THE END OF HUNGER

                                        Reflection for the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
                                                Ex 16:2-4, 12-15; Eph 17,20-24; Jn 6:24-35)

The Hunger
“The whole congregation of the sons of Israel murmured against Moses and Aeron in the wilderness.” Hunger is synonymous with desire, which can make someone restive. The discomforting nature of hunger is worse when it has no hope of being satisfied. In their hunger the Israelites complained against Moses and Aeron. The wilderness offered them no hope of satisfaction so they redirected their desire backwards  towards Egypt. “Would that we had died by the hand the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate bread to the full...” In their desperation they preferred the bread of slavery to the hunger of freedom. Their desire was focused solely eating to satisfaction regardless of its consequences.

In the Gospel,  the multitude that Jesus fed ran after Him to enjoy more free bread and fish. Their desire was shifted from the person of Jesus who is the source to mere bread that satisfied their immediate hunger. This is selfishness. So Jesus said to them, “Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you.” Jesus proposes an end to an endless regress in our quest.

“Lord, give us this Bread Always”
God cares for His people. He rained bread for the Israelites, as Jesus multiplied bread and fish for the multitude. Last week we recognised that this miracle points to Jesus Himself, who is the Bread of Life. This is where our hunger should be directed.  It's only when we are fed by God are we satisfied and free. The Israelites desired selfishly, without faith, and longed for the bread of slavery.

That is why St Paul warns us not live like unbelievers, chasing futility—a life marked with deceitful lusts that cannot be satisfied.  Our minds must be constantly renewed by focusing them on God in true righteousness and holiness. There is a freshness of life that comes when we enter into the silence of our hearts and direct our innermost thoughts and sentiments to God. From this depth, God bestows satisfaction and freedom.

This sweet and serene freshness,  which Jesus gives from the silence of our hearts, shines out to bestow calmness on our every other temporal hunger. But it increases our hunger for Jesus, whom we have come to recognise as our only source of satisfaction. Then we frequently seek for Jesus, like the multitude, but for His own sake, and to say to Him, “Give us this Bread always.”

The End of Hunger
Every hunger has an end in view. Unfortunately,  if in our hunger for well-being, our hearts are turned from God, we enter into an infinite regress. Then we are enslaved. Jesus offers Himself as the end of our hunger, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.” This implies that only our hunger for Jesus can satisfy, and can be fully satisfied. In other words, the hunger for Jesus brings us satisfaction in our every other temporal hunger such that these others are mere signs. That means our hunger for health, wealth, status, family, etc are pointers to our desire for Jesus since acquiring them does not fully satisfy. But when we encounter Jesus all these others begin to satisfy, no matter how little we might have them.

Therefore, it is only our desire for God that can be fully satisfied in Heaven. However,  even now, our hunger for God is satisfied because it is the only hunger that is its own satisfaction; it is the only  desire that is quenched merely by desiring...Deep calling on deep.

Thus, the end of hunger comes as an exchange—that point of encounter where our thirst jams Jesus' thirst for us.

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Holy Ghost Father's Chapel,
Katampe Abuja.
August 5th, 2018.

The Seed of Life

                                  (Reflection for Monday of the 17th week in Ordinary Time)
                                                         Jer 13:1-11, Mt 13:31-35.
Why did God tell the Prophet Jeremiah to hide his new linen loincloth among the rocks, where termites destroyed it! He used it to give example of what would happen to the wicked who do not abide in God's word. In the Gospel this morning Jesus described the Kingdom of God like a mustard seed and like the yeast that leavens the flour. 

The Seed and the Yeast
A seed sown can germinate if it has life within it. The Kingdom of God is alive! Once sown, it germinates and grows to greatness. Like little mustard seed, the Kingdom of God grows from little acts of righteousness. The man who sows this seed in his farm automatically enjoys this rise to greatness. Similarly, a yeast has an inherent capacity to increase the volume of the flour, to produce smooth and tasty bread. Hence, once it is mixed with the flour, the yeast acts according. The kingdom of God increases us...Thus, Jesus gives this parable that might plant the seed of God's kingdom in the farm of our endeavours, and mix the flour of our lives with the yeast of the Kingdom.

