The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary remind us
that deciding to do the right thing may lead to rejection, ridicule and worse
as people sometimes react to good deeds with responses that come from bad
motives. The psychological explanation for our tendency to be critical of the
good works of others may involve jealousy or an exposure to risk or the
reduction of security of the tribe as we step outside the prescribed boundaries
of behaviour as Tobit does in the passage from this book regarded byProtestants as apocryphal because it has never been included within the
Tanakh. It is not considered canonical
by Judaism. Friar Jude Winkler notes that the associates of Tobit consider that
he is being punished for his actions which put respect for the sanctity of the
people of God ahead of the ritual observance of the Feast of Pentecost. The
psalmist praises the light of graciousness, mercy and righteousness which
shines to glorify God from those who attend to the commandments of love and
service to others. Jesus addresses the crowds to prophesy the fate of the Son
who would come as Messiah to call forth the fruit of the harvest from the
people of Israel who have been working to prepare for sharing of the Covenant
with God with all the nations. The call to action is rejected by those who see
the threat of loss of privilege and power. The change to the status quo prompts
the drastic and escalating serious actions which culminate in the murder of the
Son. We are people who can follow either the path of righteousness revealed
here by Jesus and Tobit or allow our anxiety, insecurity and selfishness to
ramp up our rejection of the right choices.
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