THE CHOICE OF FAMILY

 MEDITATION ON THE FEAST OF HOLY FAMILY

What do you think is the most common fear people have today about family life? For the singles, I think it is the issue of ‘choice.’ Choosing the right partner can be as burdensome as it can be exciting. For the married, I think their common fear is how to cope with their choice. The salient tension to marry or to remain married has numerous variables, but they all appear to have something in common with ‘choice.’ Christmas draws our attention to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. This celebration renews our love and commitment to family life.

God offered man the family at the dawn of creation. Man received family life as God’s choice for him. Thus, man’s bond with his creator is echoed in his joyful embrace of his partner. Adam exclaimed, “At last this is the bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh” (Gen 2:23). It was an expression of “Chukwu ma obi m” i.e. ‘God knows my heart.’ Adam’s exclamation as he embraced his wife became a cry of joy and gratitude to God who reaches out to man in his deepest yearnings, loneliness and abandonment, even in the midst of material things. The smoke of their warm embrace rises to God like thanksgiving offering! This family offering of love received God’s approval as He blessed the couple, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it” (Gen 1:28).

“Family” chooses us even before we ever think of making a choice for marriage! Family life is our habitat; it is the basic format of our life. No human relationship or interaction endures unless we take each other as ‘family.’ No nation develops unless the government treats the citizens as ‘family.’ Thus, the gospel was proclaimed by the apostles as a ‘family.’ And any religious organization that does not network as a ‘family’ is not of Christ. Therefore, the choice for family is fundamental and continuous. We must constantly choose the one that has chosen us; and we must continue to choose the ones FROM WHOM we are chosen! Nevertheless, our capacity to make consistent right choices can be lowered by negative experiences and selfish desires. Left to itself, human choice will create inconsistency and dysfunctional family life.

Christmas brings salvation to family life. Once more, God declares His choice and approval of family life by coming among us through the Holy Family. His choice sanctifies every family. In His choice for family, our choices are redeemed and given consistency. Interestingly, Jesus comes into the family as an “Offspring.” In Him every Christian marriage is fruitful. Now the smoke of our family embrace rises with Christ... We choose ‘with’ Christ, and we choose ‘for’ Christ, as we respond to the call for family life.

Think about the struggles and joys of the Holy Family! Imagine Mary’s meditations, and Joseph’s fears and silence. Look at their socio-economic situation, their difficult travels and devotions to God. Still, the beauty of the Holy Family shines out as we behold them complementing each other and approaching the Temple in unity. And Simeon blessed them...(Lk 2:34). As the Baby Jesus united Mary and Joseph, so shall every family remain united if Jesus becomes the centre of their lives. The blessing of God has been poured into every family through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. If we choose Christ Jesus IN WHOM  we are chosen, then it becomes easy to constantly choose the partner WITH WHOM we are chosen, and the family members FROM WHOM we are chosen to become members of God’s family, worthy of the blessings He bestows on His children, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Sunday December 27^th, 2020.
Feast of Holy Family.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com 

 

THE GIFTS OF CHRISTMAS

 Meditation on the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ 

We celebrate with utmost joy the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. We recall that solemn moment in human history when God took flesh and dwelt among us. This celebration offers us a special opportunity to welcome Him anew with renewed hearts, and deepen our love for Him. The mystery of His birth is hidden and also shines out in the events through which it was communicated.

At that time, Caesar Augustus issued a decree for a census. Joseph took Mary and travelled from Nazareth in Galilee to his home town of Bethlehem in Judea. As Mary entered labour, Joseph could not find a room in a place he called his home. Whenever we ‘decorate’ this earthly life as our ‘home’, it becomes difficult to have ‘room’ to welcome Jesus. “He came to His own, yet His own people did not receive Him; but to all who received Him, He empowers to become Children of God, for they believed in His name (Jn 1:11-12). Mary gave birth to Jesus and wrapped Him in swaddling cloth and laid Him in a manger (Lk 2:6-7). The lowly birth of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords shook heaven and earth as Angels descended. In the midst of the clamour and complexity of our lives, Jesus needs a little ‘manger-space’ to enter. If we understand this, we can begin to wind down the uproar within and remodel our hearts like the simple manger that tenders the Baby Jesus.

It all happened in Bethlehem-Ephrathah, a little hill town in Judah. Jacob blessed his son Judah, saying, “The sceptre shall not be taken from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet...” (Gen 49:8-12). Another name for Bethlehem is “Ephrath” (Gen 35:16-20). “Ephrath” means ‘fruitfulness”. Though the town is the smallest among the clans of Judah, it is called, ‘Bethlehem Ephrata’, which means it is the 'fruitful Bethlehem' (Micah 5:1-2). “The earth has yielded its fruit; for God, our God has blessed us” (Ps 67:6). Bethlehem was the city of David, the little shepherd boy whom God anointed to become the great King (1 Sam 16:1). Joseph the simple carpenter from the lineage of David became the foster Father, through whom Jesus is called The Son of David. We rejoice and meditate on how God puts down the mighty from their thrones, and lifts up the lowly.

