Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Own Interpretation


The WORD today reminds me of the danger of following my own interpretation, and not that of God's. 

A few years ago, I remember riding the MRT, and one of the posters on the wall displayed their KPIs or Key Performance Indicators. Some of the things i remember were availability and customer satisfaction. Considering their performance as seen in the news during that time, where trips were frequently cancelled because of problems, not to mention long queues and uncomfortable experience inside the MRT (air conditioning not working, etc), I was surprised that they had almost 100% on these items. When I read their interpretation of these items at the bottom of the poster, I understood how it came about. Availability for them is not the transport system being always up and running, rather they measure it by not missing the first and last trip of the train. Just first and last trip! On the other hand, customer satisfaction is not pleasant experience of customers or riding public, but rather their ability to acknowledge complaints within one week. Not to address complains or even work on complains, just acknowledging them. This is probably similar to what Jesus was saying in the gospel

Following our own interpretations of things can mislead us and take us away from God

In the gospel, Scribes and Pharisees were contented with just how they understand things. They give more importance to what they know and not what is right. They focused on what they think is right and what will work on their favor, instead of being open to know and understand what is the truth. They interpret it in a way that would be favorable and beneficial for them. Being focused and contented on our own interpretation of things can lead us to do the wrong things, and is dangerous to the soul. 

There is real danger in being comfortable and accepting what works for us, what is advantageous for us and not what God wants. It is easy to justify our actions, or inactions, by the worldly value of what we can spare for God. Our own interpretation of things can be used to justify wrong things that we do.

How do I interpret things that are happening and God’s word? Do I take time to really immerse myself and understand the context of what God wants to tell me? Do I take time to read His word and get to know him more?

May we never be too proud or too focused on just what we understand, especially on what works for us. May we always pray for an open heart and open mind to seek God and see Him in different things in life.

Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for the reminder. Sorry for the times I do not make the effort to know you more. Sorry for the times I interpret things the way i want to. Help me live right. May I never lose my focus on you. May I never get too comfortable or too focused on things that will put me in an advantage. May I always seek you in life. May I always be open and humble to be corrected so I will know what you really want and intend for me to do. Amen.

Blessed Day!

In Christ,
-g-

Ps
See related reflection:


Daily Readings

Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 330

Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD
in the presence of the whole community of Israel,
and stretching forth his hands toward heaven,
he said, “LORD, God of Israel,
there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below;
you keep your covenant of mercy with your servants
who are faithful to you with their whole heart.

“Can it indeed be that God dwells on earth?
If the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain you,
how much less this temple which I have built! 
Look kindly on the prayer and petition of your servant, O LORD, my God,
and listen to the cry of supplication which I, your servant,
utter before you this day.
May your eyes watch night and day over this temple,
the place where you have decreed you shall be honored;
may you heed the prayer which I, your servant, offer in this place.
Listen to the petitions of your servant and of your people Israel
which they offer in this place.
Listen from your heavenly dwelling and grant pardon.”

Responsorial Psalm

R.        (2)  How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
My soul yearns and pines 
            for the courts of the LORD.
My heart and my flesh
            cry out for the living God. 
R.        How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Even the sparrow finds a home,
             and the swallow a nest
             in which she puts her young—
Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
            my king and my God!
R.        How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
Blessed they who dwell in your house!
            continually they praise you.
O God, behold our shield,
            and look upon the face of your anointed.
R.        How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
I had rather one day in your courts
            than a thousand elsewhere;
I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God
            than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
R.        How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Incline my heart, O God, to your decrees;
and favor me with your law.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem
gathered around Jesus,
they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals
with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands.
(For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews,
do not eat without carefully washing their hands,
keeping the tradition of the elders.
And on coming from the marketplace
they do not eat without purifying themselves.
And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed,
the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.)
So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him,
“Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders
but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”  
He responded,
“Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites,
as it is written:

            This people honors me with their lips,
                        but their hearts are far from me;
            In vain do they worship me,
                        teaching as doctrines human precepts.


You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”
He went on to say,
“How well you have set aside the commandment of God
in order to uphold your tradition!
For Moses said,
Honor your father and your mother,
and Whoever curses father or mother shall die.
Yet you say,
‘If someone says to father or mother,
“Any support you might have had from me is qorban”’
(meaning, dedicated to God),
you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother.
You nullify the word of God
in favor of your tradition that you have handed on.
And you do many such things.” 

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