THE KNOWLEDGE TO BELIEVE

 Reflection for Monday of the 22^nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(1 Cor 2:1-5; Lk 4:16-30)

This week we shall be meditating on the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians.  Corinth was a leading Greek City where Paul preached during his second missionary journey. Remember the Greeks had a long philosophic history even before Jesus Christ was born. As we scroll down the pages of this letter, we shall see how Paul addresses these ‘wise men’ to convince them about faith in Jesus Christ.

The human mind operates within a certain framework; it draws from its frame of reference to make judgments and accept assertions. It is not easy to draw the mind to accept new frame of reference or ways of thinking. Since the mind seem to have attraction to fancies, learned people use ‘plausible words of wisdom’ to excite their audience and convince them to accept their teachings. But St Paul quickly pulled his preaching from the style of the ‘wise men’ already known to the Corinthians. He declared himself before them as ‘unwise’, shy and ill equipped with lofty words of wisdom. He did this for two reasons. First, that the Gospel message might not be reduced to human thinking, such that it could be accepted simply because it excited their rational mind. Such euphoria does not last. Secondly, the preacher with high sounding words draws attention to himself as the learned one, the ‘powerful man of God’, etc. Here, the preacher becomes an obstacle when he becomes the main reason people gather.

St Paul says, “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” And his speech and message were only in demonstration of the Spirit and power, “That your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” It was because of the workings of the human mind that the people of Nazareth rejected Jesus, who taught them, not like the Son of a Carpenter, but by the Spirit of the Lord. And Jesus could not perform any miracles among them.

The Word of God transcends any frame of mind, ideology or cultural mindset. We should not approach the divine mysteries with a mind that is closed to itself or attached to personalities. Let the Holy Spirit inspire us; let the power of God draw us and let the wisdom of God direct us. Yes, let us move forward this day in faith with the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Monday August 31^st, 2020.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com 

FROM SUFFERING TO SACRIFICE

 Reflection for 22^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Jer 20:7-9; Rm 12:1-2; Mt 16:21-27)

1.0.  The Heart of Suffering

Suffering in the heart is the ‘heart’ of suffering; an agonizing heart knows no peace. The human heart and mind are full of aspirations and visions. The extent to which we are attached to these visions will determine the debt of our rejoicing or suffering if they are achieved or not. Many people are burdened in different aspects of their lives. Sometimes, our ‘heartbreaks’ are brought upon us by others and situations we find ourselves. Most times they originate from within us; from our wrong ideologies and misplaced visions and aspirations. Yes, since the fall of man at the beginning of creation, man suffers as he withdraws his heart in disobedience from the will of God. Here is the ‘heart’ of suffering, and the heart that suffers is that which is not in line with the will of God.

This is where we locate the suffering of Prophet Jeremiah in the first reading as he battles to cooperate with the will of God. Jeremiah became a sign of contradiction to himself, and a laughingstock to the people. Since Jeremiah delivered the message that people did not want to hear, he suffered mockery and shame.  Within him, the word of God became a reproach and derision, for when he says, ‘“I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,’ there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.” The suffering heart is healed when it succumbs to the will of God.

2.0.  From Suffering to Sacrifice

The human body and its pleasures bring us a lot of suffering as they divert us away from the will of God. The yearnings of the flesh, with its attraction to comfort, do not often align with that of the Holy Spirit. This contradiction leads to self-agony, frustration, stress and depression.  As this ‘battle’ rages, time is wasted, energy is exhausted and resources are misused. Fear and regret are left for the soul to chew! But the second reading of today suggests a way out. St Paul suggests that we present our bodies as living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. Once the body is offered in sacrifice, it can no more bring contradiction to the soul. But, how can the body ought to be sacrificed?

St Paul answers, “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” By offering the body in sacrifice, what ought to have brought mere suffering is connected to the will of God, from where peace of soul flows.

3.0.  Take up your Cross

In the Gospel of today, Jesus surprises his disciples as He informs them of his readiness to freely enter Jerusalem to suffer, die and resurrect on the third day. We do everything we can to avoid suffering, how can He see suffering and willingly embrace it, even to the point of death? The most important thing for the human mind is self-preservation. But Jesus demonstrates that the most important thing is the will of the Father, no matter what it involves, even if it is suffering and death. Thus, Jesus goes ahead of us on way of the Cross, where He nailed every suffering, conquered it and brought life.

In Jesus is the fulfilment of the will of the Father. The disobedience that brought suffering is conquered on the Cross of Suffering through the obedience of Christ. In Jesus we learn how to place the will of the Father over and above our heart desires and aspirations and bodily comfort. “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” And unless we follow Jesus, our suffering cannot be sacrificed. We deny ourselves by placing the will of God revealed in Jesus over and above our human desires and aspirations. We take up our cross by getting actively involved in the situations of our lives, fulfilling our responsibilities, facing challenges and bearing the burdens that come our way as the will of God. Then, we follow Jesus with our burden by seeing it in faith as our sharing in the Cross of Christ, locating our pains in His, and by applying the righteousness of Jesus along the way as the challenges unfold.

This is how we find our life; wounds give way to healing, and life overcomes death! When our suffering becomes the will of God for us in Christ Jesus, we will never be frustrated or depressed but we will continue to produce good works. The heart that surrenders to the will of God will triumph over every suffering.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Sunday August 30^th, 2020.
 www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com 

 

THE THRUST OF AUTHORITY

Reflection for 21^st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Is 22:19-23; Rm 11:33-36; Mt 16:13-20)

What is the common problem we face in delegating authority? This precaution appears in every human gathering, even in family circles. Transmitting and entrusting authority to another person is easier said than done. But we see Jesus in the Gospel of this Sunday freely entrusting the authority-keys of the Kingdom of Heaven of Peter.

