No Surprise

Tuesday of the 22nd week in Ordinary Time Year I
(1Th 5:1-6, 9-11; Lk 4:31-37)
St Paul continues the encouraging message he gave yesterday about rapture.  Today he goes on to say that no one knows that particular day, the day of the Lord's second coming. It will come suddenly when people least expected it. However, children of light, those who have embraced Christ Jesus will not be taken by surprise. Hence, St Paul enjoins us to stay awake and not to remain in darkness so that the day of the Lord will not pass us by or take us by surprise.  I believe I shall see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living!

In the Gospel today, while Jesus was rejected in His home town of Nazareth, the people of Capernaum welcomed Him in their midst. They were astonished at his teaching and authority. Jesus rebuked the spirit of darkness and set the possessed free for salvation!

This is what the people of Nazareth missed when they dejected Jesus. “But to those who did accept Him, He gave power to become children of God” (Jn 1:12). If we welcome Jesus in the city of our hearts, His light will so much illumine our inner being that hardly will any event of life take us by surprise. The Event of Christ Jesus—the manifestation of His power deep within our hearts—is strong enough to perceive and withstand any occurrences, no matter how sudden they may seem to be.

Compare the noisy frustration of the people of Nazareth to the silent joy and wonder of the people Capernaum! Depression, stress out, etc often germinate from unmet expectations and unforeseen circumstances, with low inner strength to carry on. This brings darkness to our lives. No more! For God has destined us to obtained salvation through Jesus Christ. He comes in to dispel every darkness.
Therefore, let us welcome Jesus now in our heart. He is here.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
St Joseph the Worker Chaplaincy,
Trade Fair Complex, Lagos.
Tuesday September 3rd, 2019.
Memorial of St. Gregory the Great.