DIVINE ‘DEBTORS’

Meditation for Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time, Year B

(Rm 8:12-17; Lk 13:10-17)

“Brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—for if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live.” St Paul makes this beautiful distinction between living in the flesh and living in the Spirit. He sees the difference between them as that between life and death. To be led by the flesh means to have the desires and satisfaction of the flesh and the self as the pre-dominant principle of influence and choice. Here, self-preservation is idolized. Such excessive quest for self-satisfaction and self-preservation strips one of spiritual favor, and leads to slavery and death-end.

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” This is when we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us to the truth that is Jesus Christ; we surrender ourselves and desires, and let the Spirit have the final say. He becomes our principle of choice and action. What is the benefit then? St Paul says all who are led by the Spirit receive freedom from fear, and are given the status of ‘children’ to call God, “Abba! Father!” “It is the Spirit Himself bearing witness with our Spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.”

In the Gospel, Jesus fulfilled the purpose of the Sabbath law by healing the woman with infirmity; He brought divine touch to humanity! But the ruler of the synagogue ‘weaponized’ the sabbath observance for his selfish ego, stripping it of divine favor and even the common good of humanity. The synagogue official became an example of one led by the flesh, who is noisy and confrontational, but at the end he was silenced by Jesus, who stood firm in Spirit and in truth. All who are led by the flesh will fade away; it is only what is done in Spirit and truth that endures. So, we remain ‘debtors’ to the Holy Spirit.

Sts Chrispin & Chrispinian, pray for us.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Monday October 25th 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com