This happened in fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah in the first reading, where the Lord handed over to Eliakim the authority of Shebna over Jerusalem and the house of Judah. “And I will place on his shoulder the authority of the house of David; he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.” Jesus would use similar words on Peter as they enter the district of Caesarea Philippi.

According to biblical historians, Caesarea Philippi was originally known as Panion. The City was located on the southern slope of Mount Hermon near the River Jordan. Emperor Augustus Caeser put the district under Herod the Great. Herod’s son, Philip, rebuilt the City and changed the name to Caesarea Philippi. This was how a Jewish territory took on a Roman identity. On entering this City, Jesus threw in the question of his own identity to His disciples.

He asked them, “Who do people say that the Son of man is?” People identified Him by comparing Him with the holy men and prophets of old. This was based on the impression they got from his miracles and teaching authority. So, they likened Jesus to be another John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, etc. People will always describe others on these two principles of ‘comparison’ and ‘selfish impression.’ Often times, they want you to remain in these ‘identity modes’ they created. Now, Jesus looked at the disciples and asked, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter’s response was immediate and complete: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in Heaven.” Yes, no one knows the Son except the Father and those who the Father chooses to reveal Him (Mt 11:27). Peter as flesh and blood was vulnerable, but his humility and openness to the Father earned him the exalted knowledge of the Son. If our lives are consumed by the pleasures of ‘flesh and blood’ we will definitely lack that true knowledge of Jesus, ourselves and things around that only God gives, even in the midst of changing times and situations.

Having blessed Peter, Jesus added, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” ‘Peter’ is now instituted as the foundational rock on which the Christian faith is to be sustained. Just as the Father’s revelation was made known through him, Jesus the Rock of Ages will sustain His Church through Peter. “The Lord is my rock and fortress...I take refuge in Him, my rock” (Ps 18:2).

Further, Jesus said to Peter, “I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.” Jesus now transmits His own authority to Peter, whom He instituted as the foundational rock of the Church. Thus, the Church possesses within her the ‘sanctifying office’ through which the heavenly gates are unlocked for Christ’s faithful. Therefore, it is Christ who blesses when the Church blesses...

The authority of Jesus the Son of the living God, the Head of the Body the Church, is not diminished by His delegating His authority to Peter. Instead, in Peter, the Church possesses the ‘mind of Christ’ and speaks with the ‘voice of Christ.’ It is always the Church of Jesus Christ, with His power and authority. Moreover, the authority of ‘Peter’ the Head is not diminished when he delegates to Cardinals, Bishops, priests, deacons and ministers in the Church. But the one authority of Jesus Christ is spread out, and made readily available and accessible to all. So, in the blessing of the deacon we receive the blessing of Jesus.

Then, why are people afraid of delegating the little authority they possess? Every genuine authority issuing from God leads back to God, and is not afraid of transmitting itself to others. The fear of delegation is that the recipient might diminish the power of his master, and divert the ‘glory’ to himself. This happens when we operate as ‘flesh and blood.’ Lack of trust has ruined many relationships, families and institutions. We often live in fear and suspicion of each other. If the authority you have is not given by flesh and blood but by the living God, no one can diminish it nor take it away, rather, it will spread out and leads those it touches to salvation.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Sunday 23^rd August, 2020.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

  

 

THE FAITH THAT OVERCOMES BARRIERS

 Reflection for 20^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Is 56:1, 6-7; Mt 1521-28)

1.0. The God of all

What is it that causes segregation among people? We easily classify people, prejudice against them and justify excluding them from certain privileges or honour. Sometimes such injustice is even gender based.  What ought to bring variety and beauty to life and society now becomes a source of pain and dehumanization. However, our Christian life empowers us to overcome these barriers.

The Prophet Isaiah announced that ‘foreigners’ would join the ‘chosen’ people to become servants of God. People of all nations shall gather in God’s house and offer acceptable burnt offerings and sacrifices; “For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” The condition for being acceptable before the Lord is made available to all: to keep justice and do righteousness, to love the name of the Lord and to keep the Sabbath.  According to Isaiah, the ordinances of the Lord are the same for all; they are the gateway to enter His dwelling place.

2.0. Universal Mercy of God

Inviting foreigners to share in the grace of the Chosen race is not to belittle the Jews. St Paul explains in the second reading that his ministry to the Gentiles was equally to attract the Jews to salvation indirectly. It was through the disobedience of the Jews that the reconciliation of the world in Jesus Christ came. “For the gifts and call of God are irrevocable.” That means their acceptance of Salvation will bring more blessings to the world. God's mercy is now readily available to people, both Jews and Gentiles. The Gentiles erred by following false gods; the Jews erred by rejecting Jesus. “For God has consigned all men to disobedience, that He may have mercy upon all.”

In the Gospel, Jesus declares this universal mercy of God as He steps forward to break the barrier between the Jews and the Gentiles. Accompanied by His disciples, He entered the Gentile district of Tyre and Sidon. His presence in this territory is already an indication that God’s salvation has come to ‘foreign’ nations, which is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah. Jesus becomes the new Standard by which ‘foreigners’ and the ‘chosen people’ can become children of the Most High God.

3.0. Great Faith

As Jesus walked along, a Canaanite woman from that district came out crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by demon.” There were lots of socio-cultural barriers that would have prevented her from approaching Jesus. Notice that she recognized Jesus as the universal Messiah as “Lord,” and as a full time Jew as “Son of David.” To which of these two ‘identities’ of Jesus was her faith directed at?

