WHEN TRUTH HURTS

 Reflection for Friday of the 17^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Jer 26:1-9; Mt 13:54-58)

It is always difficult to do the right things. We easily follow the wrong crowd or spend much time on things that do not really matter. Have you noticed that sometimes the real people that matter in our lives receive less attention! We all want good things and we hate liars, but why does truth hurt? It is difficult to follow ‘crowd life’ or ‘trending ideas’ without abiding in falsehood. In the readings of today, both Jeremiah and Jesus were rejected by their people respectively.

The Lord sent Jeremiah to the Temple on the Sabbath to address the people as they gathered to worship. He warned them of the looming danger if they refused to repent. “Thus says the Lord: if you will not listen to me, to walk in my law...and to heed the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you urgently...then I will make this house like Shiloh...” Hearing this, instead of repenting of their evil ways, they got angry at Jeremiah. His words became an arrow that pierced their hearts. The priests, the fake prophets, and all the people gathered around Jeremiah and held him, saying, “You shall die!”

In the same vein, Jesus came to His home town and taught in the synagogue. His message touched them. They were surprised, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the Carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary?” They took offense at Him, and refused to accept Him. But Jesus answered that a prophet is not without honour except in his own country and in his own house. And he could not perform any miracles there because of their unbelief.

Truth hurts when we have settled for falsehood and accepted it as ‘truth.’ Then, the presence of truth begins to appear like falsehood. In the case of Jeremiah, the people were engrossed in the ‘peace’ they enjoyed while disregarding God’s law. They took pride in the beautiful temple, while their personal lives were abomination unto the Lord. But Jesus was rejected because His people held tight to their pre-conceived knowledge of Him, and they refused to be open to a new discovery about Him. ‘Truth’ displaces our ‘centre of pride’, uprooting it from our self-pleasure or ‘personal convenience’ to the righteousness of Jesus Christ, who is Truth Himself (Jn 14:6). Secondly, truth is ‘ever new.’ It brings newness to the heart. Truth hurts in a heart that is hardened; a heart that is not open to the fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Imagine the danger the Israelites faced by rejecting Jeremiah, and the divine blessings the Jews missed by not accepting Jesus. These are the cost of falsehood. Jesus has come to make His ‘home’ in our hearts. He comes, loaded with blessings. Let us not reject Him by holding to our old ideas or be blindfolded by self-centred lives. The word of God sets us apart from the crowd. We pray today that God will open our ears to hear the truth, and the courage to accept it. May He remove all falsehood from our ways. Amen.

 Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Friday July 31^st, 2020.

Memorial of St Ignatius of Loyola.

THE POTTER'S CLAY

Reflection for Thursday of the 17^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Jer 18: 1-6; Mt 13:47-53)

The Lord sent Jeremiah to the potter’s house for an important lesson. He saw the potter working at his wheel. “And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.” The potter had in mind the design he wanted, if the clay did not come out as he wanted, he reworked it. Then the Lord spoke to Jeremiah concerning Israel, saying, “Can I not do with you as this potter has done? Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.”

So, we are like clay in the hands of God. He created us in His own image and likeness, but the ‘clay’ spoiled due to sin and selfishness. Now, He decided to rework us into another vessel, which is Jesus Christ. Yes, He will continue to remould us into the image of His Son until we fit perfectly into the Original design He had in mind (Rm 8:29). Imagine the patience, the dexterity and love with which the skilled Potter is handling our fragile earthen life, carefully transforming us each day into ‘another Christ.’ So, we carry in ourselves the imprint of the life of Jesus (2Cor 4:10-11). As long as we are alive, God continues to remould us; we must dispose ourselves in His arms, and cooperate with His grace at all times.

But time will not be with us forever. The parable of the net that was cast into the sea, which gathered all sorts of things both good and bad, tells us that there will be time to sort out the good from the bad. At that time, there will not be opportunity to remould our lives. Evil shall be destroyed as wastes are burned in a fire.

The message of Jeremiah is encouraging. May be we have failed several times to imitate Jesus. Sometimes it appears we are stagnant in our spiritual journey. Changing times and situations, such as health failure, financial crisis, death, etc can becloud our minds and distract us from our commitment to live like Jesus. God says through the prophet that He is still working on this fragile Clay. If God is still working, we should continue to cooperate with Him. Do not give up on yourself; trust in His grace. At the end of the day, Christ Jesus will be all in all (cf. 1 Cor 15:28).

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Thursday July 30^th, 2020.

www.nwachinw.blogspot.com

THE ONE THING NEEDFUL

St Martha, Disciple of the Lord

Matter of Martha

The name ‘Martha’ means ‘Lady’ or ‘Mistress of the house.’ St Martha was a sister to Mary and Lazarus. They were referred to as ‘friends of Jesus’ (Jn 11:5). It is not clear who is the eldest among the three, but from her ‘disposition’ Martha seems to be the eldest. She  appears to be the ‘spokesperson’ of the family. She was the chief host, the one who welcomed Jesus into their house (Lk 10:38; Jn 11:20). There is every indication that Martha was outspoken and a lively lady, for she ran out to meet Jesus, and did not hesitate to express her displeasure that Jesus did not respond to the ‘sick call’ promptly. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (Jn 11:21). She seems to be very generous and caring as she served Jesus and the guests (Jn 12:2).

