Tuesday, July 5, 2022

"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 6th, 2022.

www.soundofsilence.ng

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

2 comments:

  1. What an inspirational words is this! So touching!! Fr. May God strengthen u more to continue changing people's lives through this medication. Fr, Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thanks for the encouragement. Prophet Hosea is interesting. God bless you

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