The Covent Bow

Reflection for Thursday of the 6th Week in Ordinary Time
(Gen 9:1-13; Mk 8:27-33)
After the flood, God continued to open new frontiers of relationship with man through Noah. In the flood, God rained down His anger on man for his increasing wickedness. But the flood did not recreate man or wash off his inclination to evil. As ‘prince' of all creation, the punishment on man affected all other creation consequently. Yesterday we saw how God tried to untie this tight bond such that man's punishment or blessings would not automatically affect other creation. The ark of Noah became a sort of Garden of Eden from which man received a new mandate that would define his relationship with God.

Once more, God imparts His blessings and authority on man—The man of the Ark! “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.” God expressed certain disparity between God and other creatures. Again, He opened for man the frontiers of freedom; man could freely use any living creature as food. But God re-enforced the borders of man's freedom. “Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is , its blood.” This new frontier of relationship was sealed with a covenant, in which God promised never again to destroy the earth by the flood. He set a bow in the cloud as a sign of this covenant...

The work restoring creation completely back to God must be accomplished. This would require an everlasting covenant, with its perfect sign lifted up. “And Jesus began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” The Cross of Christ, therefore, is the perfect bow lifted up that assures that God has saved His people. The Blood of Jesus Christ now defines the borders of our freedom. A new frontier of relationship with God has indeed been opened for us in Christ Jesus. 

Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Mater Domini Community,
Alulu-Nike, Enugu.
Thurday 21st February, 2019.

Seeing the Uniqueness in Creation

Reflection for Wednesday of 6th Week in Ordinary Time Year
(Gen 8:6-13,20-22; Mk 8:22-26).
“At the end of 40 years Noah opened the window of the ark...” He gradually confirmed the end of the flood. He built an altar and offered burnt offerings to God. This sacrifice was pleasing to God. Seeing that man's heart is inclined to evil, which might attract more severe consequences for the entire creation, God, who had blessed and punished creation through man, now decided to change that pattern. “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the imagination of man's heart is evil...” Irrespective of man, creation can now retain its beauty and order.

“Do you see anything”, Jesus asked the blind man. The man's eyes opened gradually. Which points to our growth in grace. First, he confused men with trees. “I see men; but they look like trees, walking.” Jesus impacted more healing grace upon him and he saw everything clearly and distinctly.

After the flood, God made this separation. But we need to see through Christ Jesus so as to perceive the unique beauty, and appreciate the value and goodness of every creation without confusing men with things. There is a growing ‘levelling’ in the value we attach to relationships, job, property, leisure, etc. We need Jesus to open our eyes that we might see clearly and distinctly!

Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu,  C.Ss.R
Wednesday 20th February, 2019.

Washing off Evil

Reflection for Tuesday of the 6th week in Ordinary Time
(Gen 6:5-8;7:1-5,10; No 8:14-21)
“The Lord saw that wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of His heart was only evil continually.” The little seed of evil sown, grows progressively. But God is never silent in the face of evil. “It grieved Him to His heart.” So He decided to was creation clean through the waters of the flood! One man, Noah, was found worthy to be the father of the renewed creation. “And after seven days the waters of the flood came upon the earth.”

Similarly, the one, Jesus is leading us on a Passover journey to the new creation. He cautions us, “ Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” Hypocrisy has no place in the new life in Christ Jesus. Evil can no more continue to grow...God's grief for the sin of man pierced His heart on the Cross. Now we are washed in the water and blood from the side of Jesus. We walk with Jesus to console His heart and ensure that evil does not continue to grow.

Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Tuesday 19th February,  2019.

THE SIGN THAT SAVES

Reflection for Monday of the 6th week in Ordinary Time
(Gen 4:1-15,25; Mk 8:11-13)
After eating the forbidden fruit, man saw nakedness,  i.e. he saw himself. Selfishness creeped into the system. The first reading today tells us how the offspring of the fallen man inherited the effects of their parents disobedience. Now ego and self-preservation rage like wild fire! Cain's inferiority complex and jealousy over his brother Abel's sacrifice could not be contained within the borders of limited human freedom. God warned him, “sin lurking at the door; it’s desire is for you, but you must master it.”

