“YET NOW TAKE COURAGE”

Meditation for Friday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time

(Haggai 2:1-9; Lk 9:18-22)

Prophet Haggai continues to address Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah concerning the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. He reminded them of the former glory of the Temple before it was destroyed during the exile. Now that they rebuilt their individual homes and settled down, they should be courageous to work on the temple. “Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord…take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord; work, for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts, according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt.” The prophet encouraged them strongly to work on the temple, saying that God’s presence would be with them. The Lord promised to bring to them the treasures of the nations, “And I will fill this house with splendor, says the Lord of hosts.” The temple shall have a greater splendor than in the former days, “And in this place I will give prosperity, says the Lord of hosts.”

Often times we understand and describe God according to the manifestation of His power or the blessings we have received. Those enjoyed the teachings of Jesus would compare Him to John the Baptist; those who witnessed his miracles would call Him another Elijah or one of the great prophets. But the mystery of God that saves is given by revelation. Our experiences and knowledge of God must surrender to divine revelation. At the realm of divine revelation experience becomes worship, and knowledge becomes contemplation! 

After Peter answered through revelation that Jesus is “The Christ of God”, He began to reveal to them that, “The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” This is the real manifestation of God that should form their knowledge of God and of the Christ. The ‘erection of the Cross’ fulfilled the promises God made through Haggai about the temple. And the knowledge and experience of the Cross encompasses and fulfills the great works of the prophets, but goes further to draw us to contemplation and worship. “Yet now take courage” and embrace the Cross of Jesus, for on it God gives prosperity and heavenly treasures. Amen.

Our Lady of Ransom, pray for us. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Friday September 25th, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

“CONSIDER HOW YOU HAVE FARED”

Meditation for Thursday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time

(Haggai 1:1-8; Lk 9:7-9)

Haggai prophesied after the Israelites returned from exile, when Zerubbabel was governor of Judah. As the people rebuilt their homes and settled down, they folded their arms against the holy temple. The Lord send prophet Haggai to ask them: “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” The prophet explained that they needed the temple for the glory of God to dwell among them and bless their labors with fruitfulness. “Consider how you have fared. You have sown much, and harvested little…Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may appear in my glory, says the Lord.”

But in Jesus Christ the glory of God took its permanent abode among us. The Body of Christ became the perfect Temple; the presence of Christ is the manifestation of God, bringing to us all the heavenly blessings. Jesus brought good news and joy to those believe in Him and abide in Him. So, we ask Herod the Tetrarch, just as Haggai asked the Israelites, “Consider how you have fared?” 

Herod was perplexed at hearing about all that Jesus did: casting out demons, healing the sick, preaching the good news of the Kingdom. Herod lived the opposite: he brought fear and imprisonment to the free, sickness to the healthy, and death to the living! Definitely, he cannot be free in the presence of Jesus. Think about that life style that makes it difficult for us to spend few minutes before the Blesses Sacrament, discourages us from going to Confession or even to concentrate in our prayers. There is that little taste of pleasure that makes our hearts shiver at the mere thought of prayer! There ‘Herodic’ dispositions want us to dwell comfortably in our selfish panel houses while neglecting our abode in the Body of Christ, where we are blessed and covered with the glory of God.

St Pio of Pietrelcina, pray for us! Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Thursday September 23rd, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THE BATTLE OF THE RIGTHEOUS

Meditation for 25^TH Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
(Wis 2:12, 17-20; James 3:16-4:3; Mk 9:30-37)

1.0.         THE MOTIONS OF EVIL

By its very existence, evil opposes good; evil fights for dominance and survival by trying to overcome the good. Still, it is this very battle to suppress the good that destroys evil and exalts the good. In other words, evil is self-defeating! This internal struggle of self-defeating and self-survival makes evil restless. So, evil finds itself sentenced by the peace and silence of the good. That is why it falsely approaches the good with aggression, blaming the good for its self-defeat and self-destruction. But evil cannot overcome the good because the good exists, and on its own, while evil’s existence is ‘the opposition of the good.’ That is why St Augustine said that EVIL IS A PRIVATION.

Therefore, those who harbor evil intents such as jealousy, selfishness, greed, pride, etc will always find people of righteousness and prayer very inconveniencing and annoying; the ungodly will always ‘lie in wait’ against the righteous ones, while admiring their courage, peace and freedom. This is what the first reading demonstrated clearly. “Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for, according to what he says, he will be protected.”

