, Jesus teaches us that God looks at the heart not merely at
our external show. The size of the widow’s faith in offering two copper coins was a testament to
her faith in God’s providence. Her offertory was of little monetary value (God
does not need our money), yet because of her faith, God valued it more than
that of others. We can go on deceiving people but we cannot deceive God because
God sees the heart.
Secondly, false and fake
teachers are people who become professionals in telling people exactly what
they like to hear. St. Paul seemed to have seen a vision of our day and time
when he wrote these words: “people will no longer endure sound teaching but
with itching ears will gather teachers to suit their own likings.”
Gone are the days when
people listened to sermons, shed tears over their sins, decided to repent or deepen
their love for God. Today, sermons have become motivational speeches; how to
make more money, how to attract the right spouse or how to make enemies die by
force. Instead of pleading with God, we command God while praying, we even assume God’s
authority to declare and decree things to excite the people.
Although writing
specifically to Timothy, Paul’s words apply to all teachers today: “Preach the word, be urgent in season and out
of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in
teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:2) Any preaching that fails to convince, rebuke and
exhort leads the Christian to wallow deeper in evil.
While St. Paul boasts of the
sufferings he endured for Christ’s sake, today’s false and fake teachers tell
us to reject every form of suffering because that is exactly what we like to
hear. Dear friends, be careful; don’t be entrapped by falsehood wrapped in the garment of Christianity.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, may
I never worship you in vain. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith.
It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday of the 9th Week
in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: 2nd
Timothy 4:1-8, Psalm 71, Mark 12:38-44).
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