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.