2.0.         THE FLIHT TO WISDOM AND HUMILITY

The restless character of evil is manifested wherever it exists, no matter how little it might be. The second reading warns that those who entertain any trace of evil, such as jealousy and selfish ambition, will exhibit disorder and vile practices. And such persons will bring disunity and fight among the community or family. “But the wisdom from above is pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity.” To such, when they pray, God will answer because they do not spend what they have received on their passions.

In Gospel, Jesus, the Righteous One, who in Himself must confront and overcome the ancient hostility of evil against the good (cf. Eph 2:16). He began to explain to His disciples that He was going to take up the pain and death evil inflicts on the good and overcome it on the Cross. This is how he will lead those at war with evil to crossover to the realm of the righteous, peace and freedom. The humility of the Cross becomes the humiliation of evil! Humility becomes our escape from being infected by evil. Since the Cross of Christ is the greatest expression of humility, to carry our cross each day and follow Him humbly like a little child, is the lead way to greatness, peace and joy. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Sunday September 19th, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THE SEED ON THE GOOD SOIL

Meditation for Saturday of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time

(1 Tim 6:13-16; Lk 8:4-15)

Today we come to the end of our Mass readings’ meditation on St Paul’s first letter to Timothy. His concluding instruction is very clear: “I charge you to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

For us to remain faithful and fruitful in Jesus Christ, the parable of the sower indicates the generosity of God and the struggles we must overcome along the way. In his love and generosity, the Sower makes his seed available to all kinds of soil, both the fruitful and the unfruitful. But each seed had the same capacity to reach maturity and be fruitful. The different soils and conditions to which the seeds were subjected to made the difference. The fruitful seed must not end up ALONG THE PATH, where it will be trodden under foot, and evil birds of the air devour its faith and righteousness. The seed must avoid ending up ON THE ROCK of ‘occasion of sin’, where it will not have spiritual nourishment for sustainable growth. Such seed that want to be fruitful cannot grow AMONG THORNS ‘of the flesh’, where it will be choked and denied the spiritual joy of the freedom of the children of God.

“And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundred-fold.” If human heart is the soil on which the seed of the word of God is sown, it must remain steadfast as the ‘good soil.’ And that means it must be guarded but never allowed to be an open pathway where anything goes; it must be watered and nourished, never to be a dry hardened rock; it needs pruning and weeding so that wide thorns of pleasure will not choke it into slavery! To be ‘a good soil’, like St Paul charged Timothy, ‘until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ’, does not come by chance. It takes dedication, focus, and in keeping with the commandments. “And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience.” Amen.

Saint Joseph of Cupertino, Pray for us. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Saturday September 18th, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THE SPRITUAL JOY OF CONTENTMENT

Meditation for Friday of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time
(1 Tim 6:2-12; Lk 8:1-3)

In today’s edition, St Paul gives a very sensitive and important instruction to Timothy. He tells Timothy to avoid dabbling into issues and teachings that do not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and which do not accord with godliness. A religious who does that has a craving for controversy, which produces envy, dissension, slander, suspicions; he is depraved in mind and bereft of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. However, St Paul says, “There is great gain in godliness with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take away anything out of the world.”

 He goes further to instruct Timothy about the importance of contentment and to avoid greed. “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” St Paul warns that the love of money is the root of all evils. The craving for MORE money, and for financial security have made some to wander away, and such craving brings with it many sorrows. How ugly it looks to see a priest or church leader consumed with desire for money! One who is already contented with what he has will always have more, but his real craving is for love of Jesus Christ. His energy shall be channeled righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness, etc.

The gospel of today gives us examples of faithful women, who journeyed along with Jesus. Some of them were touched by the power of Jesus and He healed them. Their response in following Jesus was not for any gain, instead, they provided for them out of their means. Imagine how these poor women were able to gather things to support the apostles! Again, imagine how Jesus and His disciples were so contented that they enjoyed the support of these simple women, and not looking up to the rich and mighty! Yes, a church leader who craves for money will definitely be out of reach from the poor and simple; he cannot lead them, and they cannot follow him. So, let us be contented that we may remain godly and steadfast in witnessing to Jesus Christ. Amen.