Martha loved her family; she did all she could to save her brother’s life. After she received Jesus, she went and called her sister to come and meet Jesus, saying to her in a low voice, “The Master is here and wants to see you” (Jn 11:28). At the tomb of Lazarus, when Jesus asked for the stone to be rolled away, Martha thought He wanted to go in to see the dead body, so she tried to discourage Him, saying, “Lord, by now he will smell; this is the fourth day since he died” (Jn 11:39).

Friend of Jesus

Martha was a woman of faith. She believed in Jesus. That was why she sent for Him to come and cure her brother. Even when all seemed to be lost, she said to Jesus, “But even now I know that God will grant whatever you ask of Him” (Jn 11:22). And she professed her faith in the resurrection (Jn 11:27). Now we can understand why she welcomed Jesus with such warmth and generosity.

It was for her care for Jesus that she got herself “distracted with much serving” (Lk 10:40). She worked herself out trying to entertain Jesus and those with Him. She was not happy with her sister who sat down listening to Jesus instead of helping her serve. But being a friend of Jesus, and expecting Him to have noticed her ‘frustration’, Martha offloaded her worries unto the Lord. “Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me” (Lk 10:40). Think about this: ordinarily, she would have picked offense directly with her sister, but she wanted the Lord to ‘settle her case.’

The One Thing Needful

“Martha, Martha, He said, you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one...” Imagine the love and respect with which Jesus addressed her. It shows that even before she complained, the Lord had seen and received her ‘servings’ but she had to be directed to the ‘one thing necessary.’ Being friends with Jesus—to contemplate Jesus—is the one thing necessary. Finding fulfilment, the fulfilment that only Jesus can give, is the reason we work. So, work expresses contemplative beauty. And contemplation itself is the most important task as Jesus showed that Mary was not idling away, but engaged in the most sublime labour.

As Jesus comes into our hearts today, how do we welcome Him? Do we push him aside and got engrossed in our tasks? We should engage Him in the silence of our hearts, ‘sitting at His feet in meditative attention’, which is the one thing needful. Then every other work we engage in will not weigh us out. Martha is the patron saint of cooks, housewives, waiters and servants. St Martha, pray for us. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Wednesday July 29th, 2020.

Memorial of St Martha, Disciple of the Lord

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THE ATTENTIVE EAR

Reflection for Tuesday of the 17^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Jer 14:17-22; Mt 13:36-43)

At the end of the parable of the weed planted among the good seed, Jesus said, “He who has ears, let him hear.” This phrase indicates the seriousness of the message, and the need to be attentive and for prompt response to it. Prophet Ezekiel used the phrase to show that the word of God was being announced to a rebellious and stubborn people (Ezk 3:27). Hearing that statement, we come to understand how the word of God respects our freedom of choice, and sets us free. At the same time, it appeals to us to choose the message and act on it. “He who has ears, let him hear” presumes that we have ears, and should be wise to listen to do what the word says. And we are responsible for the consequences that would come upon us if we turn deaf ears to the word of God.

At the end of the parable, the unproductive and useless weeds, which represent all causes of sin and evildoers, are gathered by Angels and thrown into the furnace of fire, where there will be great suffering. “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.” So, he who has ears will surely choose to live a righteous life. But knowing the right thing to do does not mean we will do it automatically. We do not easily listen to what God says, but we want God to listen to what we say.

The Prophet Jeremiah in the first reading addresses God as the only true God who hears His Children. So, he pleads to God on behalf of the people, telling Him all the sufferings and terrors they have been through. “If I go out into the field, behold, those slain by the sword! And if I enter the city, behold, the diseases of famine...” He asked God not to abandon Zion as they acknowledge their wickedness, the iniquities of their fathers, and their sins against God. Since God hears and answers prayers, Jeremiah affirms that their only hope is in God.

Therefore, to have an attentive ear to God who listens to us, we must incline our hearts to righteousness. Sin blocks our spiritual ears, such that we live like those who have ears but do not hear. And none of us can bear the consequences thereof. To develop an attentive ear to God, we must begin to listen to the silent voices within our hearts that speaks of peace, love, and self-denial. Every prompting of the heart that inclines us to selfishness and pride must be rejected. If we are attentive to God, surely, we will be attentive to those around us. We have ears; let us not harden our hearts, but listen to the word of God today (Heb 3:15).

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Tuesday July 28^th, 2020.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

'THE WAISTCLOTH'

Reflection for Monday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time

(Jer 13:1-11; Mt 13:31-35)

The Prophet Jeremiah used a lot of parables and imageries to convey his message. In today’s readings, the Lord asked Jeremiah to buy a beautiful linen waistcloth and wear it. People saw him wearing it as he moved around. Then, the Lord asked him to hide the waistclothe under the rocks at Euphrates. After a while, he dug out the clothes, but termites have spoilt it. When people saw him wearing the tattered clothe, he said to them, “Thus says the Lord: Even so will I spoil the pride Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.” The prophet explained that as a waistcloth clings to the loins of a man, that was how the Lord attached Judah to himself, but they stubbornly follow their own hearts and worshipped idols. Therefore, they shall be rendered useless like the waistcloth eaten by termites. 