Jesus ignored her request and continued moving. But she ‘ignored’ Jesus’ silence and continued following! As Jesus dragged her on with silence, the woman’s faith was being tested and purified. When the disciples asked Jesus to send her away, He answered, “I was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman’s faith had bypassed the human barrier of cultural identity, so she knelt down in humility and cried out, “Lord, help me.” As if to confirm if she has ‘certitude of faith’ before whom she was kneeling, Jesus said to her, “It is not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” But the woman would not reduce her faith to human prejudice. So, she replied, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Imagine such a pure and humble faith, not limited by any human barriers! Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed at once.

4.0. The Leap of Faith

The prophecy of Isaiah is already fulfilled in Christ Jesus. The barriers that lock us away from each other have been broken as Jesus stepped into the ‘district of foreigners.’ Salvation is nearer to us now (Rm 13:11). Either as believers we fall into disobedience or as unbelievers we follow other gods, the gate of salvation is now opened to all through Jesus Christ. We cannot claim to follow Jesus and still build fences that separate people. The great faith that answers and breaks barriers is one that acknowledges Jesus as Lord of all. And such a believer loves all people as children of God. Is there somebody you are finding it difficult to love or help because of their cultural identity? Do you love your family to the exclusion of other families? Do you feel upset when you hear other languages or see people dress in certain cultural attires? Do you lack respect for people of certain cultural background? Do you respect all genders as having equal dignity? Jesus has stepped into these ‘territories’ and silently drawing us to rise above these limitations so that our faith itself can become answers to our prayers. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Sunday August 16^th, 2020.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

Click below for another a recent version of today's Gospel:
 https://nwachinwe.blogspot.com/2020/08/confidence-in-faith.html

THE BEGINNINGS OF A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE

 Reflection for Friday of the 19^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Ezek 16:59-63; Mt 19:3-12)

Every great and successful marriage has its humble beginning. It passes through phases to reach maturity. This too is the story of Israel and her relationship with God. Ezekiel narrates Israel’s humble origin in the land of Canaan. She was like an abandoned baby at birth. God picked her up and made her to live. She grew to maidenhood to the age of love, and God covered her nakedness. Then God said, “I pledged myself to you and entered into covenant with you and you became mine.” Her status is now elevated; God anointed her, clothe her with silk and linen, adorned her with ornament, bracelets, gold and silver, put a beautiful crown on her head and fed her with fine flour and honey. Thus, Israel became exceedingly beautiful. Surprisingly, she forgot how it all started and who brought her up but trusted in her own beauty! In her pride, Israel played the harlot with other gods but God said, “Yet I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish with you an everlasting covenant, that you may remember and be confounded...When I forgive you all that you have done."

God’s ‘marriage’ with Israel remained unbroken because of His faithfulness, though Israel broke her own side of the covenant. But instead of ‘divorcing’ her, God promised to renew the covenant. Yes, every marriage requires renewal not divorce. But the Pharisees approached Jesus with the question of divorce. They knew divorce is a contradiction to what marriage stands for. “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” they asked. Jesus’ answer tells us what causes divorce and the secret of a successful marriage.

“Have you not read that He who made them from the beginning made them male and female?” Jesus said this is why a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they become one. “What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder.” Marriage is God’s design, but man has been struggling over the ages to redesign and wrestle it away from God’s hand. It is in marriage that our freedom of choice is mostly expressed, and at the same time, it is here that it is summoned to surrender. We are good to go when in marriage our will and choices shine out. But sooner or later, the couples discover that they have to individually and collectively surrender to God and accept each other, and their union, as God’s will. What authority is above human will and freedom? Hence, only the authority of God can unite and sustain man and woman in marriage.

Again, Jesus said that ‘hardness of heart’ leads to divorce. This is a heart that will not allow God’s word to penetrate. It is a proud and selfish heart, which exalts itself and will not yield to God. One who does not submit to the authority of God may not be able to surrender to the authority of love in marriage. That is why religions that do not accept the merciful and loving One God permit divorce and/or polygamy. The prophetic blessing from God’s ‘marriage’ and faithfulness to Israel is now instituted in our homes through Jesus Christ. God saw all He had made, and indeed it was very good (Gen 1:31). And it remains good and beautiful, growing from a painful and simple beginning to a sublime and great dynasty. May God bless your family with peace and unity + In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Friday August 14^th, 2020.
Memorial of St Maximilian Mary Kolbe.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

 

THE REBELLION OF UNFORGIVENESS

 Reflection for Thursday of the 19^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Ezek 12:1-12; Mt 18:21-19:1)

God asked Ezekiel to make a mock exile journey as a demonstration for the people and the princes of Israel. Since they were a rebellious house who refused to listen, maybe they would learn the lesson for themselves. Ezekiel was to move from his place to another location like one going into exile. He packed his baggage in the evening before all the people, dug through the wall like one escaping from intruders. “In their sight you shall lift the baggage upon your shoulder, and carry it out in the dark; you shall cover your face that you may not see the land; for I have made you a sign for the house of Israel.” This was how Ezekiel demonstrated to them that their rebellious lives would lead them to exile.

In the Gospel, we see how such rebellious heart refuses to forgive. Jesus continues the discussion on forgiveness, which is not conventional. Peter perceived the complications and asked, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?” ‘Counting sin’ is natural to us. We easily remember past hurts, add it up to the present hurts and deny forgiveness both in the present and in the future. But from Jesus’ teaching, we should treat each offence as it comes and apply forgiveness immediately. So He answered Peter, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.”