Saint Robert Bellarmine, Pray for us. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Friday September 17th, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

LOVE AND FORGIVENESS

Meditation for Thursday of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time
(1 Tim 4:12-16; Lk 7:36-50)

Welcome back to our meditations on St Paul’s first letter to Timothy. He continues to instruct the young man on how to handle affairs in the Church. “Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, faith, in purity.” He advised him to organize public reading of scripture, preaching and teaching. As a leader, he should put his gifts to us and devote himself to his duties. St Paul concludes today’s instructions by saying to Timothy, “Take heed to yourself and to your teaching: hold to that, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

In the gospel, Jesus teaches about the relationship between forgiveness and love. The Pharisees felt scandalized that Jesus allowed a woman, who was known to be a sinner, to wipe His feet with her long hair, and kiss them and anoint them with ointment. As they murmured against Jesus, He called the Pharisee, Simon, and taught him that the debtor to whom the creditor forgave more debt would love that creditor more. And turning to the woman Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Love and forgiveness go together. The one whose sins are forgiven responds with much love; the one who loves much receives forgiveness of sins! The love of a humble contrite heart is always accepted by the Lord (Ps 51:17). Humbled at the feet of Jesus with her tears of contrition, she offered her sacrifice (penance) of costly ointment, and offered all to Jesus with her kiss of love. We can relive this experience through the mystical body of Christ when we kneel at Confession and by anointing the feet of the poor with our oil of charity. In the face of such humility and love, Jesus says, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then, we draw closer to Him with greater love than before, clinging unto Him with the arms of faith. He inspires us forward saying, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Amen.

Saints Cornelius & Cyprian, Pray for us. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Thursday September 16th, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

“BEHOLD YOUR MOTHER”

 Meditation for Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows
(Jn 19:25-27)

“Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and his mother’s sister…” Today we honor the mother of Jesus as ‘Mater Dolorosa’ (Mother of Sorrows). Mary leads us on the path of those saved by the Cross, for from the first moment of her existence, she was saved from every stain of original sin on account of her role as Mother of Jesus and in view of the redemption in Jesus Christ through the Cross. So, we meditate on Mary’s silent position at the foot of the Cross, which is the highest point of Mary’s sorrows.

As the ‘cross’ of Jesus gradually unfolded throughout His life, so Mary was always standing at the ‘foot’ at each moment; she actively participated and journeyed along with her Son. Catholic Tradition summed Mary’s sorrowful journey into seven:

      The Prophecy of Simeon
The Flight to Egypt
The loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple
Mary’s meeting Jesus on the fourth station of the Cross
The crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus is taken down from the cross
The Burial of Jesus

Mary bore her sorrows with love and in fulfillment of her vocation. Having surrendered herself to the will of God, she silently followed as God’s will unfolded in her life, even when it was humanly painful. In this way, she shared in her son’s suffering and for His sake. She was mystically wounded in heart as she silently clung to the foot of the cross. Jesus recognized her maternal position at His moment of cross and said to her, “Woman, behold your son!” Thus, her gaze is redirected to us her children in faith.

Mater Dolorosa warms our hearts. Our sins bring suffering to the Body of Christ. And as Jesus steps in to heal us and save us, Mary’s maternal presence silently urges us on that we might come to Jesus and be healed. Therefore, loaded with our burdens of sufferings, we stand with Mary at foot of the Cross, that Jesus may look down and behold us under her maternal mantle. For to us He says, “Behold your mother!”

Our Lady of Sorrows, Pray for us. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Wednesday September 15th, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THE CROSS, OUR ULTIMATE SIGN OF VICTORY

 Meditation for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross
(Num 21:4-9; Phil 2:6-11; Jn 3:13-17)

The Israelites became impatient and spoke against Moses and God. For this, the Lord send fiery serpents among them. Then, the people came to Moses to acknowledge their sins, saying, “We have sinned…pray to the Lord, that He take away the serpents from us.” In answer to Moses’ mediation, God asked him to make a bronze serpent and set it up as a sign; “And if a serpent bit any man, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.” So, the sign that saved them took the semblance of the punishment for their sin!

This ancient sign of the bronze serpent prefigured the sign of the Cross. “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may be have eternal life.” The Cross of Christ became the fulfillment. On the Cross, Jesus bore the burden of our sins, and died for us (Is 53:4). “By His wounds we are healed” (Is 53:5).