“Where is Abel your brother?” The Lord God asked. Cain replied, “I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?” How can he who is the ‘keeper’ of all creation not be his brother's keeper? When man abuses his free will, he equally becomes irresponsible! His guilt has caught up with him as the blood of Abel cries to God. Cain brought curse upon himself!

However, God is ever merciful. He spared Cain’s life, and “put a mark on Cain, lest any who came upon him should kill him.” This ‘mark' that would protect the life of the sinner is now given in the ‘Sign of the Cross.’ We are saved in no other name than the name of Jesus. So how can the Pharisees be arguing with Jesus, seeking from Him a sign from Heaven? Of course, Jesus replied, “Truly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.” Jesus is that ultimate mark in which our guilt is resolved,  and our life is saved. Amen!

Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Immaculate Conception Parish,
Iba Estate, Lagos.
Monday 18th February, 2019.

The Tree by the Water Ways

Reflection for 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
(Jer 17:5-8; 1Cor 15:12, 16-20; Lk 6:17, 20-26)
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord...He is like a tree planted by water...It does not cease to bear fruit.” This blessedness is contrasted with a curse for the one who places his trust in man. Ordinarily,  it appears expedient to hinge the energies of our heart on what is predictable or within our control. Our hope for a better tomorrow remains secure if placed in God. This is because hope in God goes above whatever temporal need or security we hope for. And the blessings this hope supplies comes in season and out of season.

The highest point of our hope in God is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. While we face difficulties or even death, we continue to trust in God that we shall conquer. In other words, the Resurrection inspires us on to face present challenges with a victorious heart. There is no room for depression or frustration. “The joy of the Lord is our strength.” Thus we are always creative in solving present challenges. Like the tree by the water ways, so is our trust in the Resurrection, which supplies every strength for productive living at all times.

Therefore, Jesus proclaims, “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied.” The Beatitudes announce the mystery of human suffering and reveals its blessedness,  which shines out in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. From the pierced side of Jesus on the Cross, the ‘flowing streams’ gushed forth, and gives life to whoever drinks from it. There lies the fulfilment of the prophecy of Jeremiah in the first reading: if we plant our lives in Christ Jesus, it will be like the tree by the water ways, we will have renewed strength and always fruitful.

Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Immaculate Conception Parish,
Iba Estate, Lagos.
Sunday February 17th, 2019.

The Price of Sin

Reflection for Saturday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time Year
(Gen 3:9-24; Mk 8:1-10)
“The Lord God called to the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” God searches out for man in sin! The act of disobedience; ‘the taste of freedom without limitation’, dislodged man from God's presence, both internally and physically. His thoughts and words no more conform with God's. Beclouded by shame and fear, he could not accept responsibility for his situation. Man has lost his freedom! And creation is denied of its primordial blessing. The empty promises of the serpent could not save man.

God alone can rescue man from the predicament he brought upon himself. To begin the rescue mission, the serpent is denounced and cursed. Then victory was announced through the offspring of “The Woman.” However, up till the time of victory, man must bear the consequences thereof. He would not be allowed to eat of the tree of life in the state of sin. If not he would live forever in the state of evil. That this evil might not be permanent,  God drove man from the garden to be trained by the consequences of sin to long for salvation...

The hour of salvation has come. Jesus associates with suffering humanity. “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days, and have nothing to eat...” By feeding the crowd with seven loaves and few small fish, Jesus took upon himself the consequences of our failings, and restored us to that ‘satisfaction’ God willed for us. “And they ate and were satisfied.” Jesus stands before us as the original tree of life that we eat and shall never die. He has paid the price.

Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Immaculate Conception Parish,
Iba Estate, Lagos.
Saturday 16th February, 2019.

