STREAM IN THE DESERT

Meditation for Monday of the Second week of Advent, Year C

(Is 35:1-10; Lk 5:17-26)

Expectant and longing humanity is clearly typified and expressed in a sick person who awaits healing. In a way, sickness embodies human suffering. It brings loneliness and fear, and renders one incapable of free movement and actions. Often, a sick person finds himself in the arms of others, like the paralytic, who have to take care of him and help him recover. When this longing for healing looks upon God, it becomes a concrete expression of our great expectation and waiting—our Advent—for divine intervention and salvation. 

For those who wait on the Lord, Isaiah says in the first reading, “They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God…Be strong, fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” The prophet assures that healing shall flow like streams in the desert, soaking those who wait for the Lord with everlasting joy and gladness, “And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” 

In Jesus is the fulfillment of the living waters of healing. The compassion, freedom and generosity with which He attends to the sick flows like streams in the desert. And people ‘flowed’ to Him to be healed. Some men carrying a paralytic, had to go through the roof to lay him down before Jesus. And Jesus recognized this act of faith that passed through barriers. To reach Jesus was the only thing that mattered, for His divine touch was assured. So, the men transferred the ‘problem’ in their hands to Jesus, and they stepped back, relaxed and watched! 

As Jesus took charge, they realized immediately that He was offering more than they envisioned, for He said to the paralytic, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” To the attacking scribes and Pharisees, Jesus also acted as an Advocate, defending the man’s case before the people. Thus, He encouraged the man and his friends to continue to believe and to receive the forgiveness of sins He was offering. Jesus showed that the man’s physical paralysis was not more important than his spiritual paralysis. By forgiveness of his sins, Jesus was laying down His life for that paralytic because that is what it takes to wipe away sins! “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?”

So, our Advent longing for the Lord can be truly represented by the longing of the paralytic and his friends to meet Jesus, our healer and advocate. He said to the man, “I say to you, rise, take up your bed and go home.” And the people glorified God, for like stream in the desert, God’s divine touch uplifted them.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Monday December 6th, 2021.

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PREPARATION FOR THE LORD

PREPARATION FOR THE LORD

Meditation for Second Sunday of Advent, Year C

(Baruch 5:1-9; Phil 1:4-6.8-11; Lk 3:1-6)

The readings today invite us to prepare for the Lord. PREPARATION is an important step we must take if we are to succeed in every undertaking or situation in life. We prepare for exams, for work, for sports, for marriage, etc. Preparation shows how important something is to us or how committed we are to it. If we fail to prepare, then we have ‘prepared to fail.’ To avoid such failure, the Book of Baruch and the message of John the Baptist call on us to “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked ways shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

 

A valley ‘swallows’ one, and keeps him running round within the enclosure instead of moving forward. Think about that ‘valley of anger’ that swallows up every drop of joy and peace. It could be a valley of laziness that encloses our good intentions to work hard and make progress. Imagine a valley of compulsive expenditure or live of addictions that swallow up our finances and render us financially sterile! Do you identify any kind of ‘valley’ in your life? If we must meet the Lord, and enjoy the favor He brings, these valleys must be filled up. 

A mountain is a huge ‘obstruction’ on our way. When we pile up sins, adding one bad behavior upon another, soon a huge blockage rises in our hearts and we feel cut off from the way to salvation. The voice cries in the wilderness as we prepare for the Lord that every mountain must be levelled. Sometimes we find ourselves on crooked ways, adorning our words and actions with lies and deceit. At times inconsistence and instability become our swing of life! That is why we should be watchful when every little choice before us is attacked by indecision. The way of the Lord is straight! Every crooked way must be straightened if we are to meet Jesus. And the rough edges of our lives must be smooth; those aggressive ends, selfish and stubborn must be smoothen with a touch of love and kindness. 

Therefore, Saint Paul urges, “That your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” On his part, Baruch says, “Put on the robe of righteousness from God.” This is how we arm ourselves to fill up every valley that prevents us from seeing the salvation and glory of God, level every mountain that block our way to reaching God’s blessings and answers to our prayers, straighten crooked ways that divert our lives from the right path, and smoothen the rough edges that render us inefficient. Then our hearts shall be ready, and our song shall ever be, “Come Lord Jesus, do not delay.” Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Sunday December 5th, 2021.