Imagine losing one's beauty and usefulness because of stubbornness of heart towards the word of God. The word of God grows in our hearts like the little mustard seed that matures gradually into a giant tree, or the leaven that increases the flour. This is how the Kingdom of Heaven spreads amongst us. Therefore, all who listen to the word of God, and have this heavenly seed alive in their hearts, pay attention to little things and to the little ones! Such a person is useful and can be trusted both in small things and big ones. 

So, the word of God makes us beautiful and useful like Jeremiah’s new linen waistcloth. We become attentive to little whisperings of the Holy Spirit within, responding promptly to small acts of charity, and we become sensitive and available to moments of acquiring grace. Our beauty and pride come from our close attachment to God like a waistcloth. Imagine how insensitive people are these days, to their real needs, and to the needs of those around them. When we can no more value and respond to little things, it is a sign that the little seed of the Kingdom is not growing in  our hearts. Let the story of Jeremiah and the teachings of Jesus in the Gospel reawaken in our hearts to the growth of the Kingdom Heaven. 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Monday July 27th, 2020.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com 

OUR TREASUR

The Gospel of today gives three short parables about the Kingdom. The first talks about the Kingdom as a treasure a man found in a field. He sold all he had and bought the field. The second says, it is like a fine pearl a merchant found, again he sold all he had and bought it. The third describes the Kingdom of Heaven from the ‘end of time view', as the separation of the good and the bad. We are not surprised that Jesus described the Kingdom of Heaven as “Treasure.” Of course, it should be of the highest value to us. But what draws our attention is that He explains it as “hidden”, “expensive” and “destruction of evil.”

Hidden Treasure

Jesus says the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. Yes, it is hidden but available; available to those who value it. In other words, though it is available, it is not common! And because it is “hidden”, its value is higher. It is only those who seek that might find it. And those who find it are those to whom it is revealed. So, St Paul says in the second reading, “And those whom He predestined, He called;  and those whom He called He also justified; and those whom He justified He also glorified.” What is it you seek most in your life today? What is it that has become of great value to you? Seek first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness, within it is hidden great and real treasure (Mt 6:33). “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Mt 6:21). Therefore, if your heart values the Kingdom of Heaven, its blessings and righteousness, your heart will be 'hidden' from the worries of this life. 

Expensive Treasure

Interestingly, the first man had to buy the whole field, such that he owns both the treasure and the land in which it is hidden. By purchasing it, either as a ‘landlord' or 'businessman', the treasure becomes his rightful property that 'dwells with him.’ “The Kingdom of Heaven is within you” (Lk 17:21). But it is acquired at the highest cost! We see the example of Solomon in the first reading, who gave up the desire for wealth, power, and revenge over his enemies but asked for wisdom! The Kingdom becomes ours if we can sacrifice other little treasures to reacquire it.

How much can we offer in exchange for eternal life and the heavenly graces we need today? How much spiritual resources do we have, and how much personal holiness can we bring? So, Jesus pays the price! The price tag on the heavenly treasure is 'Jesus.’ He offers Himself on the Cross and pays the most expensive price. Thus, we who are baptized in Jesus have become “co-heirs” with Christ Jesus of the Kingdom of Heaven (RM 8:17). In Him we now have a claim to Heaven and its blessings as our own! Therefore, we give up whatever that is contrary to Christ Jesus. Hence, everything we sacrifice for sake of Jesus Christ will turn out to our advantage, for God has called us to be conformed to the image of his Son (RM 8:29).

Destruction of Evil

The net that gathers for the Kingdom contains within it good and evil. The moment of the Kingdom of Heaven shines out as the triumph of the righteous; the victory over evil. The furnace of fire, weeping and gnashing of teeth awaits all who do evil. So, the separation of good from bad is an important mark of the Kingdom. Therefore, anytime we begin to remove all sorts of evil and negativity from our lives, the Kingdom of Heaven will start shining out in us. 

The treasure field has been paid for: the heavenly blessings we need today, the righteous life we want to live, and the eternal life we head to. So we give our life to Jesus; we live for Jesus, and say no any evil or immoral life. The treasure of the Kingdom of Heaven is ours. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos. 

Sunday July 26th, 2020.

THE HIDDEN WISDOM

Reflection for Friday of the 16^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Jer 3:14-17; Mt 13:18-23)

“Return, O faithless children, says the Lord; for I am your master...and I will bring you to Sion.” As Jeremiah called the people back to God, he explained to them the blessings they would enjoy if they turned back and followed the Lord. They Lord will give them a shepherd after His own heart, who will feed them with knowledge and understanding. In other words, a Shepherd who will open their eyes to insight and mystery! They shall increase and multiply. When that day comes, the Ark of the Covenant will not be needed anymore. Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the Lord.

Imagine such a gathering of God’s faithful! This prophecy of Jeremiah looks into the future of Christ Jesus. He is the Good Shepherd, who opens the mind of those who come to Him in faith, and fill them with wisdom and understanding. He becomes our new Covenant through which a new Jerusalem dawns, where all peoples shall gather in the presence of God. Meditating on the Gospel of today, we see the disciples gathered around Jesus in a room as He opens their minds and hearts to the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, hidden in the parable of the sower.

