A NEW SPRING

Meditation for Monday of the 4^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year B
(Heb 11:32-40; Mk 5:1-20)

We have come to the last week of our spiritual journey with the letter to the Hebrews. So far, we have been travelling down the path of FAITH as the sure pathway to receiving the merits of the one sacrifice of Jesus, our High Priest in the highest heavens. We saw how the practical faith of Abraham was ‘institutionalized’ in his household, and how this faith became strength with which he overcame adversities. Today, we see how this faith of Abraham has grown to become the FAITH OF ISRAEL, handed on down the ages. As the faith travelled down, it passed on to them its great promise and strength. So Judges, priests, kings and prophets, through the generations of Israel shared in this faith and testified to its mighty power.

However, the great men and women of Old, despite their achievements, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better and perfect. Thus, Jesus offers the one perfect sacrifice, which fulfils the hope of the faith of Abraham and his descendants, and offers the merits of the resurrection. That means the faith that drives us forward should be more perfect than that of Israel of old; a new spring of faith is needed. Our faith in Jesus can break more barriers and conquer more fortresses than the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, David, Samuel, etc. That is why the untouchable and unrestrained demoniac of the Gerasenes was liberated of the legion of demons at the command of Jesus.

Imagine the great and total transformation of the demoniac! Our faith in Jesus can bring forth a new spring of life in us. “And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and all men marvelled.”

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Monday February 1^st, 2021.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com