So Jesus Christ on the Cross was lifted up as Moses lifted up the bronze serpent; lifted up with the burden of our sins above our fallenness, towering over us with the healing of our wounds by His own wounds. ‘Lifted up’ He became an offering for our sins to the Father. “Therefore, God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name…” That means our eyes must be fixed on him to be healed of the wages of our sins and be reconciled with God; and it is with the eyes of faith that we behold Him. Thus, those who believe in Jesus look upon Him to receive forgiveness of their sins. And the life He gives in return is eternal life. Those who saw the bronze serpent of old later died, but those who behold Jesus crucified will have eternal life!

That is why we exalt the Cross of Jesus; “Behold the wood of the Cross, on which hung the savior of the world…” The Cross that has become our crossover from death to life.
 The Cross that crushed the head of the ancient serpent with all his plans to lead the children of God astray.
The Cross that carries us through the crossroads of life.
The Cross, in which we are lifted up and above every fear, pain and sorrow.
The Cross, our ultimate sign of victory.
And through the Cross, we confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Tuesday September 14th, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

PRAYER OF FAITH

Meditation for Monday of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time

(1 Tim 2:1-8; Lk 7:1-10)

How often do we pray for people in authority? St Paul highlights the importance of praying for people in authority, and he urged Timothy to organize supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving especially for kings and all who are in high positions, “That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way.” It is the will of God that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, including people in authority. Jesus the one mediator between God and men can save our leaders so that they can promote peaceful co-existence among the people. This will create room for all men to come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved. Hence, St Paul tells Timothy, “I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or quarrelling.”

As we are urged to bring our leaders to Jesus through prayer, a man of authority in the gospel of today approached Jesus to request for healing for her slave. Being a Roman centurion, he sent the Jewish elders to plead on his behalf to Jesus. They INTERCEDED for him, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation…” While Jesus was on his way, the man sent message to him saying, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed.” From his little authority as a centurion, the man recognized the greater authority of Jesus as omnipresent, traversing time and space. The man’s faith went beyond his desire to receive the healing he prayed for, to extoling the authority of Jesus, and most importantly, he surrendered both his desire and authority to Jesus, and waited patiently for His will be done.

Jesus marveled at such great faith, and said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” This is the kind of faith that conquers and heals; the faith than can heal our land and bring all people to experience the saving power of Jesus, especially our leaders.

St John Chrysostom, Pray for us. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Monday September 13th, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THE TRUE GUIDE

 Meditation for Friday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time
(1 Tim 1:1-2, 12-14; Lk 6:39-42)

It is a beautiful day as we begin another journey with Paul’s first letter to Timothy. This letter is among the PASTORAL EPISTLES addressed to a pastor of souls, providing guidelines for the life of the Christian community. “To Timothy, my true child in the faith”, whom St Paul converted on his mission to Lystra. His mother, Eunice (2 Tim 1:5), was a Jew but his father was a Greek (Acts 16:1-3). He became a close companion to St Paul. It appears Timothy was placed in charge of the Church in Ephesus (1 Tim 1:3). As we scroll down these pages, we shall see the uniqueness of the letters as St Paul instructs ‘his son’ on his role as pastor of souls.

St Paul began humbly by acknowledging his unworthiness, but exalting the mercy of God that brought him from blasphemy to faith; from persecuting the Church to a preacher of the gospel. “I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”

Ignorant of Christ is blindness; Jesus opened the eyes of St Paul and led him to the light of life through the gospel. Having seen the light, he is now leading Timothy along the way. In the gospel of today, Jesus asks, “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” This is hypocrisy! And there are a lot of hypocritical leaders who are always in a hurry to criticize and correct without love, who want people to FOLLOW them without knowing where thy themselves are going! “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.”

Therefore, we join our voices with St Paul to exalt the grace and mercy of God that shine its light upon our blindness, removing our ignorance and filling us with divine wisdom. In the light of Christ, our inner vision is lifted above wordily pleasures and pursuit, to perceive heavenly treasures. Then, we see clearly the true value of things and use them well, and worship God freely. That is why Jesus is our true guide; He alone has seen the heavenly treasures and has come to show us the way. He holds us by the hand as the Good Shepherd and leads us to greener pastures and to safety. Any other guide is to help us trace our steps to Jesus, who opens our eyes and shows us the way. Amen.