The Loincloth and the Kingdom
God spoke Jeremiah that as a waist cloth clings to loins of a man, so close did he bring his people to Himself.  But they refuse to hear His word, instead they their own hearts and other gods. Therefore,  they would end up like the loincloth that was eaten by termites,  having no beauty, no life and useless.

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Rm 14:17 KJV). God has given us opportunity to grow to greatness like a mighty tree by sowing the seeds of the righteousness of the Kingdom. And to mingle our lives with His righteousness such that it increases us automatically from within. “The Kingdom of God is within you”(Lk 17:21).

The Seed of Life
Then the ultimate seed of God's kingdom is sown, and has grown to greatness. Jesus is the Kingdom of God among us. He is that Seed of the Kingdom that was sown in littleness but in three days He burst the earth and germinated to the highest glory. The life within Him could not be conquered by death nor held down by the grave. Such supra-abundance of life is now available and accessible to us in Christ Jesus.  Like birds of the air, we take shelter on Jesus, the true Vine.

Fr Jude Nwachukwu,  C.Ss.R
Our Mother of Perpetual Shrine,
Enugu
30/07/2018

THE BREAD THAT SATISFIES

                                  (Homily for 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time)
1.0. The Miracle
“How am I to set this before a hundred men?” the servant asked Elisha. At the word of God the Prophet responded, “They shall eat and have some left.” Thus Elisha fed so many with so little. In the Gospel, while Elisha fed 100 men with 20 loaves,  Jesus fed 5,000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish. God, who created from nothing, is able to give abundance from so little.

2.0. The Bread and Fish
Elisha fed them with bread and grains, while Jesus multiplied bread and fish. The hallmark of the miracles is that surplus came from so little.  What was brought was insignificant in the face of such magnitude of demand. In the readings, we encounter the God who can turn our little inputs into great outs.

We have so much temporal and spiritual hunger. And what we often have by ourselves in the face these are like few loaves and fish before the multitude.  We rarely can keep ourselves contented  by our efforts and achievements. In an effort to quench this hunger some have entered the world of pleasure, consumerism, power and ego, etc. These deepen the hunger and leave a residue of frustration. Our bread and fish cannot satisfy...

3.0. Bread and Fish offered
Elisha committed the  bread and grain to the word of God, while Jesus lifted up the bread and fish...Thus what was little before men was in turn received from God as abundance! What could not satisfy from human perspective,  is received back from God with utmost satisfaction. God's providence does not fail. Our little temporal and spiritual resources,  such as time, health, wealth, faith, virtue, etc, cannot guarantee our spiritual and physical security. But when we offer them to God, we receive in return abundance of satisfaction,  even while these resources appear little before us.

Thus, St Paul enjoins us to respond to our vocation with utmost humility. It is God who gives the increase.  In gentility we offer ourselves, being pour way like libation to God. Whatever is offered to God does not diminish.

4.0.The Bread that Satisfies
In lifting the bread to the Father for the people,  Jesus gave the ultimate sign that points to Himself as the Bread of the life. He is the living Bread, offered up for us that all generations may eat and be satisfied. In the Eucharistic,  therefore,  we offer up our humble selves with all our hunger. In the Eucharist lies immeasurable serenity and satisfaction that awaits all who participate faithfully. This is the real Bread that Satisfies.

Fr Jude Nwachukwu,  C.Ss.R
Mother of Perpetual Shrine
Enugu.
29/07/2018

Mary, Mediatrix of all Graces

1.0.Mary’s Election
The Blessed Virgin Mary is a woman of grace! She was chosen by God’s gratuitous grace from the foundation of the world (cf. Gen 3:15). God gave her the highest honour of our race by choosing her to be the Mother of Jesus, and bestowing on her the fullness of grace. Thus, whatever honour we give to Mary, It is the Almighty who has done these great things, and holy is His name (Lk1:49). However, Mary’s personal sanctity comes in her free acceptance and continuous response to the grace, together with the consequences therein.

