THE PROMPT VISIT

(Reflection on Mary Visitation)

Today we recall and celebrate Mary’s visitation to Elizabeth. This visit is more than a momentary historical encounter. It has become a sort of ‘showcasing’ of Mary’s maternal care; an exhibition of her character as the lowly handmaid, who, in total submission to God, responds promptly to the will of God. The beauty and joy of this encounter is ever alive every 31^st of May as we recall her enduring prophecy: “All generations shall call me blessed” (Lk 1:48).

The Greeting

“In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth” (Lk 1:39). This was an energy-packed visit: running the distance, climbing the hills! We could imagine her gasping but not exhausted because her supply of strength cannot run dry! Her greetings broke the silence and loneliness of the elderly couple’s home. This was no common greeting! While Mary greeted as the lowly handmaid, Elizabeth heard the voice of the Mother of God; Baby John the Baptist leapt for joy! And the Holy Spirit took charge of Elizabeth as she prophesied: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?”

Thus, Elizabeth joyfully welcomed Mary with sublime praises. The warmth of their embrace has never cooled...It is still being felt as Mary’s Motherly arm embraces us today.

Mary’s Response

“And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour...” In her humble nature, She did not claim the praises to herself. Instead, she transferred all praises to God. Self admiration is a trap only a few can escape. From the Magnificat, it is obvious that her heart was fully set on God, His mighty deeds, His Holiness and generous love. She meditated on God’s for the starving poor and the fulfilment of God’s covenant with Abraham and hid descendants forever.

Mary’s response was not centred on herself or Elizabeth, but on God and His mighty deeds. This joyful outburst shows indeed that Mary is Mother of God!

Mary Stayed with Her

“Mary stayed with her for about three months and then went home” (Lk 1:56). We recall that Angel told her that Elizabeth was in her 6^th month (Lk 1:36). This implies that Mary stayed with her till she gave birth. The habitual visitation of Mary, the Mother of my Lord, is prompt but never brief! The grace of God cannot come late! So She who is full of grace intervenes promptly, and supplies the grace in full; she intercedes till success is assured. Mary will not leave until our salvation is achieved.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church,

Abule-Oshun, Lagos.

Friday May 31^st, 2019.

Feast of Visitation of Mary.

The Beauty of Ascension

(Meditation on the Ascension of the Lord)

“...As they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9).

Before the full glare of the apostles, Jesus ascended...From their midst, and within a common interaction, He gradually climbed the heights; from one altitude to another, He soared through to Heaven...They watched in dismay and wonder as their Master gradually climbed above, with a smooth sail! The beauty of the movement, with power and majesty is equally awe-inspiring. But their admiration gave way to fear of abandonment...

They lost sight of Him as the tick clouds enveloped Him in silence! “And a cloud took Him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9). But they continued to gaze upwards...This reminds us of the moment when the soldiers whisked Him away at Gethsemane. Now, He has taken Himself away from them. Once more, we can imagine the tension within them. Heaven intervened; the Angel, like to Mary, delivered the good news: “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). Now their hope has come alive. As Mary ran with joy to visit Elizabeth after receiving the Good News that the Baby Jesus would come through her, so the Apostles departed to Jerusalem with great joy as the Angels left them (Lk 24:52-53).

But, why did He ascend instead of vanishing from their midst? Jesus’ bodily movement into Heaven indicates that there is now a vital link between Heaven and Earth, which supports and necessitates such a movement. Jacobs ladder has been fulfilled (Gen 28:12), and the ascending and descending of the Angels over the Son of Man (Jn 1:51) is alive and available for us. His Ascension is our assurance that we too can climb the Heights...Jesus Himself remains that living pathway to glory.

As He ascended into the thick cloud—the realm of the divinity—silence rained! Earlier he assured them, “It is for your good that I go away” (Jn 16:7). So His presence is beyond location; His voice echoes in silence. Because He ascended, human eyes can no more see Him, but the eyes of faith behold Him. How beautiful are the clouds that covered Him but did not hide Him from us! Since He did not vanish, His ascension is not absence. He is right here, and we celebrate Him today.

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Ss Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi, Lagos.
Thursday May 30th, 2019.
Solemnity of Ascension of the Lord.

The Power of Love

Reflection for the 6^th Sunday of Easter Year C

As part of His farewell discusses, Jesus said to His disciples, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (Jn 14:23). In silent meditation, we come to realize that loving Jesus is not vainglory; it is power! To love Jesus is the most sublime, excellent and responsible act of man.

There is no separation between loving Jesus and keeping His word. We can distinguish them sequencialy, i.e. love precedes, but it immediately and automatically brings forth obedience to His word. And this obedience attracts the Father’s love and an indwelling with the Trinity. Thus it is shear hypocrisy to claim to love Jesus but not abide in His commandment of love. The two cannot be separated in essence.

