Meditation
for Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time
(Eph
4:32—5:8; Lk 13:10-17)
As we meditate on St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, we come
to understand the life we are called to in Christ Jesus as members of His Body,
the Church. This new life in Christ sets us apart, gives us unique graces and apostolic
responsibilities. In today’s reading, St. Paul explains that this mystical union
we share in the Body of Christ requires that we coordinate our lives in line with
our new identity in Christ. He says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” One who is a member of
the Body of Christ must be guided by love, just as Christ loved us and gave
himself up for us in sacrifice. There must not be immorality, impurity, covetousness,
filthiness, silly talk, levity, idolatry. St. Paul explained that those who follow these
ways of life cannot inherit the Kingdom of Christ, and “It is because of these
things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”
The rich graces given to us in Christ enable us to make
choices for the Body of Christ; we choose the virtues that are in line with our
life of grace, and we choose to avoid the immoral ways that are obstacles to
that new life in Christ. Each choice we make should be in response and in gratitude
to God, who had earlier chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. If
we are aware of the great love that chose us in Christ, which now defines our
choices, we will never be confused nor make wrong choices.
Meditate on the healing of the woman in the gospel of
today. Jesus called out to her saying, “Woman, you are freed from your
infirmity.” He chose to heal her even on the Sabbath. The Synagogue official opposed
Him, arguing that the healing could have waited for any other day than the Sabbath
day. But Jesus responded that the woman had been in need for eighteen years. So,
her healing and restoration to the dignity of ‘the daughter of Abraham’ was
urgent. And the right time for her healing was that moment the grace of God met
her need for healing. Such moment of divine encounter cannot be suspended since
it is in God’s hands. That means Jesus could not have chosen to transfer the
healing another day since the love and grace of God flowing from Him abound for
that woman at that moment.
As member of the Body of Christ, this love and grace flowing
from Jesus abound for us, and help us to make the right choices. It is from
there we choose love and the rich inheritance of His kingdom. About sin and
immorality, St. Paul says, “Do not associate with them, for once you were
darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light.” Amen.
Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Monday October 24, 2022.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com