As a Good Shepherd, Jesus leads them to understand how an ordinary human activity like sowing seeds in a farm can communicate a divine reality. This is hidden wisdom! It might appear simple and easy, but it is only when we ‘gather around Jesus’ that we can gain such knowledge. That is, we need Jesus to understand how the realities of our lives carry ‘Divine data.’ In other words, when we ‘return to the Lord’ as Jeremiah said, and ‘gather our lives around Him’, we will begin to see how almost every aspect of our lives, such as relationship, family, sickness and health, wealth and career, etc, have meaning for the Kingdom of Heaven. Sometimes our lives unfold like a ‘parable’ but in Jesus we find the meaning of it all.

If we execute our activities this day with the wisdom and understanding that Jesus gives, then we shall be like the seeds that were sown on the good soil, “This is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” May it be so for you today through Christ our Lord, Amen!

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Friday July 24^th, 2020.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

For other reflections on the parable of the sower in recent past, click below:

https://nwachinwe.blogspot.com/2020/07/working-for-righteousness.html

https://nwachinwe.blogspot.com/2020/07/sowing-for-harvest.html

https://nwachinwe.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-builder-and-sower.html

THE CISTERN OF HIDDEN TREASURE

   Reflection for Thursday of the 16^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Jer 2:1-3, 7-8,12-13; Mt 13:10-17)

Another prophet has taken over the stage! From today till the end of this month, we shall be hearing from Jeremiah. I describe him as ‘a prophet par excellence.’ His message is intermingled with his life. If you pay attention to him, you cannot but fall in love with Jeremiah. He grew up during the reign of King Josiah, when Judah was at peace. But he saw the bad times coming, and warned the people, but they rejected him. He lived through the Babylonian exile and Assyrian invasion. He was exiled in Egypt and died there. Announcing destruction at a time the people thought they were enjoying peace, brought fierce opposition and sorrow to Jeremiah. He is popularly described as the suffering servant of God.

In today’s readings, Jeremiah began to remind the people the devotion of their fathers, and how they loved God and followed Him in the desert. Then, “Israel was holy to the Lord, the first fruits of His harvest.” All who hurt her was punished. God settled them in the Promised Land. But now they have defiled the land. The priests, the lawyers, the rulers, and prophets have all transgressed. They were pursuing vanity! Jeremiah announced the two evils the people committed against God: “They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

It was stubbornness of heart for Israel to knowingly turned her back on the sure source of life God gave them in the law and prophets, and instituted idols that cannot help them, and had never helped any nation. Jeremiah would continue to speak to them but their stubbornness of heart would not let them hear, instead they would persecute him. Thus, Jesus says to those who block their hearts from hearing of God’s word, God too will hide His mysteries from them! To the stubbornness of heart, the message of God will come to them in parables, such that they will have to raise their hearts and minds to understand it. Therefore, the 'parables' will help draw their heart from their self-inflicted stubbornness, and launch them into the realm of God’s mysteries. One gets humbled as he climbs through the parables to the hidden mysteries.

So the disciples, and those who have these mysteries revealed to them, are the humble and blessed. We hear and see what many prophets and righteous men longed to see and hear but did not see them nor hear them. The knowledge of God and the gracious moments we share in Him should be guided jealously, for it is a hidden treasure. Israel, carelessly threw away their good times with God, and ended up with empty cisterns that cannot hold water. As we open up our hearts to Jesus today, He assures us of an increase in His blessings, “For to him who has, will more be given.”

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Thursday July 23^rd, 2020.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com 

"I HAVE SEEN THE LORD"

Feast of St Mary Magdalene

(Song of Solomon 3:1-4; Jn 20: 1-2, 11-18)

1.0. The Question of the Magdalene

Today we celebrate the feast of St Mary Magdalene, one of the prominent women in the Gospels. She is mentioned about twelve times in the Gospels. Magdala was a town in Galilee, where Jesus visited severally. Mary of Magdala was delivered of seven demons, afterwards, she became a follower of Jesus. She was identified among several women that supported Jesus’ ministry (Lk 8:1-3). And she watched the crucifixion from a distance and saw where Jesus was buried (Mk 15:40). Mary Magdalene was the first to witness the resurrection, and the first to announce the resurrection to the other disciples. This has earned her the title in some quarters as “Apostle to the Apostles.”

But there are some unresolved questions about this woman. Is Mary Magdalene the same as the sinful woman that anointed the feet of Jesus? (Lk 7:36-38). Maybe her taking oil to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus can make one think that the two personalities are the same. Was she the same as the woman caught in adultery? (Jn 8:1-11). Some traditions try to associate her with Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus. Nevertheless, these were not specified in the Bible. But the fact that the Church has a saint day for Martha, and Mary Magdalene is celebrated in place of the other Marys, apart from the Mother of Jesus, gives room for the above assumptions.

2.0. “I have seen the Lord”

“Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that He had said these things to her.” Here is a woman who discovered Jesus along the way, committed her life totally to Him, and is now addressed by Jesus with such respect and importance! After her deliverance, she discovered the truth that is Christ Jesus, and surrendered her life totally to Him. It was in response to the love she has for Jesus that she went to anoint His body. Then she became the first to witness the resurrection.