2.0. The One Mediator
Jesus is the one and only mediator between God and man (cf. 1 Tim 2:5). To Him alone belongs the grace of mediation as our only Redeemer. The eternal grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is applied to each individual in every generation, according to ones proper disposition and need at that time. Unworthy though we are, the merciful God continues to make this grace available to us through different channels or sub-mediation. This is where Mary and the saints come in. Their mediation is subordinated to that of Jesus Christ. Their mediation is not in contra-distinction to that of Jesus Christ, but the one and only mediation of Jesus Christ elongated or made more readily available and accessible to us through the merits of Mary and the Saints. We have one Mediator, Jesus Christ, but Mary, by God’s election, shares in this grace as our Mediatrix! In other words, she wins for us the grace of Jesus’ mediation through her own merits.

3.0. Mediatrix of All Graces
The Blessed Virgin Mary qualifies as Mediatrix by her participation in the work of our redemption. She shared in the agony of her Son on the Cross. Her mediatrix role shines out in the wedding at Cana in Galilee (Jn 2:1-11). The Church honours her under this title as a doctrine not dogma (Vatican II: Lumen Gentium 61-62). This title extols Mary’s universal Motherhood as the new Eve, through whom we are restored to favour with God in Christ Jesus. Secondly, Mediatrix of all Graces implies that all benefits and helps of salvation can reach us through Mary. She can stand before God as our Mother to win for us all graces we may need. As Mediatrix, Mary is a distributor of grace! Mary’s role is not to short-change nor reduce the position of Jesus as our one and eternal Mediator. Her role is participatory, it extols Christ as our Mediator.

4.0.Conclusion
This brief reflection is not exhaustive. You can get more information from books and catholic websites. As you go through your First Saturday reflection, let this write up be just the beginning...I am constrained by time to elaborate more. Bear with me.
Therefore, my Friends, always run to Mary when you are in need of grace! Do not rely solely on your intellectual or emotive power to respond to situations in your life. You are equally God’s elect; a woman of grace! Congratulations! Continue to give your free response and cooperation to this grace.

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
May 1, 2018-05-01
(St Joseph the Worker).
Mother of Perpetual Help Shrine,
UgwogoNike, Enugu.

MARY THE ATTENTIVE MOTHER

1.0.Prelude
The Modern Society seems to be suffering from attention deficiency. Silence and attentiveness have never been this scarce. We see it everywhere; from a government that is deef to the plight of its citizenry, to couples who don't listen to each other. Often times we see this disconnect between parents and their children, teachers and their students. Attention deficiency has ruined many relationships. In our plight, we turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary for this grace—to develop our inherent capacity for silence and attentiveness.

We must recognize that attentiveness is an inside job! It is an art; an inner disposition. The art of attentiveness is acquired. Thus, it grows by practice to become a habit. The process of nurturing this habit is called “silence.”

2.0.Mary's open Ear
The Icon our Mother of Perpetual Help depicts Mary in a contemplative mood. In the Icon, Mary's left ear is attentively  open. The Icon speaks of Mary as the Attentive Mother. Her attentiveness is of two fold: to God and to man.

Mary listened and believed in God. “Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled” (Lk 1:45). She was attentive to the message of the Angel, and asked for clarification, “But how can this come about this I have no knowledge of man?” (Lk 1:34). Attentiveness is enfleshed in action. Mary's response to the message of the Angel proves her to truely and ideally an attentive Mother. She was consistent in her response up to the foot of the Cross...

Mary listened to the directives of Joseph, and walked harmoniously with him to accomplish God's will. At the wedding in Cana, she was attentive to the needs of the new couple. And she responded adequately to get the empty jars refilled. Thus, Mary's open ears are inclined to God and to us her other Children.

