ACTS OF PENANCE

Meditation for Wednesday of the First Week of Lent

(Jonah 3:1-10; Lk 11:29-32)

In silence and recollection, we are expected to put on a humble and contrite heart this Lenten season. This is an expression of conversion of heart. Leaving behind the old ways and putting on the new life in Christ does not come easy. Fasting and other acts of penance are ways we express our regret for the old ways, and, at the same time, show our commitment to love God in the new life. The conversion story of the people of Nineveh gives us a practical example to follow.

At the preaching of Jonah, the people of Nineveh believed God. They proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth and ashes. By fasting they disciplined their bodily desires for pleasure and entertainment. And by putting on sackcloth and ashes they striped themselves of vainglory and pride. In the action of their king, we see the importance of stripping oneself of the quest for power and self-glory. So, this Lent, while we discipline our bodies through fasting and abstinence, we must not forget those disciplines that can tame our ego-centric life.

 

If the people of Nineveh could be inspired by Jonah to repent and humbled themselves before the Lord, how much more should we abandon our old ways and take up acts of penance as we gaze upon the cross of Jesus this Lenten season. Sometimes it seems our hearts are so hardened that we remain unmoved at the name Jesus. He says, “The men of Nineveh will arise at the judgement with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.” Think about how Jonah inspired such great conversion though he was a reluctant prophet, but Jesus offered His life for us. Jonah did not even finish the journey, out of three days walk, he went on one day, yet the whole people repented, but Jesus completed His three days journey into the grave, and He journeys with us till eternity! With such great love and commitment Jesus has shown for our salvation, we should humble ourselves before Him with our Lenten observances, and repent of our sins. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Wednesday March 1^st, 2023

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

EMPTY PHRASES IN PRAYER

Meditation for Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

(Is 55:10-11; Mt 6:7-15)

This Lenten season, we are expected to be more prayerful. Jesus intervenes to teach us how to pray so that God will hear our prayers. He warns against the wrong approach to prayer: “In praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” God Himself does not speak empty phrases; how can man then offer to Him empty phrases?

 

The prophet Isaiah announces that as the rain and snow water the earth, giving seed to the Sower and bread to the eater, so shall the word of God go forth; it shall not return empty, but it shall accomplish that which it was intended, and prosper in the thing for which it was sent. Think about how the word of God is active and alive (Heb 4:12), bearing fruit in the heart of the believer and inspiring him to pray. We see how the word of God is our anchor in prayer as Jesus leads the way and teaches how to pray. Thus, in his prayer, the man of faith returns to God the fruit of what he had received, i.e., glory and adoration.

 

Prayer becomes empty when it has no roots in the word of God.

Prayer becomes empty when it is not backed up by faith.

Prayer becomes empty when we wish to INFORM God about our needs.

Prayer becomes empty when we turn it into argument to CONVINCE God to answer us.

These and many more are summed up into EMPTY PHRASES, for they go to God without returning back to Him glory and adoration. So, in the prayer Jesus taught us, we adore and glorify God, saying, “Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed by thy name…” As the word of God has live in itself and does not return to God empty, so does the prayers we offer to God does not return to us empty, but they bring back to us divine intervention and answers to our needs. May God continue to hear our prayers this Lent. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Tuesday February 28^th, 2023.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com