'Christ among us'

‘CHRIST AMONG US’
Meditation for Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
(Gen 18:1-10; Col 1:24-28; Lk 10:38-42)

Let us meditate on the spirituality of hospitality. Receiving visitors can be fun for some people, while others find it burdensome. Breaking through the routines of the home to accommodate visitors and make them feel comfortable can be exhausting as well as enriching. Hospitality as a virtue is required of every Christian. It has become an important way we relate to God.

 

The first reading talks about Abraham’s hospitality to three strangers. He offered them refreshment and rest. His commitment to the comfort and satisfaction of the visitors was awesome. He hastened his wife Sarah to make the loaves, and charged the servants to prepare a fine and tender calf for the guests. Abraham was not counting the costs, but he was ready to make every necessary sacrifice for their comfort. On leaving, the visitors blessed him with the promise of a son. Abraham’s hospitality became a means through which God blessed him and answered his prayer.

 

The second reading highlights the mystery of God’s permanent presence among us. In Jesus Christ, God has visited his people (Lk 7:16); He has taken His abode among us (Jn 14:23). He comes to us as a guest, and we are expected to open up the doors of our hearts to welcome Him and allow Him to share in our life (Jn 1:11-12). If we cannot make God ‘hospitable’ in the home of our hearts, we may end up not opening the doors of our house to visitors.

 

Since the mystery of Christ among us is made possible through His cross, we too shall make sacrifices like Abraham in order to welcome Him in our midst. Thus, as St Paul says in the Second reading, we constantly carry in our body the imprint of the cross of Christ so as to make up all that has still to be undergone by Christ for the sake of His body, the Church. Inspired by the Cross of Christ, we assume the position of ‘guests’ in order to bring comfort and peace to others, and to give glory to God.

 

This spirituality of hospitality shines out the more as we meditate on the visit of Jesus to the house of Martha and Mary. We see Martha cooking and serving, and getting concerned about the comfort and satisfaction of her guests. But at the feet of Jesus, we see her sister Mary listening to Jesus and absorbing the wisdom from His words. Her contemplative positive immediately reminds us of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s position at the foot of the Cross (Jn 19:25-27).

 

Jesus appreciated Martha’s efforts and sacrifices to make the guests comfortable, but He exalted Mary’s position. “It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.” Mary’s surrender at the feet of Jesus positions Him as the ‘Master of the house’, and makes her a ‘guest’ to food and earthly comfort. By welcoming His words in her heart, Mary had given Jesus the greatest hospitality. And by finding a ‘home’ in her heart, the mystery of ‘Christ among us’ is realized in her. However, the serving and sacrifices of Martha, in a way, aided and gave Mary the space and time that enable her to realize the mystery of ‘Christ among us’ in within her.

 

This is how Martha in her hard work, creativity, sacrifices and services train us in the virtue of hospitality and open up the opportunity to draw closer for a deeper encounter. And Mary’s contemplative position trains us in detachment to earthly comfort, and opens our horizon to see the real value of things. In this way, the sacrifices of Martha draw value and vision from the contemplation of Mary; and the contemplation of Mary bring transformation to our lives through works of Martha. The sisters, Mary and Martha, are the two dispositions we must have in order to live out the mystery of ‘Christ among us’; our Master and our guest. And this is how we live a Christ-centered life, and grow in the spirituality of hospitality. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Sunday July 17^th, 2022.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

www.soundofsilence.ng

 

THE ONE LOVE

THE ONE LOVE

Meditation for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

(Deut 30:10-14; Col 1:15-20; Lk 10:25-37)

Love is in the heart; the heart is where love resides! The promptings of our heart will always follow the direction of our love. And it is what we love that we allow to influence us. Love is that unique difference that defines and sets Christians apart. Picking interest and acting on something can evoke our love towards it.

 

In the first reading, Moses explains that keeping God’s commandments will turn one’s heart and soul to Him. To turn one’s heart and soul to God is to love Him. And he who loves God will derive joy in obeying His commands and ordinances (1 Jn 5:3; Ps 19:7-8). Moses says, God’s commandments are not far off. They are near and within. “But the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.” That means the commandments of the Lord are INCARNATED among us! In other words, the divine law is not foreign to our lives; it is lived out in the one expression of our lives.