My beloved brother and sisters, we thank God for the gift of Mary Magdalene and the example of her life. Each day gives us an opportunity to rediscover the truth of Christ Jesus and fall in love with Him anew. This brings newness to our lives, and disposes us for a deeper Divine encounter. But, Like Mary, we must be committed and be responsible to the demands that this love makes on us.

St Mary Magdalene is the patron saint of contemplative life, glove makers, converts, penitent sinners, sexual temptation,  people ridiculed for their piety, Perfumers, hairdressers, Pharmacists, tanners and women. In 2016, Pope Francis raised the level of her liturgical memory from ‘memorial’ to ‘feast.'

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Wednesday July 22^nd, 2020.

Feast of St Mary Magdalene.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

DOING THE WILL OF GOD

  Reflection for Tuesday of the 16^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Micah 7:14-15l 18-20; Mt 12:46-50)

One of the duties of a prophet is to act as an intermediary between God and the people, especially in delivery God’s message. He also intercedes for the people before God. And this is what our beloved prophet Micah did in the readings of today. “Shepherd your people, Lord, with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, who dwell alone in a forest in the midst of a garden land.” He begged God to feed them as He did in the days of old. Since God is the most merciful, Micah appealed to Him for compassion and forgiveness of their sins. He called unto God to continue to show faithfulness as He swore to Abraham, Jacob, “As you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.”

In the Gospel, as Jesus was teaching the people, someone came forward and interrupted Him with the news that His mother and brethren were outside, asking to speak with Him. Following the law of ‘honour your father and mother’, we all expected Jesus to get up immediately and attend to them. Mary must have travelled far in search of her Son. The Handmaid of the Lord, who surrendered herself to the will of God in bearing the Divine Son, did not stop being a mother halfway! Her motherly instinct continued to follow Jesus. Now, she has found Him, Jesus’ response kept us thinking...

“And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, ‘Here are my mother and my brethren! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother.’” Yes, and the Blessed Virgin Mary is the most qualified thereof to answer the Mother of Jesus since she surrendered totally to the will of God. “Let it be to me according to your words” (Lk 1:38). She is the mother and model of those worthy to become ‘family’ with Jesus, i.e. those who do the will of God. Obviously, it is those who seek the will of God that seek for Jesus! And those who find Jesus are those who do the will of God.

The prophet Micah sought from God His guidance, mercy and faithfulness, which are God’s will for His people. And Mary, who committed herself totally to the will of God, looked for Jesus, in whom is the completeness and fulfilment of God’s will. All who seek God with a sincere heart find Jesus in the righteous lives they lead. Our hearts race with Mary to behold Jesus when we desire truth and righteousness. And surely, we shall have peace in Christ Jesus, for all who hungers for righteousness are satisfied (Mt 5:6). Let us pray this day that the will of God be done in our lives, so that the blessings of God we need today shall flow unto us as members of the family of Jesus. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Tuesday July 21^st, 2020.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE OF YOU?

 Reflection for Monday of the 16^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Micah 6:1-4, 6-8, 6-8; Mt 12:38-42)

Welcome to another blessed Week as we journey with Prophet Micah, who was a contemporary of Isaiah. Micah can be described as the prophet of divine justice for the inviolable rights of the poor.

In our readings today, Micah used a courtroom analogy to expose the situation between God and His chosen people, Israel. This kind of analogy involves a question and answer section, and witnesses. The prophet summons the mountains and hills to hear the debate! God questions Israel, saying, “O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me! For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of bondage...” Israel’s response to this was the offering of calves and thousands of rams and oils. Micah concludes the debate by saying to the people, “And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”

The words of the prophet resonate in our hearts today. Once we fail in doing what the Lord requires of us, we will be pursuing self-interest and exuberance in the name of divine worship. That is why the Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign. How can an evil and adulterous people ask for a sign from God? How can we be unjust, unforgiving, greedy, proud and ask for miracles? Jesus explained that He himself is the sign. As Jonah stayed three days and three nights in the belly of the whale and became a sign for the people of Nineveh, so Jesus, the Son of man, resurrected after three days and became a living assurance that God has delivered us from bondage.

Both the wisdom of Solomon, which the Queen of the South came to seek, and the miraculous sign of Jonah for the conversion of Nineveh, all point to Jesus Christ as their ultimate Sign. But the Pharisees neglected the Saviour in their midst and were asking for a sign; a sign that would point to what? It was to entertain their curiosity. Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your name give the glory (Ps 115:1). Micah has reminded us today that God wants something from us. And our hearts are constantly tuned to this divine requirement on us as we gaze upon the face of Jesus in meditation. As we go about our activities this Week, let us be conscious that we are in God’s presence. No matter how the days unfold, we should practice justice, love and kindness, and be humble. Jesus is in our midst; A blessing greater than ‘Jonah’ and ‘Solomon’ is here for you. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Monday July 20^th, 2020.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

WORKING FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS

 Reflection for 16^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Wisdom 12:13, 16-19; Rm 8: 26-27; Mt 13:24-43)

1.0. Kingdom of Work

“Through such works you have taught your people that the righteous man must be kind, and you have filled your sons with good hope, because you give repentance for sins.” The Book of Wisdom talks about the righteous deeds with which God cares for all men and judges unjustly. Though sovereign, God works among His people, governing all with forbearance and mildness, judging justly and giving them chance to repent. Our meditation today captures this image of God who ‘works’, planting His kingdom of righteousness among us.