St Nicholas of Tolentino, Pray for us. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Thursday September 9th, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

“LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY”

Meditation for Thursday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time

(Col 3:12-17; Lk 6:27-38)

“Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and…forgive each other.” St Paul exhorts the Colossians on the life-style expected of them as Christ’s faithful. Such behavior will give way for the manifestation among them of the heavenly inheritance they have in Jesus Christ. How can these virtues be sustained? St Paul says, “And over all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body.” A heart that is inclined to this holy life will always be thankful, rejoicing and meditating on the word of Christ. Finally, St Paul exhorts them to anchor their lives on Jesus Christ, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

To anchor one’s life on Jesus Christ, it is necessary to soak one’s heart in meditation on the words and actions of Jesus. Then the heart and mind will begin to personalize and appropriate such divine moments as captured through the gospel passage. At a time when the riches of the word of God has become the energy of the heart and the principle of action, it becomes very possible to fulfil the words of Jesus in the gospel of today: “I say to you that hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” It is from this indwelling of the word of Jesus in our heart that we can practice charity without segregating, show mercy to all, avoid judging and condemning others, and look forward to heaven for our reward and justification.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish one another in all wisdom”, says St Paul. This indwelling of the word of Christ trains the heart to a righteous life-style, which bring to us and to others, the riches of the saints in light. Amen.

St Peter Claver, Pray for us. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Thursday September 9th, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

SILENCE AND INNER BALANCE

Meditation for Monday of the 18^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year B

(Num 11:4-15; Mt 14:13-21)

The value of silence cannot be over emphasized. It is doubtful if one can ever climb the heights of spirituality without nurturing silence as a habit. Silence is formative; it trains us to self-mastery, maturity and to discern properly. Entry into the ‘silent place’ is not to run away from our responsibilities, but to re-energize so as to carry out our tasks effectively and with joy. Jesus withdrew from the people and went to a lonely place. This was necessary to avoid exhaustion. However, it has a deeper spiritual connotation.

But the crowds with their needs anrts6s6w demands did not allow him to even settle down in the place of silence. He quickly stepped forward to attend to them, healing the sick and feeding the multitude with five loaves and two fish. It is usually the experience that whenever we want to observe the silence that uplifts the souls, crowds of thoughts, distractions and other interferences would not allow us to settle down in the place of silence. Nevertheless, no matter how little we had a taste of it, silence gives us vision and strength to achieve more.

Seeing how difficult it can be to recollect and settle down in the silence that our hearts yearn for, we look up to Jesus through the words of the Gospel that He may flood our soul with serenity. Such a touch of ‘divine stillness’ through the word of God can occur even in the noise around and as we run around our daily responsibilities. Like the boat that took Jesus to the silent place, the word of God draws on to that inner place of serenity and peace. It is within this ‘breath of silence’ that we can achieve inner balance, and remain focused and firm despite temptations and life challenges.

Think about the desire for variety of food and the imbalance that made the people of Israel to complain against Moses. Their nagging threw Moses off balance and he got frustrated and asked God to take his life! And imagine the numerous things today that throw us off balance and we act strangely. Therefore, let us enter the ‘boat of the word of God’ that it may carry us to behold Jesus Christ, in whom we have inner serenity and silence, which energizes us to achieve greatness. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Monday August 2^nd, 2021.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com
www.soundofsilence.ng

SHE THAT COME FORTH AS THE MORNING RISING

Meditation for the Feast of the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today, we recall and celebrate with joy the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She was timely positioned for our salvation. From the very dawn of God’s plan for human redemption, Mary’s role was clearly defined (Gen 3:15). Her birth, like her maternal presence, announces that the fulfillment of God’s promise of salvation is near. “Blessed are you who believed that the Lord’s word would come true!” (Lk 1:45). Mary’s birth was part of the fulfilment of what the Lord had promised, in order to bring about the greater fulfilment of our salvation in Jesus Christ. 

Therefore, the celebration of the birthday of Mary becomes for us the celebration of God’s faithfulness to His promises. And Mary grew up, living out to full maturity what her birth stood for.  In view of our salvation in Christ, Mary’s birth breaks forth like the Morning Sun. It keeps our hope high like the Tower of David; enriches our faith like the House of Gold. The tenderness of her birth lingered on throughout her life in her humility and silence.

