LONGING FOR THE NEW LIFE

Meditation for Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

(Gen 8:6-13,20-22; Mk 8:22-26)

Let us meditate on Noah’s anticipation to see the end of the flood. Though he was safe inside the Ark, he was still eager to step out once the flood ended. He sent forth birds to confirm if the water had dried up four times. Obviously, his heart went with the birds each time he sent them out. His anticipation to see the end of the flood was not an expression of doubt in God’s promise to save him from the waters. It was a yearning to step into the new life, washed clean through the waters. In this way, the Ark became a sort of ‘enclosure of hope’, which conveyed him safely to the new life, washed clean of evil and wickedness. Then, Noah offered burnt offerings in thanksgiving. God accepted his offering and promised never to destroy the earth again.

 

The anticipation of Noah and his eager longing is the kind of hope we have in Christ Jesus for the new life He offers.  “But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay” (Rm 8:20-21). Think about the blind man of Bethsaida, how Jesus led him from the ‘flood of blindness’ and landed him safely in the ‘dry land of clear sight.’ His age-long desire to see received ‘the assurance of hope’ in the divine touch of Jesus. The divine presence of Jesus in our lives, in our every situation, gives us that assurance of hope that purifies our anticipations, removes doubt, and strengthens them as unshakable eagerness to step into the new life of grace in Christ Jesus.

 

Think about the joy of the man that received his sight. His joy rises gracefully like the burnt offering of Noah. This joy is already captured in our Eucharistic celebration. Therefore, though we are still longing and anticipating through our prayers, the Eucharist gives us the opportunity to participate in the joy of the new life of grace in Christ Jesus. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Wednesday February 15^th, 2023.

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