“Ephphatha”

Reflection for Friday  of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time Year
(Gen 3:1-8; Mk 7:31-37)
The serpent creeps in...! God had set creation in motion, entrusting all to man to take charge. He blessed man and gave him freedom to make choices—choices which must conform to the will of God in order to maintain the orderliness placed in creation. Now Satan came to question the boundaries of man's freedom. The idea of freedom without limitation is tempting, “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruits and ate; and she gave some to her husband, and he ate.”

They turned deaf ears to God's instructions against the forbidden tree and fell to Satan's trick. The removed the limitation to their freedom placed by God. Their eyes were opened, and the they saw chaos! Their ungraced humanity surfaced. Self-consciousness replaced mutual love. They began to veil their “nakedness.” Shame took the place of freedom and confidence. They lost ‘status’ with God, and hid under trees for security and relevance!

Jesus steps in in the Gospel of today as He heals the deaf man. “He put his fingers into his ears...and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, ‘ Ephphatha,' that is, ‘be opened.’ And his ears were opened...” Now our ‘deaf’ ears have re-inclined to God's instructions. The fullness of God's messages is in Christ Jesus. We follow Him as the way; we listen to Him as our Good Shepherd. The creeping voice of the ancient serpent finds no place in those who are in Christ. “My sheep know my voice...”

Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Immaculate Conception Parish,
Iba Estate,  Lagos.
Friday 15th February, 2019.

Family Solution

Reflection for Thursday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time Year
(Gen 2:18-25; Mk 7:24-30)
The journey of creation today unveils the human family. “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Interestingly, it was God who alone took the initiative and brought marriage to man as a gift. It was given to man as a solution to human problem—loneliness! In other words, marriage a solution to problem, not the problem itself.

The male partner had no active role, either by intention or otherwise, in the formation of His marital partner. He received her ‘ready-made,’ and vice versa. Both share in equal right and dignity, while complimenting each other. Since marriage is meant to address human problem, every marriage has one cross or the other to endure! But when couples do not receive each other as God's gift, the problem within worsens.

“This at last is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh.” This echoes the format and joy of the free acceptance of the partner as God's gift. It is a joyful response to God, who in fact, is the source of the solution to the problem. The two form one bond distinct from their respective families, “and become one flesh.” The man his wife lived in total freedom and innocence before each other.

Now, a woman with a serious family problem approached Jesus—her little daughter was possessed. She humbled herself, and with strong faith and persistence, begged Jesus for solution. Finally, Jesus answered her. Jesus has come to redeem even the brokenness in our family life. Let us invite Him in.

Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Immaculate Conception Parish,
Iba Estate, Lagos.
Thursday 14 February, 2019.

FREEDOM WITH BOUNDARIES

Reflection for Wednesday of 5th Week in Ordinary Time
(Gen 2:4-9, 15-17; Mk 7:14-23)
“Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” The ‘content’ of man is being unveil. His ‘nothingness’ has dust as its substance. Man was not called into being from a void! God transferred His breath of life into the physical structure. Thus man carries within him a life from God, which cannot be reduced to dust of earth. Then God placed man in a community-living by putting him in the garden of Eden, within a determined space. Finally,  He imparted on man another peculiar greater gift: Freedom!

“You may freely eat of every tree of the garden...” Now man is empowered to make his own choices. It was as if God subjected Himself to respect every choice man makes. Man did not create his own freedom,  he received it graciously from God. Like every other gift, he must use it responsibly. Hence God added, “But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.” This injunction placed boundaries to man's freedom; that he might use his freedom responsibly. In other words, human freedom must respect the will of the creator, I.e. the orderliness placed in creation. Freedom without boundaries or responsibility will return creation back to chaos or nothingness!

Therefore, Jesus insists that what goes into a man cannot defile him. It is the disorder or sin that comes out of us that defies. These unclean behaviours are as a result of the misuse of our freedom. A person is defiled when he or she is no more free according to the will of God, and thus unfit for Heaven.

Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Immaculate Conception Parish
Iba Estate, Lagos
Wednesday 13th February,  2019.

