Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood!
Woe to you, scholars of the law!
You have taken away the key of knowledge.
You yourselves did not enter, and you stopped those trying to enter.”
My country of India is in a bit of a turmoil right now as I post this. There have been issues with the elections, like people’s names going missing from electoral roll 1300000 to name the least, and it has come to light that the election commission head was hand in glove with the political party in power. So while Gen Z was busy trying to protest to get the said commissioner to resign, there has been brutal manhandling of protesters, journalists, and the political party in power, who seems to try to hush everyone in a “democracy.”
As I watched all this on social media and news channels, I was more amused at the comments—whenever a native Indian Catholic/Christian posted about the situation and against the party in power — there would be a right winger activist (Hindu religion fanatic) pass comments like, “You sold your soul for a rice bag.”
“Rice bag converts” (or “rice Christians”) is a pejorative slur used primarily in South Asia to describe individuals who converted to Christianity out of a transactional exchange for material goods—such as a bag of rice, food, money, or other aid—rather than genuine spiritual belief, to quote ChatGPT!
In my country, centuries ago, when it was colonized by the Portuguese, the Dutch, the French, and the British after the Mughals—a lot of conversion happened—my ancestors are known to have converted to Catholicism to avoid poverty or casteism; however, it didn’t change much—the Catholicism continues to this date, although some of the poor are absolutely thriving through education and jobs! All the education my non-Christian friends received is from convent or missionary schools and colleges with the best discipline and faith.
No one in recent years is asked to convert, but yes, a lot of people have developed faith in Jesus or Mother Mary, even though we are not cradle Catholics in my state and are always seen attending every event at home or at local chapels with full enthusiasm, and we too participate in all their events!
Faith is personal to me. I don’t need to explain to everyone how I say the rosary daily in October or how I prefer to abstain in Lent because I feel a sense of peace. I notice in today’s reading Jesus realizes how people are being misled and confused about their rights and when we ask questions about it—being persecuted for the TRUTH!
When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees
began to act with hostility toward him
and to interrogate him about many things,
for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.
This is the consequence of being honest about the faith! I am thrilled to see after 2000 years nothing much has changed except now we can use AI to spread misinformation and hate!
This day let us all pray for our faith—learn to protect it, defend it, and let no comments on the Church or fallen priests make us feel otherwise about the love Jesus has for you and me!
AMEN