The darkness of the night received the Light of the World; the lowliness of the manger haboured the exalted King. The silence of the night echoed the Angelic chorus, and the loneliness of Mary and Joseph was flooded with faithful visitors. He who was rejected at the Inn became the most sought for as shepherds squat around the manger. God is with us! Human history now bears witness to divine presence. Now strength can germinate from weakness; courage stands up from fear. Our silence speaks; and human loneliness and rejection is flooded with divine warmth. The beauty of Christmas sneaks in the silence of our lowly hearts with its bundle of joy that settles therein like the tender Baby Jesus in the manger! The joy of Christmas uplifts us. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace amongst men with whom He is pleased!” (Lk 2:14). Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Friday 25^th December, 2020.
Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

AVAILABILITY TO GOD'S CALL

AVAILABILITY TO GOD'S CALL
Reflection for 4^th Sunday of Advent, Year B
(2 Sam 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16; Rm 16:25-27; Lk 1:26-38)

We are rounding up Advent season and warming up to usher in Christmas. In the first reading, we see David with his good intention to build a house for God. It sounded so righteous and acceptable even to Nathan the prophet. But God declared that He Himself would build an everlasting dynasty for David. The righteousness of David would now be to accept what God was offering; to dispose himself to the plan of God. Similarly, St Paul says in the Second reading that the Gospel is preached to bring about ‘obedience of faith.’ As the hidden mysteries are revealed to us through the preaching of the Gospel, we are expected to respond to its demands, and allow it to pull us to God’s plan of salvation in Christ Jesus.

The Angel Gabriel’s message to the Blessed Virgin Mary announces the fulfilment of God’s promise to David, while Mary stands as the model of the authentic response expected of us at Christmas. Mary’s goodwill, humility and availability to God’s plan shine out and inspire us. Her prompt and unreserved submission to the will of God cannot be compared. The Angel greeted, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” And she gave her full response, indicating that no grace given to her was left unused. In other words, she cooperated fully to the grace of God in her.

Mary’s answer to the Angel, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word,” has become a sort of format for every authentic response to the Gospel message. The obedience of faith we give to God’s plan of salvation every day silently models after Mary’s response. The best of our good intentions can easily be misguided. That is why our righteousness lies on our availability and cooperation with God’s grace to fulfil His will in our lives. All our goodwill and virtuous acts become means of disposing ourselves to respond without reserve to God’s grace. Therefore, we echo Mary’s response this Advent as Christmas dawns. We incline our hearts to Mary’s Immaculate Heart, that her maternal help will prepare us to welcome Jesus without reservation. Amen.

 Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Sunday December 20^th, 2020.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

  

 

 

REJOICING IN HOPE

 REJOICING IN HOPE

Reflection for the 3^rd Sunday of Advent Year B
(Is 61:1-2, 10-11; 1Thes 5:16-24; Jn 1:6-8, 19-28)

Welcome to the third Week of Advent as we look forward in hope to the joy of Christmas. Today is popularly known as ‘Gaudete’ (Rejoice) Sunday. In the readings, the Prophet Isaiah announces the ‘good tidings’ to come. He looks into the ‘future of the Lord’ and sees liberation, comfort for the broken-hearted, and the Lord’s favour, which shall cover the people with the robe of righteousness and adorn them with beauty as a bride is adorned with jewels. Therefore, the prophet exclaims, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exult in my God.”  St Paul in the second reading explains how this joy should be the constant disposition of believers; “Rejoice always.” This joy does not just happen, it is the fruit of our life of prayer, gratitude to God, good and honest living. By avoiding evil, we keep our hearts open for the Holy Spirit of peace to dwell in us. Then our lives will be ready to welcome the Lord Jesus.

The Gospel presents to us the testimony of John the Baptist. John describes himself as “The Voice” that directs people to the Lord. In Isaiah, the prophetic voice announced the good tidings to come, but John the Baptist speaks of the Word of God who is already in our midst. “But among you stands one whom you do not know...” Thus, John’s call for repentance becomes an eye-opener to see the Lord who dwells amongst us, who is already present in every situation of our lives, even in the little things, the crisis we face each day and the success we enjoy!

John the Baptist was a happy man, for his life and words pointed to Jesus who is the Word of God. Yes, John confessed that he was not the Christ, but his message bore testimony to Jesus. If we abide to the message of St Paul in the second reading and ‘make straight the way of the Lord’ in our hearts by constant prayer and righteousness in the Holy Spirit, then our lives and words shall be ‘voices’ confessing Jesus who is already present amongst us. Now, the prophetic expectation of the good tidings to come has become a confession of faith in the Lord in whom we rejoice.

 

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