 

Since the divine rule is within us and is part of our life, it becomes self-contradictory for one not to live according to the commandments of God. And such disobedience will definitely bring confusion and disorder to the individual and to those affected by his actions. But we see in Jesus one who was like us in all things but sin (Heb 4:15). The Second reading described Him as “The image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” In Jesus, the divine law found its perfect and complete fulfilment (Mt 5:17). That means the human actions of Jesus were at the same time expressions of the divine will. Thus, Jesus is exalted as the One in whom all things hold together, “For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.”

 

Therefore, in Jesus the divine law is now alive among us. Our heart and soul can now be energized by the divine will as we relate with Jesus and commune with Him. That love that unites Jesus and the faithful satisfies all the requirements of the law. In this love, the human heart and soul are lifted up to Jesus, and the divine will find expression in human action. Then, love becomes the law that fulfills all the ordinances of the Lord (Jn 13:34).  That is why the question, ‘how one can inherit eternal life?’ or ‘how one can earn heavenly blessings?’ is answered by love! Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”

 

Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan to show that ‘my neighbor’ is anyone who is in need of my love and care. The act of compassion and charity is what defines neighbors! As the Samaritan diverted his journey to attend to the injured Jew, bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine, set him on his horse and trekked along to the inn, paid for the cost, and promised not to abandon him, that is the sense of urgency and commitment we should show to one another in their need. Meditating on this parable, we see that the Samaritan treated the injured Jew as if he himself was the one that was wounded!

 

And the love he showed to the man was similar to the love God showed to us in Christ Jesus (1 Pet 3:18). Thus, by showing God’s love to your neighbor, you have loved God by that very act. This one love, by which we love God and our neighbor, satisfies the requirements of the law and the prophets, and qualifies us to inherit eternal life. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Sunday July 10^th, 2022.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

www.soundofsilence.ng

 

EVERGREEN

Meditation for Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Hos 14:1-9; Mt 10:16-23)

At the end of the illustrations and messages, the prophet Hosea says that what the Lord wants is for the people to return to Him. “Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.” First, the people must acknowledge that they have sinned, and repent. Then, they should ask God to take away their iniquities, and accept that which is good from them. Secondly, they should not build their lives on false hope, faulty foundations that cannot sustain them. When people are ruled by wrong ideas and false sense of security, they may begin to presume more than necessary, and neglect the right directions they are supposed to take. Finally, those who want to return to the Lord must trust in His faithfulness and mercy. “They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow, they shall flourish as a garden; they shall blossom as the vine, their fragrance shall be like the wine of Lebanon.”

Hosea explains that the Lord is like an evergreen cypress that produces fruits in all seasons. His ways are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them. So, in sending forth the apostles, Jesus ensured that they remain focused on Him. He explained to them the dangers ahead, and the difficulties they would face. Their patience will be tested, but he who endures to the end will be saved. The man who endures to the end is one who is focused on Jesus and the mission entrusted to him. Such a one will not give up in the face of challenges, but will continue to make progress and flourish like an evergreen cypress.

 

At the end of our meditation on the Book of Hosea, we are reminded to retrace our steps back to our relationship with God. And this is the reason Jesus sent forth the apostles. So, the mission of the Church is fulfilled in us when we repent of our sins. Now, having heard the prophetic message, and received the apostolic mission, we are sent forth to become ‘missionaries’ to ourselves, to constantly adjust our lives according to the commandments of the Lord. This unstoppable internal missionary movement will eventually keep us evergreen despite the challenges of life. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Friday July 8th, 2022.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

www.soundofsilence.ng

 

POSITIVE ACTION

 Meditation for Thursday of the 14^th Week in Ordinary Time
(Hos 11:1-4, 8-9; Mt 10:7-15)

Prophet Hosea now shifted the narrative to God’s line of action. God, in His faithfulness, took positive steps to keep Israel close to Him. “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.” But the more God called them out of slavery, the more they kept enslaving themselves to idols. Yet, God kept teaching them gently, and healed them secretly. “I led them with cords of compassion, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one who raises an infant to his cheeks, and I bent down to them and fed them.” Hosea announced that the Lord’s compassion grows warm and tender. The Lord says, “For I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come to destroy.”

