Meditation for 25TH Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
(Wis 2:12, 17-20; James 3:16-4:3; Mk 9:30-37)
1.0. THE
MOTIONS OF EVIL
By its very
existence, evil opposes good; evil fights for dominance and survival by trying
to overcome the good. Still, it is this very battle to suppress the good that
destroys evil and exalts the good. In other words, evil is self-defeating! This
internal struggle of self-defeating and self-survival makes evil restless. So,
evil finds itself sentenced by the peace and silence of the good. That is why
it falsely approaches the good with aggression, blaming the good for its
self-defeat and self-destruction. But evil cannot overcome the good because the
good exists, and on its own, while evil’s existence is ‘the opposition of the
good.’ That is why St Augustine said that EVIL IS A PRIVATION.
Therefore,
those who harbor evil intents such as jealousy, selfishness, greed, pride, etc
will always find people of righteousness and prayer very inconveniencing and
annoying; the ungodly will always ‘lie in wait’ against the righteous ones,
while admiring their courage, peace and freedom. This is what the first reading
demonstrated clearly. “Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for, according
to what he says, he will be protected.”
2.0. THE
FLIHT TO WISDOM AND HUMILITY
The restless
character of evil is manifested wherever it exists, no matter how little it
might be. The second reading warns that those who entertain any trace of evil,
such as jealousy and selfish ambition, will exhibit disorder and vile
practices. And such persons will bring disunity and fight among the community
or family. “But the wisdom from above is pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to
reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity.” To such,
when they pray, God will answer because they do not spend what they have received
on their passions.
In Gospel,
Jesus, the Righteous One, who in Himself must confront and overcome the ancient
hostility of evil against the good (cf. Eph 2:16). He began to explain to His
disciples that He was going to take up the pain and death evil inflicts on the
good and overcome it on the Cross. This is how he will lead those at war with
evil to crossover to the realm of the righteous, peace and freedom. The
humility of the Cross becomes the humiliation of evil! Humility becomes our
escape from being infected by evil. Since the Cross of Christ is the greatest
expression of humility, to carry our cross each day and follow Him humbly like
a little child, is the lead way to greatness, peace and joy. Amen.
Fr
Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints
Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo,
Ojo, Lagos.
Sunday
September 19th, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com