In the Gospel, Jesus presents three parables to illustrate how the Kingdom of God grows among us. Each of the parables uses the imagery of serious labour to convey its message. In the first He says, “The Kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field...” Here God is positioned as a ‘Farmer’, which involves serious work. The same goes with the sowing of the mustard seed and the kneading of the leaven with the flour. “My Father still goes on working, and I am at work, too” (Jn 5:17). In the same way, we must be dedicated people, committed to the task ahead, working out our salvation in fear and trembling (Phil 2:12). It takes persistence and time to build up a moral and righteous life. If you have placed your hand on the plough the Kingdom of Heaven and its righteousness, there is no looking back! This is how we can bear fruits for the Kingdom.

2.0. Fruit for the Kingdom

In the first parable, the seeds of the Kingdom were left to grow among the seeds of the evil one. The reason for this is that none of His righteous ones may be lost while still growing. But all will be allowed to grow to full maturity for the harvest. Then, the good ones shall be separated from the evil ones by their fruits! The Angels will gather those who produced fruits into the heavenly barn, and burn the rest.

What exactly is this fruit? The parable of the mustard seed gives us the idea. The righteousness of the Kingdom planted might be insignificant, almost unnoticed! But it grows to become a big tree that exists not just for itself, but is recognized for providing shelter to birds of the air! Imagine the great act of mercy and charity that the tree stands for, always available to all who come under its shade. The same applies to the little leaven mixed with the flour. It enriches the flour, and provides delicious meal to the hungry. The good works we do for the Kingdom of Heaven must shine before people to the glory of God (cf. Mt 5:16). There is no room for selfishness for the Children of the Kingdom.

God is still working in our lives; the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. The seeds of the evil one may want to dominate us, “But the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.” And Jesus continues to nourish us in the Holy Eucharist. The holy Catholic Church is rich with numerous channels of grace to sustain us to bear fruit for the Kingdom. We cannot grow to full maturity and bear fruits of holiness if we do not apply the graces given us through openness to the Holy Spirit, prayer and the Sacraments. Let us be committed to the work God has started in us to produce mercy, charity, patient-endurance, humility, etc. It is on the Cross that God's great work to sow His Kingdom in our lives shines out.  Finally, Jesus said, “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.” Amen!

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Sunday July 19^th, 2020.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com  

THE ULTIMATE SIGN

 Reflection for Friday of the 15^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Is 38:1-6,21,7-8; Mt 12:1-8)

 At the end of our week long journey with prophet Isaiah, today he intervenes in the sickness of king Hezekiah. At first, Isaiah the prophet informed the King that the sickness would lead to his death. On hearing this, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and prayed earnestly to God, and wept bitterly. God received his plea, and sent Isaiah to go and inform the King, saying, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and defend this city.” Hezekiah asked for a sign to show that God will fulfill what the prophet said. Isaiah told him that the sun would turn ten steps backwards.

If we too call out to God in our distresses, He will answer us, for He sees our tears. And He has given us the greatest sign that He will attend to our pleas in the cries and tears of Jesus on the Cross, whose Blood pleads for us incessantly (Heb 12:24). But the people did not accept Him; Jesus became a sign that was rejected (Lk 2:34). Thus, we see the Pharisees in the Gospel of today, opposing Jesus, accusing Him of allowing His disciples break the Sabbath. Jesus pointed to them the examples of David and the Temple Priests of old who were never accused of breaking the law or profaning the Sabbath though they did what was forbidden. “I tell you, something greater than the Temple is here.”

Because of their hardness of heart, the Pharisees failed to recognize who was in their midst. They did not know that Jesus is the Master of the Sabbath! He is the reason for the Sabbath; the answer to the Temple worship. He is the greatest Sign that fulfills itself. Hezekiah cried to God, and He answered him. Still, he asked for extra sign from Isaiah. Now, Jesus cried for us on the Cross and God heard Him. So, in our distresses we only need to call on Jesus and our ‘cry’ will be heard. That means the answer to our ‘cry’ in Jesus already awaits us, and is assured. Therefore, we need not ask for another sign to believe. Jesus is the answer! Those who run after miracles before believing that their cries have been heard are among those who rejected Jesus as the ultimate sign.

Therefore, Jesus said, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” This is what we are expected to pursue, not signs. By our acts of mercy, we wipe the ‘tears’ of others. And when we call, Jesus will surely answer and wipe our tears. Let us move forward this day in charity and confidence, the blessing of God goes ahead of us. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Friday July 17^th, 2020.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com 

EASY BURDEN

Reflection for Thursday of the 15^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Is 26:7-9, 12, 16-19; Mt 11:28-30)

RESTORATION

“The way of the righteous is level; you make smooth the path of the righteous.” Isaiah offers a prayer of trust in God, who vindicates His people. According to Bible scholars, this prayer was probably made at a time when Babylon had lost its grip as a world power. The burden of exile was being lifted, and Israel had learnt her lessons. Now, they walk in the path of God’s judgments. “My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.” He called on God to restore peace and unity to Israel.

Isaiah prays to God to remember how they cried to Him in their distress, when they were in bondage. Israel was in pangs of pain like a woman in labour pains! Since God had broken the Babylonian yoke upon them, Israel shall be restored. The dead shall rise; lowly dwellers shall awake and sing for joy.  

