TO LABOUR FOR ENDURING VALUES

 Meditation for Monday of the Third Week of Easter

(Acts 6:8-15; Jn 6:22-29)

Most arguments and debate do not yield fruit because people argue from their point of view with closed minds. Worse still, the most useless arguments are more time and energy consuming. Often times, arguments hurt our ego and raise tension. When some men came to debate with St Stephen about His preaching, they felt ashamed that they could not match his wisdom. Since they could not win the argument, they decided to destroy him. Their hearts were already made up against St Stephen, such that even against all proofs, they refused to accept His message. Instead, they tried to satisfy their ego by cooking up lies against him. However, St Stephen remained calm and gracious, his face bright like an angel.

 

The mystery of faith is not based on high sounding oratory or argument but it is a demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit and the knowledge of the cross, “So that your faith should depend not on human wisdom but on the power of God” (1 Cor 2:1-5). Human knowledge alone will remain on the perceived symbols, just as those who ate the loaves took pains to look for Jesus. But He said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.” Their hearts were set on the loaves not on Jesus who multiplied the loaves. Sometimes we exhaust ourselves and pay more attention to things that are less beneficial. And to be able to focus on what really endures begins with faith in Jesus Christ, “For on Him has God the Father set His seal.” To be guided by faith in Jesus will carry us beyond the perceived symbols, which are temporal, and lead us to things that really matter and that endures. This will fill us with wisdom like St Stephen, and help us to remain gracious and calm even in the face of hostility and life challenges. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Monday April 24, 2023.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com