 

Love generates positive action! As the compassion of God made Him to take positive steps to safe guard Israel, so also did Jesus direct His apostles on the positive directions to take in their mission. He said to them, “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.” Jesus instructed them to avoid distractions and attachment to things. But the best way to avoid distractions is to focus on the right actions!

 

Thus, Jesus instructed the apostles on how to coordinate themselves and what they should say when they enter any house. “As you enter the house, salute it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.” Jesus notified them that things might not go as they desired; their offer of peace might be rejected! He warned them not to channel their energy to those who might reject them; “shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.”

 

In other words, do not allow the ‘dust’ of negativity to cling to you. The Lord spoke through prophet Hosea that He will not come to destroy; in His love He creates and re-creates! Though Israel rejected His faithfulness and love, God continued to care for them. He sent Hosea and other prophets to minister to them. In the same way, the mission of the apostles cannot be quenched by rejection or persecution, for they must focus on the positive action of announcing the good news of peace. It then means that relationships, marriages, businesses, etc, can succeed if we focus on the right actions, and shake off the dust of negativity. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Thursday July 7^th, 2022.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

www.soundofsilence.ng

 

"The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand"

 “THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND”
Meditation for Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12; Mt 10:1-7)

It is often the case that once individuals or a nation began to prosper, they easily drift away from God. Hosea highlighted how God blessed Israel and made the prosperous. Unfortunately, “The more his fruit increased the more altars he built; as his country improved, he improved his pillars.” Wealth can give one a false sense of security, for the people said to themselves, “We have no king, for we fear not the Lord, and a king, what could he do for us?” But Hosea announced that the people had relied on false foundation that would soon be destroyed; the idol altars and pillars would be brought down. Then, “They shall say to the mountains, cover us, and to the hills, fall upon us.”

To avoid such helplessness, the prophet said to the people, “Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that He may come and rain salvation upon you.” And this time to find salvation is fulfilled in Jesus (2Cor 6:2).

 

In the gospel of today, Jesus called the twelve apostles and gave them authority over unclean spirits, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. He sent them out, and commissioned them to preach, saying, “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The apostles are the foundation stones of our faith, of which Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone (Eph 2:20). If our lives are rooted on this solid foundation, no matter how much we prosper, we will never drift away from God. That is why we must recognize and exercise the authority we have in faith through the preaching of the apostles. With such solid foundation, we shall prosper and still remain secure. And we too shall bear witness that the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi, Lagos.

Wednesday July 6^th, 2022.

www.soundofsilence.ng

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

The Channel of Faithfulness

The Channel of Faithfulness

Meditation for Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13; Mt 9:32-38)

The powerful illustration of Hosea’s marriage to Gomer was to expose Israel’s infidelity to God and call them back to repentance, since God mercy awaited them. In today’s reading, the prophet highlighted some of their atrocities against their covenant with God. “They set up princes, but without my knowledge; with their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction.” Hosea explained to them that unfaithfulness yields futility; disobedience leads to destruction! He said, “Now God will remember their iniquity, and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt.”

Such punishment as announced upon unfaithful Israel can be seen to manifest in the life of the possessed man in the gospel of today. The man lost the ability to speak his mind and to praise God. Jesus, the Faithful Servant per excellence, steps in to set the man free from the bondage of evil. And He went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel, and healing every disease and infirmity.

 

Think about how Jesus gave out knowledge of God through His teaching, true worship by his preaching of the gospel, and liberation by healing of body and soul. All these are easily gotten by the man who is on the path of faithfulness to God. That is why Hosea exposed the atrocities of the people and how they lead to destruction. But thanks be to Jesus, we have the living channel of faithfulness; never shall we ‘return back to Egypt’, the land of slavery. And a man who has been set free by Christ Jesus learns of His love and compassion. Faithfulness without love is empty and hypocrisy.

