Tuesday, July 21, 2020

DOING THE WILL OF GOD

  Reflection for Tuesday of the 16th 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 21st, 2020.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com




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