Let us pause to celebrate this day the power and beauty of loving Jesus. It is peace to the soul; it displaces all fear and fills the heart with joy. In silence our being can be wrapped in the cloud of His love, which renews and empowers us to act so as to fulfil God’s will. This is where the power to heal wounds of hate, perform acts of charity, build lasting relationships, etc comes from. A holy and righteous life will elude us if we are not energized from within by the love of Jesus.

Loving Jesus summons us to one responsibility: to abide in His word! That means His word is like the Lamp John saw in the book of Revelation, which is the light for the Holy City (Rev 21:23). Those who love Jesus think and act through His word. Any other ‘burden’ will unsettle the mind; create tension and division among the people of God. Loving Jesus is real source of inner strength for a happy life.

Happy Sunday!

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church,

Abule-Oshun, Lagos.

May 26^th, 2019.

The Good Shepherd

   

Reflection for 4^th Sunday of Easter Year C

(Jn 10:27-30)

Today we celebrate Jesus as our Good Shepherd. The readings focus on the duties and benefits of having Jesus as the Good Shepherd.

1.  "My Sheep hear my voice”

The Good Shepherds speaks to His sheep. “At many moments in the past and by many means, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; but in our time, the final days, he has spoken to us in the person of his Son, whom he appointed hair of all things and through whom he made the ages” (Heb 1:1-2). But how can they hear unless they listen! And to listen we must be silent and attentive. In fact, attentive silence is an indispensable disposition for every follower of Christ Jesus.

It is within this silence that we perceive and decipher the different voices that demand our response. Moreover, this attentive silence upgrades our ‘hearing of the voice’ of the Good Shepherd from a momentary encounter to a living habit! It is the basic duty of the Sheep to make conscious effort to be silent and attentive before the Good Shepherd. Once this duty is fulfilled, the Good Shepherd takes over from there...

2.  “I know them, and they Follow me”

“God you examine me and know me, you know when I sit, when I arise, you understand my thoughts from afar...You knew me through and through, my being held no secrets from you” (Ps 139:1-15). God’s knowledge of our existence is so perfect that it sustains in being. It is fulfilling and joyous to become conscious of this fact. This awareness, which occurs in the silence of our heart, is equally active—it immediately demands a response. This response of faith, which involves the offering of one’s whole being, is to follow Jesus. Thus, the Sheep that follow Jesus the Good Shepherd are those who are aware that Jesus knows them, and knows even the single hair on their head (cf. Mt 10:30). So all our worries and needs are before His watchful care.

3.  “And I give them Eternal Life...”

 “I kept those you had given me true to your name. I have watched over them and not one is lost except one who was destined to be lost” (Jn 17:12). Despite trials and challenges, the ultimate and final victory belongs to the Good Shepherd. Our lives here on earth acquire deeper meaning and value only when it is open to the eternal life that Jesus offers. “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am” (Jn 17:24).

The Good Shepherd speaks through the Scriptures, the ministry of the Church, the Eucharist, etc. Those who in silence and attentiveness listen to His voice, ultimately follow Him in response, with great joy and fulfilment. Such will be counted among the great multitude that will behold His glory. “In all truth I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death” (Jn 8:51).

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Ss Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Tedi, Lagos.

Sunday 12^th May, 2019.

Good Shepherd Sunday.

"Come and have Breakfast"

Reflection for 3^rd Sunday of Easter

“Come and have breakfast”, Jesus said to Peter and the other disciples as the hauled the heavy net of fish to the shore. Experts claim that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It is the food that supplies the early burst of energy with which we begin our day! It is the meal that announces the end of the long night of hunger and the dawn of a new day. Thus after breakfast, we delve into the day’s activities. It is not expected that one goes back to bed after breakfast.

The Master prepared breakfast for His disciples. “Jesus came and took the bread and gave to them, and so with the fish.” Imagine the love and compassion with which he prepared fish and bread for them. After toiling all night long without a catch, they would be physically, emotionally and morally downcast. There was urgent need for strength and courage. Jesus fed them with food which points to His self offering in the Eucharist. They dined with Him in silence; none could say anything. In silence they knew it was the Lord. Thus they offered their whole being i.e. with silence and love, they mingled their whole being with Jesus but through the ‘Lord’s Breakfast.’ Now, a new dawn has been announced and empowered.

Jesus showed immediately through His discuss with Peter that He fed them that they might brace up for a greater responsibility. “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? He said to him, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, feed my lambs.” Dining with Jesus, and only with Jesus, is the source of strength and courage to begin and sustain a new life. This was how the apostles got the courage to withstand the High Priest. Another set of responsibility that the Breakfast announces is to feed others.

Man seeks nourishment in different ways. Most wordily and canal sources of refreshment, self-expression and strength, give only immediate and temporary pleasure. They cannot satisfy. Therefore we follow Jesus!  He invites us to come and have breakfast—the one time most important meal.

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Immaculate  Conception Catholic Church,

Abule-Oshun, Satelite Town, Lagos.

Sunday April 5th, 2019.