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