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PLENTIFUL HARVEST

 Meditation for Saturday of the First Week of Advent

(Is 30: 19-21, 23-26; Mt 9:35-10:1, 5-8)

In our advent meditation today, we are caught up in the beauty and strength of Jesus’ compassion for helpless humanity. As the crowds gathered “Like sheep without a shepherd”, Jesus indicated that there is much work to be done. His compassionate work of healing and redeeming humanity needs to be extended. “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send our laborers into his harvest.” The laborers are to continue the compassionate work of Jesus, which Isaiah prophesied, “He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you.”

 

“And He called to Himself His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity.” The authority was given to them freely to carry on Jesus’ compassionate work of healing and redeeming wounded humanity. It was not meant for their own selfish gains. The laborers of the Kingdom act on behalf of Jesus; they carry on with ‘delegated’ authority, thereby representing Jesus before the people. This is how they bring Jesus’ compassion to the people. Such laborers are good shepherds who gather the people for Christ.

 

The harvest is plentiful; there is a lot of work to be done! We need more laborers filled with the authority of Jesus, and touching lives with His compassion, and gathering people for the Kingdom of Heaven. Wounded humanity is waiting and yearning for the healing and liberation of the children of God (Rm 8:19-23). But God has also answered our prayer by bring closer to us the Kingdom of God we are praying through the laborers He called. “And preach as you go, saying, ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without pay, give without pay.” Therefore, Heaven is waiting to receive plentiful harvest, for salvation is nearer now (Rm 13:11). Amen

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Saturday December 4^th, 2021.

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“DO YOU BELIEVE THAT I AM ABLE TO DO THIS?”

 Meditation for Friday of the First Week of Advent

(Is 29:17-24; Mt 9:27-31)

In the Gospel of today Jesus asked the two blind men a direct and touchy question: “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” This question was directed not to two causal blind beggars by the roadside, but two blind men that made stringent efforts to get to him for healing. They followed Him along the way, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” Even when Jesus entered the house, the men still made there way to get to Him. If they did not believe, why would they go through such stress to get to Jesus?

 

Another meditative question is: why did Jesus suspend His response to them but delayed and “dragged” them along? Their desire to be healed, if it were coming from Faith, must include the freedom of Jesus to answer them at His own pace and according to His will! Though they were crying aloud, their faith silently followed Jesus and ‘dragged’ the men along, despite the inconveniences. Having arrived at the feet of Jesus, their faith had been purified of selfishness such that even their desire to be healed was recognized as freely in the arms of Jesus. In other words, imagine the faith of a blind who believes that Jesus has the power to heal him though he still remains blind before him! He continues to believe even when that healing is delayed or denied…

 

Thus, when Jesus asked the above question, the men quickly answered, “Yes, Lord.” Then Jesus touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be done for you.” What a divine touch on those who had touched Jesus in faith! A lively faith, fused with divine favor that becomes answered prayer to those who posses it. As we approach Jesus with a renewed faith this Advent, may we feel His healing touch on us. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Friday December 3rd, 2021.

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THE ROCK OF SALVATION

Meditation for Thursday of the First Week of Advent

(Is 26: 1-6; Mt 7:21, 24-27)

Advent celebrates the past, present and future of our faith in Jesus Christ. We recall Israel’s expectation at the coming of the promised Messiah. He is with us now even as we pray for and await His divine touch of grace at every moment of our lives. And we look forward to His second coming, for the fullness of salvation. The influx of time through future, present and past leaves a ‘residue’ of actions that constitute ‘history’ or human behavior. For the dynamics of time to leave behind a predictable action implies that there is a CONSTANT that flows through and withstands the constant movement of time. The same applies to our faith! In the one season of Advent, we celebrate with a singular acclamation the past, present and future of our faith in Jesus Christ. There is a ‘constant’ that makes this possible.

The prophet Isaiah announced, “We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks.” Within the secure gates of this strong city, the righteous that enter in are kept in perfect peace. We know that peace is not easy to come by, and much more difficult to sustain. The prophet made us understand that the Lord is that strong wall of salvation that keeps His people in perfect peace. “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” 

Yes, it is obvious that there cannot be peace without STABILITY, durability or constancy. A faith that looks forward to its unfolding future but still stands secure in its present reality, while remaining true to its past must be standing on a solid rock that gives it such stability and constancy. In fulfillment to Isaiah’s prophecy, Jesus says in the gospel of today, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the wind blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.”

So, let the word of God be the rock on which we stand, and from which our every word and actions receive support. From this ‘rock’, our future is secure, our present is sustained and our past does not draw us backwards. And the word of God is given us as a solid rock of salvation in the Sacraments. From here flows the spiritual nourishment that gives our lives stability, durability and constancy, which the peace that endures, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Thursday December 2nd, 2021.

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