He explained deeper with the parable of the unforgiving servant, whose master cancelled his huge debt but he refused to give his fellow servant some time to pay him. Meditating on that story, we notice that the master of this servant was exceedingly generous with mercy. By justice, the servant and his household ought to be sold to pay the debt. This servant knelt down and asked to be given some time for him to raise the money and pay. But the master had pity on him and cancelled out all his debt. He was set free. With this unmerited grace and the freedom given by the master, this servant met his fellow who owed him very little compared to what the master cancelled for him. He started torturing this servant by seizing him by the throat and asking for the money. This fellow servant did not just kneel down, but fell down and pleaded for some time to pay. “He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt.

Then the master summoned him again and said, “You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant as I had mercy on you?” The master treated him the same way he treated his fellow servant: with anger, jailed him and made him pay back what he owed. Then Jesus said, “So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

God has given us a living example of compassion and abundant mercy in Jesus Christ. He cancels out our sins and sets us free as His Children. Therefore, forgiving those who hurt us becomes our way of appreciating God. We cannot forgive more than God Himself. Yes, only a generous and appreciative person forgives easily. Unforgiveness is a form of rebellion against God’s mercy; it is a way we show that we do not deserve and accept God’s mercy. Ezekiel had demonstrated what happens to rebellious people: they are exiled from God’s compassion and driven to bondage. The strength to forgive comes from God, and the glory of forgiveness goes back to God. If our hearts dwell in the sublime mercy of God, we will not have time to count costs. Each hurt we forgive, though it may be a moment of the Cross, it shall draw us deeper into the overwhelming mercy of God and increases our freedom as children of God. May Almighty God bless you and heal your every hurts + In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Thursday August 13^th, 2020.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THE MARK OF FORGIVENESS

Reflection for Wednesday of the 19^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Ezek 9:1-7; 10:18-22; Mt 18: 15-20)

Prophet Ezekiel’s vision of today talks about the preservation of the righteous and the destruction of idolaters and supporters of evil. The cleansing of the city was done in the same way as during the Passover in Egypt (Ex 12:23). The good people were identified with a mark. “Go through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.” All the others were to be killed, “But touch no one upon whom is the mark. And begin at my sanctuary.”

This prophetic vision of the 'saving mark' upon those who rejected abominations becomes a visible reality in the Cross of Christ. This sign becomes an indelible mark given to believers during baptism. So, we carry in our mortal flesh the death of Christ that we might live with Him (Rm 6:4-7; 2Cor 4:10-11). That means the way we live and relate with others will definitely bring to light this saving sign, hidden in our souls. Hence, Jesus’ teaching in the Gospel of today about forgiveness and the gathering of the brethren exemplifies the uncommon way of life of those marked with the saving sign of the Cross.

Forgiveness is a bold step; it is a responsibility for every believer. In fact, it is a command from Jesus. Forgiveness is not to ‘wish away’ the hurt, but it is to ‘confront’ the issue and resolve it. It is ‘instantaneous’ but to resolve the matter takes some steps, which might take short or long time. The purpose of forgiveness is not to shame anyone or to find someone guilty, but it is simply for reunion. If you do not want ‘reunion’, your ‘forgiveness’ is not complete.

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.” This is the most difficult; it is only when the one that was offended had forgiven and wants reunion can he ‘go out in search’ of his brother. Each must open up his hurt and the matter resolved among them, respecting and protecting the integrity of each other. However, if this most important step fails, the other secondary steps become even more difficult. If these other steps fail too, then, he becomes a ‘missionary ground’, where the believer is sent to convert him to the fold like a Gentile or a tax collector.

Union with Christ Jesus is the ultimate motivating factor. It is ‘Christ among us’ that gives life to our human relationships. Yes, ‘two or three may gather’ but if Christ Jesus is not in their midst, that gathering will not survive the day of cleansing; it has no saving sign on it! Again, if the togetherness of our families, friends, colleagues, Churches, etc is not in the name of Jesus Christ, they will not survive like those who were destroyed in the vision of Ezekiel. Thus, the first step towards unforgiveness is a worldly life. That is why we should not center our lives together on pleasure or material things, because when hurt comes, only the saving grace of Jesus will redeem us. The saving sign of Jesus brings unity. And He assures us that it is prayer answered: “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in Heaven.” Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Wednesday August 12^th, 2020
St Jane Frances de Chantel
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

HUMILITY IN HIS WORD

  Reflection for Tuesday of the 19^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Ezek 2:8-3:4; Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14)

Our prophetic blessings this Week shall come from the scroll-eating prophet, Ezekiel. His prophetic oracle came at a difficult time, i.e. during the Babylonian deportation. He was among the Exiles, and the word of the Lord came to him along the way, on the banks of a river in Babylon (Ezek 1:1). It was not easy for Ezekiel to minister to people who were already displaced from their homeland. His Book contains prophecies about Jerusalem, against the foreign nations, hope of restoration after the fall of Jerusalem, and vision of the new temple and new Israel.

Today’s reading focuses on the vision in which Ezekiel received the word of God. The Spirit  gave him the scroll of the word and asked him to eat it. “Son of man, eat this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” This unique way of delivering the message of God to Ezekiel indicates the tough job ahead of him, and to give him courage to carry it out. “Then I ate it; and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.” The scroll of the word of God would ‘dwell’ in him as part of his body, such that he could not deny or fail to deliver any of it. We shall see how the mission of Ezekiel unfolds in days to come.

