Meditation
for Wednesday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time
(Gal 2:1-2,
7-14; Lk 11:1-4)
Like a man defending his case in a courtroom, St. Paul continues
to argue in defense of the true gospel. It is important we listen to him because
there are so many fake preachers and prophets among us. Earlier, St. Paul had
explained how he received the gospel he preached by revelation of our Lord
Jesus Christ. In today’s defense, St. Paul narrated how he travelled to
Jerusalem, accompanied by Barnabas and Titus, to lay before Peter, James and
John, the respected Church leaders, the gospel he was preaching to the gentles.
This act of submissiveness and obedience to Church authorities is a distinguishing
mark of a true preacher of the gospel. Beware of that preacher who is answerable
to no one, and who has no one to call him to order.
As human, the man who occupies the position of authority in
the Church may have his personal struggles, as we see in St. Peter, when he was
in Antioch, where he tried to please the circumcision party and separated
himself from the Gentiles. But St. Paul realized that the action of Peter was
not in line with the gospel, and corrected him. That is why we must always call to
the Lord, saying, “Lord, teach us to pray.” By submitting to prayer, we learn
to be humble and submit to the authority of the Church, despite the revelation
or vision we must have received. By prayer the Church authorities can discern
properly and direct the people of God aright. Then we shall pray in the words
our Savior taught us, saying, “Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come…”
Amen.
Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Wednesday October 5, 2022.