Mary, the Highest Honor of our race, was full of grace as she entered the world. And she was set to unlock blessings as all generations will call her blessed. “But when the fullness of time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, and subject of the law” (Gal 4:4). As we honor her today, may she unlock divine favor for us, and bring us closer to our salvation. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Wednesday September 8th, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

BE ROOTED IN CHRIST

Meditation for Tuesday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time
(Col 2:6-15; Lk 6:12-19)

St Paul now begins to correct some of the wrong beliefs among the Colossians, which he heard from Epaphras. According to St Paul, faith in Christ needs no comprise. Those who have received Jesus Christ should live in Him, be rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith, and abounding in thanksgiving. He warned against those who deceive believers with reasoning, human traditions, and elemental spirits. Christ is the center of our faith, “For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have come to fullness of life in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority.” Spiritually, we are circumcised in Him by not living according to the flesh, but we are buried and raised with Him in Baptism.

This brought us forgiveness of sins; Jesus nailed our trespasses to the cross. “He disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in Him.” That means our obedience of faith to Jesus Christ cannot be reduced to human philosophy, traditions or to elemental spirits. He is Lord of all and above all.

 In the gospel of today we see a correlation between day and night, hills and level ground, sickness and healing, but all centered around Jesus. Jesus went to the hills to pray all night. When it was day, He chose the twelve apostles. On coming down to plain ground, many sick people came to Him to be healed. “And all the crowd sought to touch Him, for power came forth from Him and healed them all.” This is how those who believe in Jesus should allow Him rule over every aspect of their lives. Such that their lives are rooted, built up and established in faith in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Tuesday September 6th, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

“STRETCH OUT YOUR HAND”

Meditation for Monday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time
(Col 1:24-23; Lk 6:6-11)

At this point, St Paul begins to use his own experience to exhort the Colossians. He talked about the value of the sufferings he bore for the sake of the Gospel among other things. “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh, I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the Church.” St Paul associates his sufferings for the gospel to Jesus’ death and resurrection. He described himself as called by God to reveal the mysteries hidden for ages, but now revealed through Jesus Christ. He said categorically that in preaching the gospel, it is Jesus Christ we proclaim. St Paul said his intention is that they may be encouraged as they knit together in love, and “To have all the riches of assured understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

As the scribes and Pharisees opposed Jesus and tried to prevent Him from healing the man with withered hand on the Sabbath, so we encounter difficulties St Paul when we want to witness to the hidden mysteries in Jesus Christ through the gospel. Jesus called the man to the center, before the full view of His opponents, and asked, “Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.”

The hidden mysteries, power, understanding and knowledge in Jesus Christ is reveal through the Cross. So, when we encounter suffering or opposition in witnessing to the gospel, we connect them to the cross of Christ, from which flows the wellspring that builds up the Church. This is how we contribute to the salvation of mankind, and overcome the oppositions that try to prevent these hidden mysteries in Christ from being manifested in our lives.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Monday September 6th, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

“BE OPENED”

Meditation for 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
(Is 35:4-7; James 2:1-5; Mk 7:31-37)

Affliction, sickness, infirmity, poverty, etc can set a man apart from among his fellows or make him feel abandoned my God. Fear, uncertainty, sadness, etc are often the immediate responses that such situations can arouse in someone. Isaiah speaks directly to the heart going through such affliction, “Be strong, fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance…He will come and save you.” When He comes, the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped…and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy.

This prophecy was fulfilled in the Gospel as Jesus heals the man who was deaf and dumb. “And taking him aside from the multitude privately, He put his fingers into his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue.” The man’s affliction set him ‘apart’ from his community since he could not interact freely. But Jesus took him apart from the multitude—away from their general understanding of the sickness—and healed him with gestures that showed that He associated Himself with the man at the very point of affliction. So, being ‘apart’ with Jesus privately heals and reconciles us with God and others.

“And looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, ‘Ephphatha’, that, ‘Be opened.’” As in the sacrifice of the Cross, Jesus offered up the man pains, shame, isolation, poverty, fear, heartbreak, etc with a sigh that pierced heaven! This prayer cannot be disconnected from the prayer of ‘His Hour’, i.e. His agony in the garden, and His loud cry on the cross. And Jesus continues to set us apart to Himself privately, and touching us with the merits of this saving sacrifice at our very point of affliction through the Eucharist.

