Tuesday, November 16, 2021

33rd Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 17-11-2021

2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31 / Luke 19:11-28       

To impose something on a person is to force a personal decision or ruling on that person.

Or it can also mean to take advantage of someone by demanding their attention or commitment.

Whichever it might be, it is clear in the 1st reading that the king was not just imposing but he was forcing his demands on the seven brothers and their mother.

So it was either they comply to the king's demands or face death, and the 1st reading tells us what the seven brothers and their mother chose.

God could also have imposed His demands on us and He could also punish us severely when we don't obey or comply.

But God is love. As much as He has made known to us what He expects of us through the 10 Commandments and other precepts, He has given us the free will to choose.

The freedom of choice is what God has entrusted to us. 

We are accountable and responsible for our choices.

May we exercise our freedom of choice with responsibility and choose to love God and to love others.