MY CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY


MY 2nd PRIESTLY ANNIVERSARY


 *Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest, Martyr* 


Monday of week 19 in Ordinary Time


First Reading. Deuteronomy 10: 12-22

Psalm. 147: 12-15,19-20 (R. 12a)

Gospel. Matthew 17: 22-27


TOPIC FOR REFLECTION


 *CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES* 


A WhatsApp group member @Home of Spiritual Motivation, posted this and it reads thus:

                     MR. AND MRS.

Do you know the meaning of Mr & Mrs? 

If your answer is no, now let me tell you the meaning, 

***MR = Mature and Responsible.

***MRS = Mature, Responsible and Submissive.

Are you truly *MR* in your Home?

Are you truly *MRS* in your Home?


My dear, your first civic duty is to be a responsible person to yourself, and anyone who is not in any way responsible can never be in society.


See, if you go by the name MR/MRS. it means you must have attained some sense of responsibility.

On the contrary, whoever is not mature can never be responsible.


First and foremost, as we all know Charity begins @ home, therefore an individual must take responsibility for his/her

1. Personal health/hygiene

2. Education

3. Welfare

4. Present Life and the Future

Similarly, because we live and belong to a family, one has the responsibility to take care of...

5. The family(Husband, Wife, Children), parents 

6. The welfare of your family members

7. The good health of your family

 8. Education of the children

So, for this to be properly accomplished, you and your family belong to a society, both local and national; therefore, every individual must contribute to the growth of the society, irrespective of tribe, region, political or religious affiliation. Such civic duties are...

9. Paying taxes

10. Right to vote and to be voted for

11. Caring for one another

12. Obeying the law. 

13. Staying informed about the environment and society.

14. Community involvement/services 

15. Practicing tolerance. 


It is good to know that all these responsibilities do not in any way determine your political/religious affiliation.


Basically, as Christians, we ought to lead by example as we live in this world; we have civic rights, duties, and responsibilities to fulfil. We need to pay our taxes and observe the 15 suggested agenda listed above, which are some of our duties and responsibilities as citizens of a particular nation.


So, we have no excuse because Jesus fulfils the duty of paying the temple tax for Himself and Peter. Invariably, one should not say as a Christian, my responsibility is to the church alone and not the society. Such a notion is wrong. 


Let me ask you, would there be a church without a society? 


We need to contribute to the well-being of the places where we live, study, and work.  Paying taxes, sincerely exercising our franchise, and obeying the rules of law and order are marks of being good citizens and a mark of a good child of God.


Note: 

A responsible person is a Civic person

A Civic person is a Moral person

A Moral person is a good Christian

A good Christian is a Child of God

Therefore, A Civic person is a child of God.


Today, we celebrate the memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe who sacrificed his life in place of his fellow prisoners that was to die. The man cried that he has a family, and this moved Maximilian to die in place of him. The same man was present at Maximilian's canonization.

May God grant us the grace to emulate his kind gesture in our little way.


Finally, kindly pray and thank God with me as I celebrate my 2nd priestly anniversary. Though unworthy I am, Lord I say thank you.


 *Peace ✌️be with you* 


 *Rev. Fr. Segun Oladeji, CRS.* 

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