Creation is Blessed

Reflection for Tuesday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time Year
(Gen 1:20-2:4, Mk 7:1-13)
God continues to call things into being and endow them with responsibility. When it is time to create man, God, with a progressive swift, changed the tone of calling things into being and said “Let us make man in our own image...” It seems there was a ‘pause’, a moment of reflection, before man was created. As a product of ‘Thought’, man is endowed with the inherent capability for self-reflection. Man becomes the most excellent of all creation. God endowed him with the following responsibilities: 1. To have dominion over other creatures. 2. To be fruitful and multiply and subdue the earth. 3. To have animals and trees as food. God blessed man and set him off as the King of all creatures. Once man is blessed  the whole creation is blessed.

For six days God brought forth creation. But on the seventh day, there was “silence”; He drew attention to Himself. God rested! Now, the work of creation anticipate “God's rest”. Our eyes are turned to the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Again, “God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all His work which He had done in creation.” Now all creation has two points blessing: Man and the Seventh Day.

The Pharisees accused the disciplines of eating without washing their hands. Therefore, Jesus corrected them that human laws and tradition cannot displace the word of God. Hunan principles must be directed towards God. Jesus, The First Born of all Creation, becomes our source of blessing and fulfilment of every human law.

Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu,  C.Ss.R
Immaculate Conception Parish,
Iba Estate,  Lagos.
Tuesday February 12, 2019.

From Nothing to Something

Reflection for Monday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time
(Gen 1:1-19; Mk 6:53-56)
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” This week we start reflecting on the book of Genesis. We see how God called things into being by the authority of His word; from nothingness to something! From void and formless He place orderliness. It interesting to note that everything He created has certain responsibility or purpose to achieve. He Himself certifies His own creation as good. “And there was evening and there was morning the fourth day.”

Jesus came to restore order in creation. Sickness is a disorder in the Body. The authority of Jesus to heal disordered nature is seen in the Gospel of today as He heals the sick. “They laid the sick in the market places, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of His garment; and as many as touched it were made well.”

The human person called from nothingness to orderliness has an inherent tendency to return to nothingness I.e. he can feel empty, lonely, bored, etc. We might not anticipate these feelings but confronted by them we need a touch of the authority that can create and re-create. A faith encounter with Jesus, no matter how brief or imperfect it might be, can transform us to wholeness and orderliness.

Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu,  C.Ss.R
Immaculate Conception Parish,
Iba Estate,  Lagos.
Monday 11th February,  2019.

Vocation Movement!

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
(Is 6:1-2, 3-8; 1Cor 15:1-11; Lk 5:1-11)
Vocation comes, sometimes, through the most unlikely circumstances. This Sunday we heard about the call of Isaiah,  Peter and Paul. We want to highlight the progression or growth in answering one's vocation. However, it is God who takes the initiative. And it is only when God takes the initiative can the vocation be genuine.

Simon Peter and his companions laboured all night but caught nothing. As he was warming up to go, Jesus made a demand of his boat. This is no small sacrifice but it's just the beginning of the encounter. Peter waited patiently, tired and disappointed. At the end of His preaching, Jesus said to him, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” There was much certainty in His voice, but that did not stop Peter from expressing his frustration. “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing!” The external act of donating his boat and time opened up the next level of encounter with Jesus.

At this second level, Peter is being asked to make an internal commitment. Jesus' request for Peter to go back to the waters would require him to change his mind, give up his convictions and rely on the authority of Jesus. This demand is the hinge. It is at the centre of every authentic vocational response. It is easier for one to give up his “boat”, money, time, etc than offer his mind, sentiments, etc. “But at your word I will let down the nets.” With these words, Peter submitted his inner dispositions to Jesus—total abandonment to the will of God. And he netted such huge blessings that was overflowing!

Peter's immediate response to the shoal of fish was humility. The same with Isiah and Paul. “For I am a man of unclean lips...for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” “He appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles...” “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, o Lord.” Humility is the gateway through which we pass from self-abandonment to the will of God, to total dying to self.

Finally,  all is now set for Peter to be invited to follow Jesus along the pathway that would lead to the Cross and Resurrection. “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men.” Having submitted his will, it became easier for Peter to answer this third demand. “And when they had brought their boat to the land, they left everything and followed Him.” Then he lives for Christ and Christ lives in him.

Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Arch Angels Parish
Satelite Town, Lagos.
Sunday 10th February, 2019.

The Sacrifice of Success

Reflection for Saturday of the 4th Week in Ordinary Time Year C
(Heb 13:15-17, 20-21. Mk 6:30-34)

“Through Jesus let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God...”(Hen 13:15). Jesus is the epitome of self-sacrifice. As the Good Shepherd, He abandoned His relaxation time and set out to attend to the crowd...Making such sacrifices is pleasing to God.

We connect our little discomforts to  God through the Sacrifice of Jesus. In this way we contribute to the building up of the Body of Christ. Sacrifice is the secret of success. If we have nothing to suffer, we have nothing to offer! It is through endurance, self-denial, that marriages last, businesses sustained, knowledge acquired, etc. Even leisure and relaxation draw their joy and value from Labour.

But the ultimate sacrifice has been offered. That is why we are enjoined to unite our sacrifices with that of Jesus. Then our little efforts would have an eternal value.

Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu,  C.Ss.R
Arch Angels Parish
Satelitetown, Lagos
Saturday   February 9th 2019.

THE PRICE OF SELFISHNESS

Reflection for Friday of the 4th Week in Ordinary Time Year C
Heb 13:1-8, Mk 6:14-29
Today we heard about the touching story of the beheading of St John the Baptist. One thing led to another, at the end, the great Precursor of Jesus Christ was martyred. Selfishness grows to be bloodthirsty!

Hero’s selfish desire for the beautiful wife of His brother Philip, met the ambition of Herodias to be First Lady of Kingdom. The show of glamour at the birthday party set Hero’s pride on fire, which led him to make unnecessary utterance, and a careless and hasty vow. Pride often leads to hasty commitments with regrettable consequences. The undecided girl found her self challenged. Imagine, she was big enough to entertain the guests but too little to decide for herself what she wanted! There's indication that she was pampered and trained to be selfish, instead of being responsible. Grudge and lust have something in common : they seek for opportunity! In Herodias, both found a common home. Hence, she would not miss this opportunity. Thus she swiftly responded to her daughter,  “The head of John the Baptist.”

A little seed of selfishness can grow into a giant murderous tree. The innocent always pays the price! However, the most innocent Blood had already been shed for our every selfishness. The Blood of Jesus has been poured out to satisfy for our grudge and selfish desires. Therefore,  we have not reason to be selfish. In other words, selfishness can no more grow in us since the blood it yearns for has been poured out.

That is why the first reading urges us, “let brotherly love continue.” There should be no restrictions to our charity and hospitality. We should avoid those selfish desires that build up lust, greed, grudge and fear. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and fore ever.”

Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Arch Angels’ Parish
Satelite Town, Lagos.
Friday 8th February, 2019.

Two to Witness

Reflection for Thursday of the 4th Week in Ordinary Time Year
(Heb 12:18-19, 21-24. Mk 6:7-13)
Jesus sent out the Twelve on mission two by two. He gave them specific instructions and authority. Sending them out in twos shows that He did not subject the missionary mandate under an individual's personal and subjective determinations. Instead, He inserted the missionary message between two people. This has specific implications the apostles and their successors.

Having the missionary mandate inserted between two people implies that the message would carry them along. Each of them would have to respond accordingly by subjecting his personal sentiments and preferences to the demands of the missionary journey. Thus the message draws them into a communion—yes, a communion of witnesses. The two preachers, therefore, embark on the missionary journey as witnesses. Then, it became necessary that their external live style must be adjusted for them to fit in as witnesses. That is why nothing should obstruct the flow of the mission; not rejection, not even demons!

The Apostles were sent out two by two to witness “...to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks more graciously than the blood of Abel” (Hen 12:24). Let us go about our activities this day with this deep sense of communion, allowing the Word and Eucharistic we have received to carry us along...

Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Arch Angels' Parish
Satelite Town, Lagos.
Thursday Feb 7th, 2019.