EASY BURDEN

Jesus declared, “come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Pause a while, imagine Jesus as the meeting point of all labour and heavy laden! He is the ‘most laden’, bearing upon Himself the burden of our sins and transgressions for all generations. He laboured, and carried them to the end, and triumphed over them. In Jesus, the pain of labour and the depression of heavy laden are emptied into the new life the resurrection. That means labour and heavy laden can become sources of re-generation and re-creation.

Human life is full of burden; family life, work and business, education, relationship, etc. Sometimes, nature imposes heavy burden on us such as sickness, disasters, etc. We are laden physically, mentally and emotionally. At times, we are even a burden unto ourselves, unable to do the very things we ought to do. In whatever form it may be, Jesus has invited us to come to Him with our burden and heavy laden. So, we begin this day by meditating on how Jesus bore the very burden we fear. This is how we begin to locate our yoke in His. Then, we must connect to Him in prayer and dispose ourselves to the Sacraments. This is how His strength nourishes us.

His invitation assures us that this burden is not ours alone; Jesus has offered His shoulder to make it easy for us. Do not be discouraged; do not give up, nor allow depression and frustration get hold of you. As God broke the Babylonian yoke and Israel was restored and rejoiced, so shall you rejoice and have new life if you answer Jesus’ call to come to Him that your burden be easy.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Thursday July 16^th, 2020.

Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com  

HUMILITY AS A SHIELD

Reflection for Wednesday of the 15^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Isaiah 10:5-7, 13-16; Mt 11:25-27)

 Assyria was a great nation, with stout warriors, which subdued many nations under her. The message of Isaiah today was addressed to Assyria. “Thus says the Lord, Ah! Assyria, the rod of my anger, the staff of my fury! Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him.” God used Assyria to punish disobedient nations, especially Israel. But they began to take pride in their victories over nations, thinking it was by her strength, wisdom and great army that nations fell under her. Because of this pride, Isaiah announced, “The Lord, the Lord of hosts will send wasting sickness among her stout warriors, and under his glory a burning will be kindled, like the burning of fire.”

Though, Assyria was a pagan nation, God used them as a chastening rod to humble Israel. Yes, Jesus addresses God as Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth. All creation, all times and seasons, belong to Him. And He disposes all according to His will. He uses both good and bad people and situations to humble us and teach us His ways. It is those who are humble like little Children before God that He reveals His mysteries and wisdom.

Therefore, we do not take pride in our strength or knowledge. In humility we hide ourselves in Christ Jesus, the most humble, and who is one with the Father. Being Lord of heaven and earth, He is equally the Lord of all we are and can be in the future! Like His little Children, we stand before Him without evil intentions, ready to be disposed according to His gracious will and we look up to Him for His providence.

That is why as we practice daily meditations, we become more conscious of the presence of God and we gaze upon Him in humility. This will fill us with the grace to coordinate ourselves as His ‘handmaids’, or as ‘missionaries sent’ even to our works, family life, relationships, and spiritual life. The pride of Assyria can no more bring down the humble Israel. Humility is a shield; you shall stand secure. Amen

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Wednesday July 15^th, 2020.

Memorial of St Bonaventure.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

BEING SECURED IN FAITH

Reflection for Tuesday of the 15^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Isaiah 7:1-9; Mt 11:20-24)

Isaiah was on a tough mission today. The urgency of the mission was such that God asked him to go along with his son. Ahaz was in serious trouble. The king of Syria and the king of Northern Israel (Ephraim) laid siege against Judah, where Ahaz was king. Before now, Syria, Ephraim and Judah had been paying taxes to Assyria. Now, Syria and Ephraim formed alliance and refused to send their taxes, but Judah refused to join them and continued paying her tributes to Assyria. Then, Syria and Ephraim came against Judah to overthrow Ahaz and replace him with a king who will join their alliance against Assyria. When the king heard this, fear gripped him and the whole people. Then, Isaiah stepped in.

He said to Ahaz, “Take heed, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smouldering stumps of firebrands...Thus says the Lord God: it shall not stand, and it shall not come to pass.” But the king had every reason to be afraid in the face of fierce enemies. But Isaiah reassured him to have faith in God, for that is his only saviour. “If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established.”

So, lack of faith can uproot a nation. That is why Jesus rebuked the cities where he performed mighty works, because they refused to repent and believe in Him. “And you Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades.” Judah, in the face of danger was asked to believe in the message of Isaiah, but the Cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum refused to believe even in the face of God’s mighty works!

Imagine the stern look on the face of Jesus as He addresses those unrepentant cities! This is how He looks at us when we too refuse to repent and follow after Him. God has performed His greatest work by raising Jesus from the dead. And He continues to touch our hearts each day with the grace of the Resurrection. Like Ahaz, we may have many enemies surrounding us; a lot of reasons to be afraid and be discouraged. Sometimes we do not even have enough spiritual and moral strength to defend ourselves against the raging temptations. But in Christ Jesus we are firmly established; He is the solid Rock on which we stand secure.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Tuesday July 14^th, 2020.