In Jesus, the Word of God took flesh of its own and dwelt among us. Now, we are ‘taken up’ into His abiding presence. So the life of the Word is ‘mingled’ with ours. Imagine the great humility with which we stand before God through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The deeper we ‘soak’ ourselves in Christ Jesus, the more we ‘die to ourselves’, put off our pride and with the courage of Ezekiel, witness with our lives to Jesus. When the disciples asked, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus answered, “Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

The humble are God’s little ones. They may appear vulnerable but God cherishes them. He is their strength; He protects them and brings them back if they go astray. “So it is not the will of my Father who is in Heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” It takes great humility for one to abide in the word of God, swallow it, digest it and assimilate it. What came to Ezekiel as a vision has become a way of life for us in Jesus Christ. The prophet’s mission might be tough, but our way to righteousness and eternal life is narrow. In humility, we must make the word of God our home in our hearts (Eph 3:17). This is where our greatness in life lies; this is our foretaste of heaven on earth. And may the abiding presence of Jesus Christ be with you + in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Tuesday August 11^th, 2020.
Memorial of St Clare.
 www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

REACHING OUT TO HIS OUTSTRETCHED HAND

 Reflection for the 19^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
(1 Kg 19:9, 11-13; Rm 9: 1-5; Mt 14:22-33)

The Prophet Elijah lodged in a cave at mount Horeb, where he waited for the Lord to appear to him. A great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks, but the Lord was not in the wind. Then came the earthquake and the fire, but the Lord was not there. Finally, a still small voice came. It was there that the Lord visited Elijah!

Meditating on this popular story of how Elijah encountered the Lord at Horeb, we could see the calmness, the serenity and the attentiveness necessary for a Divine Encounter.  Within that still small voice, unlike the other scenes, Elijah had to listen attentively. This would require ‘projecting himself’ towards the voice in order to hear it. In this way, the ‘still small voice’ draws him from himself towards itself. This is the internal silent movement of the heart towards God; this is how we become ‘docile’ to the word, which is alive and active. Remember, it is first the gentle coming down of the ‘still small voice’ that wakes up the heart, and attracts it through active attentiveness. Hence, no one hearkens to the word of God without denying himself, i.e. coming out of his selfish self. Thus, when Elijah heard the voice, “He wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.”

In the Gospel, we see Jesus going up the hills to ‘meet’ the Father in prayer. As Elijah would move from this encounter to his mission, Jesus came down from the silent hills of prayer and walk on the water towards the disciples as they battled with the storm. They thought it was a ghost. But the ‘still small voice’ of Jesus came to them: “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” Hearing His voice, and while the storm was still raging, they shifted their attention from the destroying storm to the saving Jesus. Like Elijah that came out to ‘meet the voice’, “Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.” The storm was still blowing strong and great. Peter shifted his gaze from Jesus to the storm. He forgot that it was his gaze of faith upon Jesus that kept him ‘walking on top of his problems.’ Immediately, his heart broke to pieces, his legs shook like the earthquake and the fire of fear consumed him. And Peter began to sink. But he cried out to Jesus, “Lord, save me.” Jesus reached out His hand and caught him, saying, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt”

They all got into the boat and the storm ceased. Just as at Horeb, ‘the great and strong wind, the earthquake and the fire’ gave way to Jesus, the Still Small Voice. With Jesus in the boat, all became calm. The boat became serene like the cave of Elijah when he encountered the gentle voice. This, too, is our story when we welcome Jesus into our lives, our family, work, business, Church, society, etc. He comes gently, walking towards us as we battle with the storms of life. Our hearts must go out to meet Him in attentiveness to His word. And our ‘feet’ must step forward with courage where he calls, like stepping into the storm of hurt with the feet of forgiveness.

Like Peter, Let us call out on the Lord with ardent prayer life. Jesus’ saving hand is outstretched towards us. Imagine that ‘boat’ to be something very important to you today but going through turbulence!  You can never sink in the ocean of life if your eyes of faith remain focused on Jesus. And we will join our voices to say to Him, “Truly you are the Son of God.” As you have shared in this meditation, May Almighty God bless + you, The Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Sunday August 9^th, 2020.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

THE TOWER OF FAITH

Reflection for Saturday the 18^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A
(Habakkuk 1:12-2:4; Mt 17:14-20)

Today, we make a one day stop over at the prophetic school of Habakkuk. He is one minor prophet that many people do not know what the Book is all about. His name is rarely heard, and his book is seldom quoted. With just three chapters, you have to scroll through the contents to locate his hiding place in the Bible. The name ‘Habakkuk’ means “To embrace.” He was the one who delivered food to Daniel (Dan 14:33-39). His oracle was quoted three times in the New Testament (Rm 1:17; Gal 3:11; Heb 10:38). Habakkuk’s prophecy came around the time the Babylonians were heavily against Judah, sometime during the reign of Jehoiakim.

He complained to God, cross-questioning Him about the violent injustice among the people in Judah. “You who are of purer eyes than to behold evil and cannot look on wrong, why do you look on faithless men, and be silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?” Habakkuk describes himself as a watchman on the tower, looking for God’s response, which would mark the deliverance of the righteous ones from the hands of wicked men. God answers that His response to all the complaints shall come. It might delay, but it will come at its time. “If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay. Behold, he whose soul is not upright shall fail, but the righteous shall live by his faith.”

So, we climb the tower of faith to look out for God’s deliverance from all our adversity. Faith looks into the vision of God; faith envisions God. The righteous man, surrounded by all sorts of difficulties, just as the Babylonians besieged Judah, stands on the tower of faith to look forward God’s salvation, and he begins to attend to those difficulties with the joy of salvation. Faith does not look at problems, but it contemplates the power of God, which surpasses those problems. Faith is not a ‘battle’ with the enemy, but it uploads us into the glory of God, where the enemy cannot dwell. This is the life of the righteous.

