THE HILLS OF PRAYER

Reflection for Tuesday of 23^rd Week in Ordinary Time Year I

(Col 2:6-15; Lk 6:12-19)

         

Now, we are getting deeper into Paul’s letter to the Colossians. The reflections are getting more interesting but climbing the heights of thought. In today’s reading St Paul warns that we should not fall prey to anything that is not according to Christ. “For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness of life in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority.” In Christ Jesus, we are like in the apex of the mountain of life. While we are alive, we die to sin in Him; when we die, we live with Him.

The Gospel narrates how Jesus climbed the hills to pray. He spent all night in prayer. Up on the hill of prayer is the will of God imbibed; there wisdom and vision are acquired. And after that, he came down to the low ground to attend to the people.

However, in-between the hill of prayer and the low ground of action is decision-making! This is where one begins to adjust his ideology of life, and plan of action, to align with the wisdom from the hills. Here Jesus chose His twelve apostles. It was a great choice that shaped our salvation. We should not take it for granted that simply because we spent all night in prayer our actions will automatically reflect the will of God. Choice is free! We must consciously choose rightly. The formation received from the height of prayer supplies the courage and promptness to choose thus.

“And He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people...And all the crowd sought to touch Him for power came forth from Him and healed them all.” Then, Jesus became for the people the Height of Blessedness; for the fullness of divinity dwells in Him. We ascend to Jesus as up the hills of prayer to receive vision for the mission, and courage to choose the will of God.

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Ss Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Tuesday September 10^th, 2019.

The Joy of the Cross

Reflection for Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Year I
(Col 1:24-2:3; Lk 6:6-11)

A sadist is one who takes pleasure in the pains of others. By nature we all have this inclination to be sadists if not the grace of God. That is why often times we rejoice, not exactly in what they possess, but that others do not have the same thing as we do. The ironic joy of the Cross is a mystery that saves us from being sadists and transforms us to joy-givers.

St Pauls talks about his joy in suffering for the sake of the people of Colossia. This is not to exalt suffering for its sake, but taking up pain so that others might be free. The joy of suffering that others might not suffer earns one a place in the cross of Christ. “I carry in my body the scars of Christ” (Gal 6:17). In this way, the believer becomes a means through which the grace of Christ Cross is extended to all. “And in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His Body, that is, the Church.” It is in joyful view of the healing that bearing such suffering would bring that encourages one to endure the pain. But the greatest joyful hope that urges us on is the eternal life we have in Christ Jesus.

The Cross often meets opposition because there selfishness is conquered. The Pharisees and Scribes lurked by the corner like a hungry lion going after its prey! They watched Jesus closely to see if He would relieve the sick man of his pain on the Sabbath. They were indifferent to the suffering of the man. But Jesus took pity upon him. The man was healed, but the Scribes and Pharisees were filled with anger.

Genuine love for God and neighbour makes the difference. Love endures all things, even to the point of the Cross; love seeks the good of the other. The rejection of the Cross creates space for the dark cloud of embitterness to envelop the soul, where one becomes numb to suffering of others. Now we can escape being sadists! Bearing cross for the good others gives joy beyond measure. St Paul confirms it.

 
Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church,
Abule Oshun, Lagos.
Monday September 9th, 2019.
Memorial of St Peter Claver.