 

Therefore, as Hosea went out in search of his wife, and as the healed made the people to praise God, so does Christ’s faithful follow His steps of compassion and go forth bringing healing and liberation to others, becoming other channels of faithfulness. At the end of today’s gospel Jesus said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Tuesday July 5, 2022.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

www.soundofsilence.ng

 

Steadfast Love

Meditation for Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Hosea 2:14-16, 19-20; Mt 9:18-26)

The name ‘Hosea’ means ‘Salvation.’ Hosea prophesized during the reign of Jeroboam II, before the fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel to Assyria. The prophet is popularly known for his marriage to Gomer the prostitute. This unfaithful woman became a symbol of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God in following other gods and committing evil. It was strange and scandalous that a holy man like Hosea would stoop low to marry such an unbefitting woman. Thus, the prophet became a symbol of God’s covenant with His people, and God’s faithfulness despite Israel’s infidelity. Hosea’s marriage with Gomer became an illustration of God’s intense desire for His people, and His excessive mercy and forgiveness. “And I will espouse you forever; I will espouse you in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy. I will espouse you in faithfulness; and you shall know the Lord.”

God’s salvation is manifested through His love and mercy. What Hosea stood for and depicted in symbols, is now given in reality and in its fullness in Jesus Christ. Therefore, we gaze upon Jesus in the Gospel of today as He heals the woman with hemorrhage through her faith, and as He raised the official’s daughter back to life. Jesus’ love and compassion for the sick woman was so overwhelming that a little touch at the fringe of his garment healed her.  The abundance of life in Him was so excessive that He held the girl by the hand and restored her to life.

 

Sin is like a sickness to the soul; death is the consequences thereof. But as in the illustration of Hosea and Gomer, Jesus heals us and restores our life. We come to Him for that divine that divine touch, no matter has little it might be. And we marvel and testify at His steadfast love and mercy, which heals and restores us. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Monday July 4, 2022.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com          

"Peace be to this House"

 “Peace be to this House”
Meditation for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
(Is 66:10-14; Gal 6:14-18; Lk 10:1-12, 17-20)

Let us meditate on the mission of the seventy disciples, whom Jesus sent ahead of him, two by two. The first charge He gave them was to pray, and to pray for laborers into the harvest. Prayer is missionary! It is from there that we release the energy that makes the mission of Christ to succeed. The second charge was for them to be conscious of the seriousness of the task ahead, and the possible danger that awaits the preacher of the gospel. He said, “Behold, I send you out like lambs in the midst of wolves.” That means the bearer of the good news of salvation cannot be ‘causal’, but like a man in a war front, he must be alert and avoid distractions. Hence, Jesus said to them, “Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road.”

 

The instructions of Jesus are necessary for the disciples to become agents of peace to those they meet. Jesus said to them, “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ In order to be bring peace into the hearts of men, the bearer of the gospel message must pattern himself according to the instructions of Jesus. That means he must be a man of peace first, before he can convert others to be men of peace. The pattern of life fit for the gospel, and on which the gospel germinates and grows is unique. It is completely different from our ordinary day to day ways of life. Every aspect of the life of the bearer of the gospel must be coordinated and patterned towards successful transmission of the good news of peace.

 

The instructions and patterns of life that form fertile ground for the gospel to germinate and grow are summed up in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. On the cross is the ultimate pattern that saves, and makes salvation possible in the hearts of all believers. This is what St Paul emphasized in the Second reading, saying, “Far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” The cross becomes our ‘rule’ of life; the pattern that shapes our lives. From the cross of Christ, we draw strength like weak lambs to confront the wolves of this world. So, we are not afraid of embarking on difficult tasks or facing challenges. Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mt 16:24). And St Paul says,  “Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.”

 

If through the pattern of the cross we make our daily choices, and spread out the good news of peace to others, then the blessings foreseen by Prophet Isaiah shall be fulfilled in and through us. From the cross of Jesus flows that fountain that consoles and satisfies, that we may drink deeply with delight from the abundance of His glory. From this fountain, the prophet announced that prosperity will flow like a river, and wealth shall be like overflowing stream; “Your heart shall rejoice…and it shall be known that the hand of the Lord is with His servants.”

 

The seventy disciples returned with joy. They testified to their victory over evil. Jesus welcomed them, and assured them that they had been given authority over every evil. Most importantly, the bearers of the good news of peace have their names written in heaven. At the end, the weak man sent out like sheep among wolves, who drank from the fountain of grace flowing from the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, is given authority to overcome evil, and be filled with joy and heavenly blessings. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Sunday July 3^rd, 2022.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com