Why could the disciples not cast out the demon? Jesus said, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.” Yes, because nothing is impossible with God. Faith connects the believer with God, such that the prayer of faith already rejoices in the answers given, even when, like Habakkuk, we still stand on the tower of faith, envisioning God’s response. The faith itself is answer to prayer. Therefore, in faith, every demon is cast out, and every problem receives its answer. With the prophetic blessings of Habakkuk, may God strengthen your faith, and may your faith answer you, through Christ our Lord. Amen.  St Dominic, Prayer for you.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Saturday August 8^th, 2020.
Memorial of St Dominic.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

THE CROSSROAD OF THE CROSS

 Reflection for Friday of the 18^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

 (Nahum 1:15; 2;2; 3:1-3, 6-7; Mt 16:24-28)

Today, we make a ‘stop over’ at one of the Minor Prophets that are difficult to locate and rarely quoted in the Bible: Nahum. He seems to be neglected such that people rarely name their children after him. With three short chapters, covering only two and half pages, and squeezed between Micah and Habakkuk, you have to flip the pages several times before you can locate Nahum. The name ‘Nahum’ means “The consoled one.” His oracle was basically addressed against the great Assyria, which colonized many kingdoms. The capital of Assyria was Nineveh. It was a selfish City, which fed by plundering other Kingdoms. Prophet Nahum brought a message of restoration and consolation to Israel by proclaiming the destruction of Nineveh, and thus, the end of Assyrian domination.  

In the Gospel, Jesus said to His disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Listening to Jesus, we come to understand that being His disciple is the most responsible act ever, and turning down the invitation is the most irresponsible act too. Refusing to follow Jesus does not ‘save’ one from his cross. To ‘deny himself’ implies that, in approaching his responsibilities or difficult situations, a disciple does not exult his human principles or capabilities over the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, even when his human powers are at work, it is to the glory of Christ. Often times, it is not that the cross we bear is ‘too heavy’ but our ‘selfish’ self is always an obstacle in allowing the grace of our Lord Jesus to lighten our burden. Then stress and frustration surface.  Thus, by ‘losing oneself’ for the sake of Christ, the disciple finds himself in Christ Jesus. That is why Jesus added immediately, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Today, we live so selfishly like the people of Nineveh; consuming ourselves and not sparing others. A life without cross becomes the heaviest cross! How can we be Christians but not disciples? We are always at the ‘crossroad’ of the Cross; the choice to put aside selfishness and take up the enduring side of life has already been made for us by Jesus when He mounted the wood of the Cross. So, when we begin to create ‘new principles’ for running ourselves, relationship, marriage, business, etc, then we have chosen to save ourselves and be lost. But, “What does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?” This was how Nineveh ended in ruins during the time of prophet Nahum.

Therefore, whenever we find ourselves at the crossroads of life, faced with difficult decisions and challenging tasks, the Cross of Christ is our source of inspiration and strength. Do not expect your life to be without cross, but ask for the grace to carry it and follow Jesus. At the feet of Jesus, we surrender all. 

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Friday August 7^th, 2020.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

TRANSFORMED TO WITNESS

 MEDITATION ON THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD
(Dan 7:9-10, 13-14; 2Pet 1:16-19; Mt 17:1-9)

Have you ever wondered why the Church celebrates the Transfiguration of Jesus but does not celebrate His other miracles, such as walking on the water, the Raising of the dead, Feeding of the Multitude, etc? This is because the Transfiguration, like the Baptism of the Lord, is more than a miracle; it was a landmark event that ‘characterizes’ or ‘defines’ the mission of Jesus. It is a foretaste of where our faith-journey ends, the glory of Jesus (2Thes 2:14).

In the first reading, Prophet Daniel saw a vision that depicts the Transfiguration.  St Peter in the second reading recalls his experience that day as a first hand witness to the Transfiguration of Jesus. “For when He received honour and glory from God the Father and the voice was borne to Him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,’ we heard this voice borne from heaven, for we were with Him on the holy mountain.” For Peter, this was a landmark event that formed their conviction in the power and glory of Jesus as the Messiah. The Transfiguration event—the experience of the glory of Jesus—became a ‘transforming’ moment in their lives. Like a consuming fire, all their mind and heart are ‘taken up’ into that experience. So, they now witness to Jesus with their lives.

It is interesting to note that Peter did not mention any of the great miracles of Jesus as the ‘reason’ they are His witnesses, except the Transfiguration, which has a direct relationship to His Resurrection. Sometimes, people give the impression that Christianity ‘glories’ in human suffering. In other words, it is as if we must ‘have problems’ before we can believe and be saved! The landmark of the Christian faith is the Glory of Jesus. It is our hunger; it is our destination.

That is why when Peter saw the sparkling Jesus as He was taking with Moses and Elijah, he ‘lost himself’ in that glorious cloud, and said, “Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish, I will make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” As he was saying this, “a bright cloud overshadowed them.” God Himself covered them with His ‘tent of glory.’ It was like David who wanted to build a house for God, but God objected, saying that it was He who would establish a dynasty for David (2 Sam 7:1-17). The glorified Jesus was introduced to them by a voice from the cloud, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.”

Therefore, listening to Jesus, modelling our lives after Him and imitating His righteousness are the ways we respond to the invitation to enter into His glory. And each time we ‘taste’ His glory, we too shall be witnesses like Peter. Great miraculous moments may fade away; in fact, we may not even accrue to God the miracles of our lives. But a little taste, a small glimpse into His radiant face leads us on, such that even when we try to put it aside, it resurfaces every now and then. It is a testimony that we have an eternal destination in the glory of Jesus. That is why our faith is glorious; our Liturgy is glamorous, adorned with beauty, and believers are joyful and courageous, though they have many things to endure.