 

 

 

 

A WORTHY OFFERING IN HIS LOVE

 Reflection for Monday of the 15^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Is 1:10-17; Mt 10:34-11:1)

Our prophet for this Week is Isaiah. We shall be meditating on his messages, and where possible, relate them to the Gospel of the day. Isaiah prophesied during the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. His mission was marked by a series of crisis caused by the military encroachment of Assyria. It is a lengthy prophetic oracle, spanning through 66 chapters. Sit back, relax, as we journey with Isaiah this week.

In today’s reading, Isaiah condemns the sacrificial offerings presented before God. This is because the rulers of Judah behaved like “the rulers of Sodom”, and the people behaved like “the people of Gomorrah.” These were two cities known for their abominable acts. So, the religious observances and sacrifices from such abominable hands cannot be accepted. Instead, the prophet showed them the way to get their prayers answered: “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.”

In the Gospel, Jesus upsets the minds of His audience by saying what no one expected to hear from Him: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” By using the first person pronoun, ‘I’, Jesus indicates the authority that is contained within Him. And He continued to point to this authority as we read along. What is this fire that Jesus is going to cast that will bring division? It is love!

Ordinarily, love has an inherent power to unite. But the lovers of Jesus must place Him above every other thing they might love, including father, mother, brother, sister, etc. Thus, there will be a friction between those who have not climbed the height of this love in Jesus and those who are already there. To the extent that we choose and love Jesus, there will be a sword of opposition.

We must take note that the love of Jesus is at the centre of it all. He is the authority on which we stand. What is worth giving up our lives for? Only Jesus qualifies for it! And He points to Himself as the reason for our giving and receiving charity. “And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”

Pause a while, imagine the importance of Jesus in the life of the believer! In Him our sacrifice is acceptable; our worship is true. So, when Isaiah says, ‘wash yourselves; make yourselves clean’, it is in the precious Blood of Jesus that we are cleansed, and made worthy before God. Let the fire of His love burn in our hearts; let the love of Jesus consume our hearts, and lead us forward in all we do this week. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Monday July 13^th, 2020.

 www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com 

Sowing for the Harvest

Reflection for 15^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Isaiah 55:10-11; Rm 8:18-23; Mt 13:1-23)

1.0.  “A Sower went out to sow”

The parable of the sower was introduced by prophet Isaiah in the first reading. He said that the word of God comes forth like rain and snow, “It shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I intend, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” The sower goes forth, with the same intention for each seed: that it bears fruit! But as Jesus narrated the story, imagine watching the sower move along in his work! It appears he began on the side of failure. The first set of seeds were eaten by birds, the second set gave him hope, but withered away, and so on. Still, he continued to sow! We see here that success comes from commitment and perseverance. As we sow in the earthly field, let us be focused on our intentions and purposes—the will of God for us—and never to be discouraged by temporary failures or to be over excited by momentary successes.

2.0.  The Seeds Fell

The first set of seeds fell along the road side, and birds came and devoured them. Jesus explains that these are those who hear the word of God but do not make effort to understand it. Then the devil snatches it away. Yes, the devil is hovering around, looking for those without understanding of the word of God. That is why we should not live by the ‘road side’ of life, without having roots in the word of God. In order words, to deepen one’s understanding of the Bible is itself power over the devil.

The second group fell on rocky ground, “Where they had not much soil.” Truly, they sprang up, showed themselves, but could not withstand the heat of the sun! Jesus explains that these are those who received the word with joy, “Yet he has not root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.” These are those who seat at the convenient side of the word of God. He does not tie his life to the word. So, any wind of persecution will blow him away. This group are the ones who internally dislodged themselves since they were not receiving constant renewal of nourishment to sustain their growth in the word of God.

“Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.” Notice that while seeds were planted, thorns were the ones growing, and eventually suffocated the seeds! To this Jesus says, “This is he who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” So, these worldly cares and pleasures should not dominate our lives, rather we should approach them with discipline and self-control. If we surround ourselves with these thorns, they will suffocate the life of the word of God in us.

The Fourth group fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. “This is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit.” These ones shine out by overcoming what the others could not. Imagine the many self-denials they applied, the many persecutions they endured, and the efforts they made to understand and deepen their knowledge of the word of God and defeat the devil. We see here that the determination, commitment and focus with which the sower carried out his work, is reciprocated and returned in the fruits they yielded!

3.0.  The Sower, the Seed and the Soil

Therefore, the ‘personality’ of the sower is imprinted in the seeds that brought forth harvest! Isaiah announced that God is raining down His Word. Jesus, the Word of God is sown, even as he was planted for three days in the heart of the earth. But today he is planted in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. For there to  be harvest, the Sower, the Seed and the Soil must be united with a common sense of purpose. But are we by the roadside, without any commitment to the Word? Are we living a double life, acknowledging the Word, but finding meaning in other things by rooting ourselves in values other than the word, such that we cannot lay down our lives for what we believe? Have we allowed the thorns of lust, greed, quest for power, etc to dominate our hearts and minds?

It is obvious, then, that we who have received the seed must groan inwardly like a woman in labour pains. The hope we have is that “The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” When you have a hope greater than the obstacles and challenges you face, then you remain committed and focused on your intentions and purposes like the sower. “They go out, they go out, full of tears. They come back, they come back full of joy, bearing their sheaves” (Ps 126:6).

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lago.

Sunday July 12^th, 2020.