LIFTING THE VEIL OF IGNORANCE

Meditation for Thursday of the 10^th Week in Ordinary Time
(2 Cor 3:15-4:1, 3-6; Mt 5:20-26)

A wise man is one who is aware of his ignorance. But ignorance is so tricky that often times we are blindfolded, thinking that the knowledge we possess in any situation absolves us of ignorance. That is how a lot of intelligent and educated people are even brainwashed by the knowledge the possess, and they end up believing falsely and acting foolishly. There seems to be a veil of ignorance that covers our minds and prevents us from beholding the truth, especially when it challenges what we already know! However, St Paul says in the first reading of today, “But when a man turns to the Lord the veil is removed.”

This is because true freedom is in the spirit; “And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” Jesus is the Incarnate Wisdom. Those who believe in Jesus Christ, and are filled with His Spirit, have the veil of ignorance removed from their minds. With unveiled faces, they behold the glory of the Lord, and are gradually transformed into His likeness, from glory to glory! In other words, we see with the ‘eyes of the Lord.’ Thus, Christ’s faithful cannot be blinded by what they do not know, nor enslaved and veiled by what they already know. They behold the glory of God in Christ Jesus, through which they see the world.

“For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” Thus, the true knowledge that removes the veil of ignorance is the knowledge of the glory of Christ, which can be seen in the gospel and in the world by those who believe. Let us not be like the Pharisee and scribes, who rejected Jesus Christ and they remained covered with the veil of ignorance despite their deep knowledge of the law and the prophets. Hence Jesus says, “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven.”

Lord Jesus, open the eyes of our understanding that we may see the glorious hope you have called us to (cf. Eph 1:18). Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Thursday June 10^th, 2021.
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