Have you ever had a glimpse of the glory of Christ Jesus; Maybe in reading the Bible, in the Eucharist, Confession, in acts of Charity, in your prayers, etc? The Transfiguration is the mark of our Christian life; in it resides the glory that moves us forward. May the Glory of Christ Jesus overshadow you today that you be lifted above every difficulty and shielded from every evil, through Christ our Lord, Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Thursday August 6^th, 2020.
Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

CONFIDENCE IN FAITH

 Reflection for Wednesday of the 18^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A
(Jer 31:1-7; Mt 15:21-28)

Jeremiah continues to deliver the message of hope. God declares and pledged Himself as the God of all the families of Israel. “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” He promised to rebuild Israel, adorn her with beauty and fill her with merrymaking. They shall plant and reap the fruits. In those days, Zion shall be the holy City where they go up to meet the Lord. At the end, Jeremiah said, “Proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘The Lord has saved His people, the remnant of Israel.”

In the Gospel, Jesus was moving down to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Suddenly, a Canaanite woman appeared and tried to disrupt His journey with her urgent request: “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon.” Surprisingly, Jesus kept silent and continued moving as if He did not hear her. But the woman so consumed by the urgency of her request, and her confidence in Jesus as the answer. So, she refused to ‘listen to the silence’ of Jesus towards her need; she followed Him along the way with more cries...This was unusual! The disciples could not understand the silence of Jesus, neither saying yes to her nor saying no. For their convenience, they begged Jesus to send her away since it was obvious He was not ‘interested’ in her case.

However, the ‘Silence’ of Jesus became like a ladder with which the woman climbed in her prayer and faith. The more Jesus kept silent, the more she followed and increased her request. The silence of God is attractive. It drew the woman along...Her longing moved on and on until she landed at the feet of Jesus, and humbled herself completely. Jesus explained, “I was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” That means by jurisdiction, she was not qualified. But the woman came to Him on the authority of faith, not jurisdiction. So, as Jesus was speaking, she quickly knelt down before Him and said, “Lord, help me.” Then, Jesus objected on the authority of status: “It is not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” Again, she acknowledged that she has no ‘status right’ to lay claim to the miracle. “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.” Faith triumphs! What we do not deserve by ‘moral jurisdiction’ or what we cannot receive by ‘righteousness status’ can be poured into our laps by faith and humility. The authority of faith breaks barriers. This lowly Canaanite woman is accounted among the great women of the Gospels. For she was able to ‘wrestle’ favour from Jesus with faith like the Virgin Mary at the wedding at Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle though His hour had not yet come (Jn 2:1-11).

Do you have such a faith that is overflowing with trust and confidence in Jesus as your only Saviour? Do not be distracted; do not be discouraged. Your faith is your working authority. March forward to your daily responsibilities with faith-filled confidence. The blessings God had promised through the prophet Jeremiah shall be yours today, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Wednesday August 5^th, 2020.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

 

CLEANSE THE HEART

 Reflection for Tuesday of the 18^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A
(Jer 30: 1-2, 12-15, 18-22; Mt 15:1-2, 10-14)

Prophet Jeremiah began to announce a message of hope. “Thus says the Lord: Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tent of Jacob, and have compassion on his dwellings; the city shall be rebuilt upon its mound, and the palace shall stand where it used to be.” All the idols they ran to could not help; only God would heal this wound. No more foreign rulers, but their ruler shall come forth from their midst. “And you shall be my people, and I will be your God.”

It was dramatic in the Gospel as the Pharisees and Scribes from Jerusalem came to Jesus. These were law-conscious first class citizens. They complained about the disciples not washing hands before eating. Jesus turned to the people, called their attention and said, “Hear and understand: not what goes into the mouth defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” This answer was a blow on their pride and sense of relevance! They took offence at Jesus.

What comes out of the mouth, comes from the soul, and expresses the state of the heart. And since God looks at the heart—the centre of thought and emotions—it is what makes one to be in good standing with God or not. Thus, washing hands as a form of cleansing to avoid defiling the person before God is misplaced. It is the heart that ought to be cleansed, then, the words that comes forth would be clean. In other words, the defilement that comes from the mouth ought to be uprooted from the heart and mind. How can this be possible?

“I, the Lord, search the heart, test the motives, to give each person what his conduct and his actions deserve” (Jer 17:10). The heart is a ‘secret place’ and elusive. If the word that comes from man can defile him, taking in the word that comes from God will heal him. And if the word of God makes its home in our hearts (Eph 3:17), then, our mouths will speak of the righteousness of God, joy and peace. That was why the Pharisees and Scribes who closed their eyes with pride and jealousy against the words of Jesus, vomited anger and persecution. By meditating on the word of God each day, our hearts shall be like trees planted by the waterside that is evergreen, producing good fruit in season and out of season (Ps 1:2-3; Jer 17:8). Learn this spiritual exercise, and Jesus will make His home in you. And no defilement shall take root in you.

As you continue to join in our meditations on the Mass readings, May God sanctify + you that your every labour may bear fruit to the glory of God, Through Christ Our Lord. Amen!

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Tuesday August 4^th, 2020.
Memorial of St. John Mary Vianny
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

“LORD, SAVE ME”

Reflection for Monday of the 18^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A
(Jer 28:1-17; Mt 14:22-36)

It was dramatic for Prophet Jeremiah as he battled with the fake prophet, Hananiah. Against Jeremiah’s warnings, Hananiah told the people what they wanted to hear: that God had broken the yoke of the King of Babylon, and all the exiles and vessels would be restored. He was very outspoken and aggressive in his approach, tearing the symbolic wooden yoke Jeremiah wore on his neck.  Often times, lying lips are the loudest and overpowering but they do not last (Pr 12:19). They come like a raging storm to sink whoever is not already standing firm on truth. Hananiah’s message was ‘convenient’, soothing the people’s lifestyle.

