I was happy to read the article, “Criticism and blasphemy” written by Dr. Francisco Colaco in the Herald dated 26th March. The article by Dr. Colaco has motivated me to write these few lines of constructive criticism. The Holy Week is a week of somber reflection on the events preceding the death of Jesus Christ. During the Holy Triduum, we attend long worship services in Churches. We Catholics view the Easter Day as a victory over sin, death and all destructive forces in people’s lives. However, some Catholics continue to sin and be destructive forces in others people’s lives who are also followers of Jesus Christ.
In the Holy Bible in Deuteronomy Chapter 5 verse 21 Jesus says, “Do not desire another man’s wife, do not desire his house, his land, his slaves, his cattle, his donkeys, or anything else that he owns. But today, we hear of incidents where some in a family covet the house, the share in the property and all that belongs to their brother or sister.
When the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law brought in a woman who had been caught committing adultery, Jesus never condemned her. However, today if a woman is caught committing a small sin, all others who are also sinners gather to stone and outcaste her from the society and push her in the well of sin forever.
On the day of their marriage, a bride and a bridegroom promise to God to be true to each other in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health to love each other and honour each other until death. Today many forget that the Sacrament of Marriage is a lifelong partnership which can only come to an end through death.
In the Holy Bible in Sirach Chapter 3 verse 7 and 14 to 15 Jesus Christ says, “Obey your parents as if you were their slave. The Lord will not forget the kindness you show to your father; it will help you to make up for your sins. When you are in trouble, the Lord will remember your kindness and will help you; your sins will melt away like frost in warm sunshine.” However today many children forget their duties towards their parents. Sometimes some Catholics will cling on to leadership positions in the Parish Pastoral Councils for years and do everything during the religious services in our Churches but act like the Great Wall of China between a Father and a Son. They will create divisions among families and yet they will sing with a loud voice hymns like “All to Jesus I surrender, All to him I freely give.” and “I have decided to follow Jesus, No turning back, No turning back”. But they will encourage a father to turn his back against his own son and his family.
In Mathew Chapter 22 verse 21 Jesus says,”Pay the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and pay God what belongs to God”. However, some Catholics who do business will avoid paying taxes to the government and keep with them what belongs to the government. Some who have given up their traditional occupations of their ancestors and have enough wealth today will register themselves as OBC and claim all the government benefits available to the other backward communities although they are HNI.
During the Holy Triduum this year, let us repent. Let us ask Jesus to forgive our sins, do well to others as Jesus did celebrate Easter the festival of new life.