Therefore, in our worship and Eucharistic celebration, we join our voices with the man that was thus touched and healed to sing joyful praises to God. Our Eucharist is a thanksgiving offering that the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled in us. Then, how can we begin to show partiality against the poor and afflicted in our church gathering! This will make our worship hypocritical. Since Jesus takes us to Himself in our poverty and affliction, we too should have preferential option for the poor, and through our charity and care, offer their pains in union with the sacrifice of Jesus. Let our eyes and ears be opened (Ephphatha) that we may see the afflictions around us, and hear the cries of the poor among us. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Sunday September 5th, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THE LORD OF THE SABBATH

Meditation for Saturday of the 22^nd Week in Ordinary Time
(Col 1:21-23; Lk 6:1-5)

St Paul recounts the good things that happened to the Colossians as they accepted Jesus. They were saved from their evil deeds, reconciled with God through the death of Jesus Christ, and made holy and blameless and irreproachable before Him. All these will continue to hold if they remain steadfast in faith, not shifting from the hope of the gospel.

This hope in Jesus Christ through the gospel is what the old law and prophets tried to achieve. But the Pharisees and scribes focused on the mere letters of the law and to their own benefits. Jesus condemned their hypocrisy saying, “The Son of man is lord of the sabbath.”

Immediately, we recall St Paul’s message we read yesterday that Jesus Christ is pre-eminent, and in Him is the fullness of divinity. Therefore, He becomes the reason for the law, for in Him is the fulfillment of the law. And our faith in Him becomes our rule of life and our guide for action. That means, for us to follow the details of the law now implies to live in friendship with Jesus; to live for Him, and to act to please Him. Who shall condemn those chosen by God, Christ died for! (Rm 8:33-34). The inheritance of the saints and the riches of God’s kingdom shall be ours if we remain steadfast in faith. Amen.

St Ross of Viterbo, pray for us! Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Saturday September 4th, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

THE PRE-EMINENT

 Meditation for Friday of the 22^nd Week in Ordinary Time
(Col 1:15-20; Lk 5:33-39)

“Christ is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation; for in Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth…” St Paul gives this all-time description of our relationship with Jesus Christ in relation to the Father and the rest of creation. Since the Father has ‘transferred’ us to inherit the riches of the Kingdom of His Beloved Son, we need to understand the position Jesus Christ occupies in our lives. “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” That means our lives, families, society, etc cannot have lasting peace if they are not formed in Christ.

“He is the head of the body, the Church; He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything He might be PRE-EMINENT. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.” Since is God among us, and we have been called to faith in Him, we must accord Him that highest position as the pre-eminent in our lives and worship.

Think about the freshness of life we have in Jesus, to whom we have surrendered ourselves, such that He now becomes ‘our conscience’ and principle of life! Think about how powerful we are when we render ourselves powerless before Jesus! That means, if Jesus becomes pre-eminent in our lives, He will give us a new beginning and keep us reconciled with God. This new ‘burst of life’, to which the Father has transferred us to, must be received with a new heart. “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed.”

The old legalistic and hypocritical approach of the Pharisees and scribes cannot contain the ever-new riches in glory given to us in Jesus. Yes, Jesus Christ is pre-eminent; He is the Beginning, before all, and God among us. Therefore, we need a new wineskin, a new heart, like the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to preserve these divine riches. And we shall have peace and be bubbling with life like the new wine! Amen.  

St Gregory the Great, pray for us! Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Friday September 3rd, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THE TRANSFER INTO THE RICHES OF HEAVEN

Meditation for Thursday of the 22^nd Week in Ordinary Time
(Col 1:9-14; Lk 5:1-11)

As part of his opening pleasantries, St Paul prays for the Colossians that they may be filled with spiritual wisdom and understanding, to be fully pleasing to God and fruitful in every good work… Since he will be talking about the pre-eminence of Jesus Christ in our lives, St Paul began by mentioning how the Father positioned us in Christ. God the Father has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. “He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

This great transfer to the riches of His glory in Jesus Christ shines out in Peter’s great catch of fish in today’s gospel passage. At the authority and command of Jesus, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch”, Peter’s labors were transferred to abundant harvest; his disappointment turned to fulfillment. The riches of God in glory awaits us and is available in Jesus. However, like Peter who gave Jesus his boat, we step forward to be transferred to the riches of His Kingdom through our CHARITY and by obeying His commands. And He continues to draw us deeper into the riches of Kingdom in glory until, like Peter and his companions, “They left everything and followed Him.”