 God will destroy every lying tongue (Ps 12:3). The Lord announced severe punishment for Hananiah. “Go, tell Hananiah...You have broken wooden bars, but I will make in their place bars of iron.” For deceiving the people, this fake prophet was cut off from the face of the earth. Sugar-coated words that appeal to our human convenience usually attract easy followers. When a child of God begins to follow the same ideologies with unrighteous people, he should be careful because falsehood is not far from him. Truth is of God; when we abide in truth, we enjoy God’s presence and long for Him. Be careful of persons, lifestyles, actions, transactions, etc that pull you away from God; they make you ‘foreign’ to God and wound your prayer life. If it happens, know that lies are knocking.

 As we said earlier, most times we are deceived because we had already lied to ourselves. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are walking on the ‘turbulent waters of this world.’ We love in the midst of hate; we still trust though living among deceivers. We live and move in an insecure society; we make huge investments in an economically barren society. The storm is raging! Fake prophets, loud and domineering, are fuelling our stagnant and staggering faith-life with ‘prophecies’ that only make us shout, AMEN! But the messages do not challenge us to repent and draw closer to God, while some other 'prophecies' have no reference to our well-being or our salvation.

 So, we constantly cry out in the words of Peter, “Lord, save me.” This prayer must be the disposition of our heart, a ‘mantra’ with which the heart breads. In this way, Jesus, who is the Truth, will sustain us and save us from sinking into the ocean of lies. As you go about your activities this Month, may Jesus hold you firm on the truth, and save you from deceivers. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedei-Muwo, Lagos.
Monday August 3^rd, 2020.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

THE SILENT PLACE OF SATISFACTION

Reflection for 18^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Is 55:1-3; Rm 8:35-39; Mt 14:13-21)

1.0.  THE LONELY PLACE

“When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, He withdrew from there in a boat to a lonely place apart.” Imagine the debt of sorrow and distress Jesus had to bear in the face of human wickedness! And relate it to how many people today are frustrated, heartbroken, and other forms of emotional distress. Jesus withdrew from the noise—from the people and His ‘ordinary activity’ of the day—and went to a quiet place to stay alone. Within that ‘silent place’, He would drink the cup of sorrow to the full and conquer it. He would step out of it, re-energized and satisfied.

Think about the ‘wine and milk of satisfaction’ that Isaiah offered in the first reading. Such satisfaction can be likened to the freshness of heart we get when we step in with Jesus into ‘the place of silence.’ Isaiah said, “Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you and everlasting covenant...” This inner peace is given freely, to everyone who thirsts, at no cost! Jesus has sanctified the ‘place of silence’ as necessary for healing hurts and finding inner satisfaction.

2.0.  THE CROWDS FOLLOWED HIM

Suddenly, Jesus’ quiet moment was disrupted; they crowds found Him out. This ‘demanding crowds’ can be compared to ‘distractions’ in prayer. Many people run away from meditation because they just cannot concentrate. Once they step into the room of silence ‘Crowds of thoughts’ would step in and dislodge their concentration. These ‘attention seekers’ would want to sap the energy we got from the ‘wine and milk’ we drank in the room of meditative silence. So, from His lonely place, Jesus stepped out with deep compassion for the crowds and attended to them. What ordinarily came as a distraction to His quiet time became ‘an action of God’ among the people. This ‘action of God’, which they felt in the authority of His teaching and the healing of the sick, would grow into providing satisfaction to the crowds.

3.0.   “AND THEY ALL ATE AND WERE SATISFIED”

The disciples had three complains: 1. It was evening; darkness would soon descend, so the people should be dismissed as soon as possible. 2. It was a lonely place; they had nowhere to get help. 3. The crowds were too many; the number of ‘mouths to feed’ was more than their resources, which were five loaves and two fish! Note that each of these ‘obstacles’ was enough for Jesus to give up. But the energy of His deep compassion, which is rooted in the silence of the heart, was stronger than the weakness the obstacles represent.

Therefore, “And taking the five loaves and the two fish He looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.” The first response a contemplative heart gives to the weakness of others is ‘compassion.’ Love will always find a way out. The compassionate response of Jesus transformed the bread and fish into a 'concrete action of God’ as the crowds ate to their satisfaction. The beauty of this action illumined the darkening evening, and turned the ‘lonely place’ into a garden of refreshment. But this sublime and awesome act would lead any honest heart that tasted the meal to contemplate Jesus. Here, the heart continues to ‘feed’ on Jesus in silence.

4.0.  THE HEART OF SILENCE

A heart that ‘feeds’ on Jesus, in silent meditation, cannot be lonely; it is warm, peaceful and compassionate. It is a heart that has fallen in love with Jesus. It is a Eucharistic heart that clings to Jesus like the Beloved Disciple at the Last Super. Nothing can separate such a one from Jesus. Whether he is busy or resting, in tribulation, distress, persecution or in need, he is “more than a conqueror through Him who loved us.” This binding love we have in Christ Jesus is stronger than any principalities or human weakness. Through meditation, our heart becomes a ‘lonely place’, where we enter (with coordinated attention on the word of God) to encounter Jesus in silence.

As you have joined in THE SOUND OF SILENCE meditation this Sunday, may God satisfy the yearnings of your heart and quench your thirsts. May He renew His love in you so that you are more than a conqueror in every challenges you may face. May Almighty God bless + you, in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Sunday August 2^nd, 2020.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com