Fine Ways of Disregarding Vital Issues

Observing the preoccupations of Pharisees, scribes and religious leaders of his time (Mark 7: 1-23) Jesus commended that they have fine ways of disregarding the commandments of God in order to maintain human traditions and interests. They put aside weightier matters to uphold human decrees.

In modern politics we hear the jargon, ‘politics of distraction’. In a country of mass illiteracy and unemployment, farmers’ suicide, etc. politicians and other key people divert public attention by discussing building temples, girls wearing hijab to college, etc. Noam Chomsky, an American social commentator says, “The key element of social control is the strategy of distraction that is to divert public attention from important issues and changes decided by political and economic elites, through the technique of flood or flooding continuous distractions and insignificant information.”

The corrupt politicians must have learned this strategy from the pickpockets (or is it visa versa): they distract the victim and rob them of what they have. The curious difference is that in the case of modern political elections the victims themselves elect their pickpockets.

Elections

The gospel passage asks as to why are people, who are supposed to be minding spiritual and moral affairs, spending so much time discussing on what is allowed to eat and what they are not allowed to eat, as if that determines the moral and spiritual health of people. In other words, why are you distracting yourselves with it? And Jesus added; spend time with what really defiles us. It is what comes out of a person that defiles a person morally and spiritually. Care for our hearts and minds from where come evil designs, greed, malice, slander, pride and folly.

Are there parallels for politics of convenient distraction in today’s Church? Of course, we distract ourselves from gender discrimination, privileged patriarchy, etc. but repeatedly focusing our energies on rituals, rubrics of rituals, and so on.

Comments

Why Do Some Nations and Establishments Fail?

The article, A Nobel for explaining why nations fail by Prashanth Perumal argues that the story of human progress is not written in stone but in the institutions we build. As the 2024 Nobel laureates have shown us, the difference between prosperity and poverty lies not in geography or destiny, but in the fundamental choices societies make about how to organise themselves. Like architects designing a home, our ancestors and current leaders craft the institutions that shelter our collective dreams. Some build inclusive structures, with strong foundations of democracy and private property rights, creating spaces where every citizen can contribute to and benefit from economic growth. Others construct extractive systems that may glitter temporarily but ultimately fail to provide sustainable shelter for their people's aspirations. The beauty of this understanding is its empowering message: nations aren't permanently destined to be rich or poor. The United States transformed from a

St. Francis Of Assisi—Take His Stories Seriously

From 2023-2026 we have a series of centenaries of St Francis of Assisi. Though lived only for just 44 years, the size and reach of his life is still growing. He has many names; we call him a brother, and at the same time, a mystic. A mystic is someone who does not operate from a place of faith, instead he has moved on to a place of knowledge, experience, and living; he/she does not need faith anymore. A mystic already lives what people of faith are only believing. This year is the 800 th anniversary of the Stigmata of St. Francis—he was a mystic and he was already there. Francis was born in 1181. He lived an unconscious, unattended, normal life, like any other, for first 24 years. Returning home from the Assisi-Perugia war, as a loser and wounded, Francis went through an awakening moment. One of the existential philosophers has a story of a stonecutter, whose only tool on which he trusted was a hammer. One day, as he was at his work, the hammer breaks, and the stonecutter fell on his

Education Must Help In Meeting The Other

You are at the threshold of a ‘new you’. At a juncture like this, mixed emotions of excitement, anticipation, and maybe even a little bit of nervousness are perfectly normal. Be open to the new—a new you is possible. There have been many National Education Commissions in India, starting from Radhakrishnan Commission in 1948. The Third, perhaps the most popular, education commission was the Kothari Commission in 1964. It was known for 10+2+3 structure, three language formula, scholarships, co-curricular activities, etc. The first sentence of its long report started with the sentence, the destiny of a nation is shaped in her classrooms . India/nation etc. seem very distant and far realities, they seem to be for the politicians and the bureaucrats. Let me slightly rephrase it, the destiny of a person is shaped in her/his classrooms. Classrooms are a place where ideas are generated, character is shaped, connections are formed, and once destiny is written. We enter a classroom, a campus, o

UAPA And The Case Of Prof GN Saibaba

The article, Why does this gigantic state fear our hopes, our dreams? by YSR Murthy discusses the case of Professor G N Saibaba, a political dissident and prisoner of conscience in India. Here are the main points: Prof. Saibaba, disabled since childhood, became an activist and academic despite physical challenges. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2017 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for alleged Maoist links. In October 2022, the Bombay High Court initially acquitted him, finding no valid sanction under UAPA. However, in March 2024, the High Court re-convicted him on merits. During his decade-long imprisonment, Saibaba faced harsh conditions and health deterioration. Despite this, his writings showed optimism and a refusal to give up on his ideals. The author argues that how the state deals with political dissidents and prisoners of conscience is a test of civilisational strength. As a country we are as weak and groundless as the laws that we have; and as

Choose To Understand Than Judge

In a world quick to condemn and eager to judge, there exists a profound truth that sets the empathetic apart: they seek not to judge but to understand. This principle, simple in its statement but revolutionary in its application, marks the difference between reactive thinking and true response. The impulse to judge is deeply human. We are pattern-seeking creatures, constantly categorising and evaluating our experiences and the people around us. This tendency served our ancestors well, allowing them to make split-second decisions crucial for survival. However, in our complex modern world, this same instinct often leads us astray, causing us to draw hasty conclusions and make decisions based on incomplete information. Wise individuals recognise this limitation. They understand that every human being is the product of countless influences: their upbringing, their struggles, their victories, their fears, and their dreams. Each person's actions, no matter how seemingly incomprehensible

Do Not Be A Wicked Generation

Knowing what is wrong and refusing to reject it and change is wickedness. Knowing what is right and truth and refusing embrace and support is wickedness. The people of Nineveh did not argue of resist when they heard they heard Jonah. There is someone greater than Jonah here. The queen of Sheba came from far to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, there is someone greater than Solomon here (Luke 11: 29-32). The people of Nineveh refused what is wrong; and the queen of Sheba embraced what is wise and truthful. India lost one of its finest industrialist who was a renowned philanthropist, Ratan Tata, on 9 October 2024. As this news and the events proceeding it flashed on the television and on social media, there was another face that was appearing and being highlighted by many—Shantanu Naidu. They met in 2014, when Shantanu Naidu was just 21; their common interest was love for dogs. Shantanu Naidu, as living and working with Ratan Tata has written a book of his experience with Ratan Tata,

SPRINGBOARDS and WALKING STICKS

Search This Blog