FAITH UPGRADE

Monday of the 4^th week of Lent

(Is 65:17-21, Ps 30, Jn 4:43-54)

“Go, your son will live.” This is what Jesus told the Official who approached him at Capernaum, begging him to heal his son. The man accepted the words of Jesus, relying on the authority behind them. He believed Jesus was capable of healing his son, and even so, through words uttered from such a distance. “The man believed the words Jesus spoke to him and went his way.” This sort of faith has self-interest attached to it. It can be exuberant, as we see the man trekking long distance looking for Jesus.  In the long run, such faith might not survive the ups and downs of life, especially when the prevalent self-interest is continually defeated. That is why there is need for an upgrade.

After the son was healed, the man believed for the second time. “He himself believed, and all his household.” This is a deeper and purer belief. This time, he believed not for anything that he would benefit, but he believed simply for Jesus’ own sake. A faith motivated by his interest in the one he believed in. This second level of faith comes as a testimony from the first level of belief. At this level, faith is recognized as a divine gift. And one learns total abandonment to the force of faith. Once ferried on the boat of faith, without anchoring our life journey on any prevalent self-interest, we must get to our ultimate destination.

Yes, there is growth in faith. But a testimony of faith is often necessary to push us forward. Nevertheless, if we remain only at the quest for testimony, our faith will shrink. So we begin by accepting the Word of God for what it is, and channelling our attention on Jesus. Then, the growth in faith will continually happen.

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Our Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church,
Amowo-Odofin, Lagos.
27th March, 2017.

Overcoming the Ancient Trick

First Sunday of Lent

(Gen 2:7-9; 3:1-7, Ps 51, Rm 5:12-19, Mt 4:1-11)

Today we celebrate Jesus’ victory over temptation and sin—the defeat of the ancient serpent! In His triumph is our hope of overcoming the devil.

The first reading narrates the origin of sin. The ancient serpent tricked our first parents. How did he succeed? He did not command them to eat the forbidden fruit. But he subtly diverted their attention from God and made them turn to themselves. He presented himself as one who knows God, and he tried to make them see God as a liar and not caring enough for them. Now they should take their future into their hands and emancipate themselves outside of what God planned. The trick worked: Eve began to see the fruit from her own perspective other than that of God. She had to act as it appealed to her regardless of what God said. They chewed humanity out of grace! “Then their eyes were both opened, and...” they saw themselves.    

Unfortunately, there is only one “I am”, God who Himself. “I am He who is...This is my name for all time...” (Ex 3:14,15).The withdrawal of the self from God and turning to oneself becomes an exit road to death. Man discovers from his fallen state that God is true...

Jesus’ victory becomes our recipe for overcoming the tempter. “For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have grace of God and the free gift in the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abound for many”(Rm 5:17). He got this victory by rejecting the selfish proposals of the tempter. This He did by focusing on the will of God, and by refusing any suggestion for His own emancipation or clamour. The turning of stone to bread, the jumping from the pinnacle of the temple and the worship of Satan, were all targeted at pulling Him away from relying on God’s will and providence to immediate self actualization. There is only one I AM.

The greatest temptation might not be to commit any particular sin, but to sow the seed of sin—to dispose the will to sin. That is when the will is no more submissive to God; when the will is turned to self for its own emancipation. Here we become our own standard of life. Hence, the tools against self-indulgence are ready weapons against temptation and sin. These are prayer, fasting and Charity. These spiritual exercises help us to transfer our will power from our emotions to the will of God.  And they are links through which we arm ourselves with the victory of Jesus.

Fr Jude C. Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

MaterDomini Novitiate Community,

Enugu, Nigeria.

March 5, 2017.

God blesses us in Secret

Ash Wednesday 2017

Joel 2:12-18, Ps 51, 2Cor 5:20-6:2, Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

Welcome to Lent 2017! It is often described as a time of favour. It is a time we put in extra effort to draw close to God. This season is characterized by prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  We thank God we have such opportunity in the Church, and we embrace it with joy. Let us participate actively in this year’s Lenten campaign. Lenten season can be calmly exciting, serenely strengthening and secretly rewarding!

Once more, let us usher in this year’s lent by taking a brief look at the Gospel of today. Jesus recognizes the struggle we go through of not making a show of our piety. “Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them...” The temptation for human approval and immediate glory is high. Anticipating and accepting human recognition is dangerous for spiritual growth. Jesus does not want us to miss the reward. Hence He gives us a way out...

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” This implies that God bless us in secret. He who sees in secret awaits us with His blessings in that secret place. Therefore, our fasting, prayer and almsgiving in secret prepare us, and take us into that secret place where God’s blessings await us.

Our heart is that secret room of blessing. “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping and with mourning; and tear your hearts and not your garments,” says the Lord. To God alone belongs our Lenten observances; human approval is not necessary. In this way we give God our hearts, and draw closer to His love. What we bring “before men” is the fruit of the blessing, like “ambassadors for Christ.”

Lent is a favourable time. The silence of Jesus’ forty days in the desert confronts us! As we relive that experience, we reactivate its blessings. Happy Lent 2017!

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Mater Domini Novitiate Community,
Enugu.
March 1, 2017.