When we perform acts of charity, we surrender our ‘boats’ to Jesus for the greater glory of His Kingdom. Then, we are ‘qualified to share in the inheritance of the saints’, which is the blessings of Heaven and eternal life at the end. Amen.

St William of Roskilde, pray for us! Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Thursday September 2^nd, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THE DIVINE TOUCH

Meditation for Wednesday of the 22^nd Week in Ordinary Time
(Col 1:1-8; Lk 4:38-44)

It is so beautiful that we are stepping into the new month of September with St Paul’s Letter to the Colossians. In this letter St Paul addressing a Christian community, which he did not evangelize directly. What prompted him to intervene in the life of the Church in Colossae? You can guess as much that there are some doctrinal issues at stake. Let us read along with the Holy Catholic Church as she leads us through St Paul’s letter to the Colossians for a week.

The letter begins by acknowledging the faith of the Colossians in Jesus Christ, “And of the love which you have for all the saints.” The gospel was preached to them by Epaphras, who also informed St Paul how the faith is flourishing in Colossae.

What Paul heard prompted him to ‘go’ to the Colossians through letter, just as Jesus heard about the sickness of Peter’s mother-in-law and went to her. In our meditation, we gaze upon Jesus standing beside the sick woman and bending over towards her. What does this gesture portray? This reclining gesture of Jesus towards human suffering, and my personal suffering in particular, is enough strength and courage to carry on! He rebuked the fever, “And it left her; and immediately she rose and served them.”

Afterwards, they brought many sick people, “And He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.” Think about this physical contact that drove sickness away! Imagine the divine healing hand landing gently on the sick body…The feeling of such touch reassures of his abiding presence and inter-mingling with us even in our unworthy state. But, by going to a lonely place, Jesus shows us that ‘touching’ human lives is important, however, the most important thing is to be in touch with God!

That is why in THE SOUND OF SILENCE we re-live the gospel experiences through a contemplative gaze at Jesus. Those who follow Jesus to the lonely place in the silence of their hearts through the gospels, testify to His divine touch, which heals and uplifts. Amen.

St Giles, pray for us! Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Wednesday September 1^st, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THE DAY OF THE LORD

Meditation for Tuesday of the 22^nd Week in Ordinary Time
(1 Thes 5:1-6; Lk 4:31-37)

St Paul gives his final exhortation to the Thessalonians about the end times and the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. “But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the darkness.” That day, when everything will surrender to the authority of Jesus, can only come as a surprise to those who are not already living under His authority. St Paul says, “Let us keep awake and sober”, avoiding works of darkness, for it is the will of God that we obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ and live with Him.

So, if we are already living with Him, we need not fear the end times or the endings of our undertakings and situations in life. Sometimes we are tempted to misuse time or misappropriate our time.

Think about the event that occurred at Capernaum. As the people felt the authority of Jesus, and were reclining their hearts to Him, the demon cried out in protest against Jesus. Imagine, he was protesting against Jesus with the truth about Him: “Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” Interrupting Jesus with such a loud voice is rebellion, no matter the truth he acknowledges about His person. It was the wrong timing; and a contradiction that the ‘Holy One’ has come to destroy! But Jesus rebuked this noise maker, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”

For sure, the demon was afraid of surrendering to the authority of Jesus and decided to resist. Think about the empty noises and interruptions we face whenever we are inclined to enjoying some peace with Christ or when we feel the urge to pray. The devil can use truth like a bait to catch us into a bigger lie. And most of these temptations come at the wrong time, but they are usually loud and overpowering. Our victory is that we have the grace to live out today in full ‘the day of the Lord’ by inclining our hearts to His authority. For those who are already in Christ Jesus, who walk in the light of Christ, the day of the Lord will not take them by surprise, and the tricks of the devil will not take them unawares. Amen.

St Raymond Nonnatus, pray for us! Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Tuesday August 31^th, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com