3.0.The Attentive Mother
Attentiveness draws us to adequate response like the Blessed Virgin Mary. Indifference and inaction are signs of attention deficiency! Attentiveness to God,  therefore,  summons us to adequate response to both God and our fellow human beings. Silence germinates attentiveness, and attentiveness gives birth to availability.

Mary is our model—our Attentive Mother. She gave God her undivided attention. And her response is extolled in all generations (cf. Lk 1:48). This month, let us invoke her to win for us this grace to be attentive to God and those around us.

Fr. Jude Nwachukwu,  C.Ss.R
Enugu
July 5, 2018.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

Jesus is King!!!

Reflection for the Solemnity of Christ the King, Year A.

(Eze 34:11-12.15-17, Ps 23, 1 Cor 15:20-26,28. Mt 25:31-46)

Today we celebrate Jesus Christ as the Universal King. The readings today unveil to us the three ways in which He rules. Equally, the Gospel tells us what we must do in order to reign with Him.

From the prophet Ezekiel, our king is introduced as the Shepherd-King. Here He rules by searching out and gathering His sheep. He will attend to the injured and strengthen the weak. What about the fat and strong ones? The Shepherd-King will watch over them and feed them too that they may remain strong and never grow slim.

The work of a shepherd is quite humbling. He has to bring himself down to the situation of his sheep in other to help them. If a sheep strays and gets lost, the shepherd wanders around the bush till he finds it. He stays with them in the pastures that they may feed. Thus Jesus assumes our situation upon Himself as our King in other to gather us and lead us to eternal life. 

In the second reading, St Paul presents another model of His majesty. Here Jesus is introduced as the Redeemer-King. He is that King who saves us from evil, subjecting every power under his sovereignty. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. As our Redeemer, He wipes away our sins and delivers us from the hands of satan. He offers Himself as the first fruit from the dead, thereby opening the pathway for us to share in the grace of the Resurrection. At the end, our Redeemer-King transfers us to the eternal Father that God may be everything to everyone.

Thirdly, Jesus Himself talks about His own kingship. He describes Himself as the Glorious-King. “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne” (Mt 25:31). We bow down before His majesty. Before Him we gather and adore! His splendour fills us with joy. Around Him we dance and celebrate. His glorious presence is with us in the Eucharist. Jesus is our glorious King, who has become our reward, our hope. “Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Mt 25:34).

Christ’s faithful are royal people. Therefore we are expected to emulate our King. The Gospel indicates we should imitate Him in His capacity as the Shepherd-King. We cannot redeem anyone; neither can we be the glory of others. But we ought to shepherds one another. We do this when we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothing to the naked, welcome the stranger, visit the sick and the prisoner. Being shepherds to one another after the example of Jesus sets us apart for the Kingdom of God. 

The kingdom of God awaits those who acknowledge Jesus Christ as King in their lives. When we humble ourselves as shepherd before others, God uplifts us as His royal Children. Jesus reigns; we shall reign with Him.

Happy Christ the King!!!

­­________________________________________

Fr Chinwenwa J. Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Hearts of Jesus and Mary Parish,

Alulu-Nike, Enugu.

Nov 26, 2017.

THE LIGHT OF CREATIVITY

Reflection for 33^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Prov 31:10-13. 19-20. 30-31, 1 Thes 5:1-6, Mt 25:14-30)

1.0. The Craft of Charity

“A man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property...to each according his ability” (cf. Mt 25:14-15). This story from the Gospel of today presents yet another end-time scenario, in which the servants were summoned to give account of how they used the talents entrusted to them. The story presents the master as shrewd in his charity. He bequeathed his property to them, trusting in their ability to be creative with them. “To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one.”

He gave each according to his ability

This is not partiality. He distributed his gifts according their different abilities. In this way he demonstrated that his generosity met each at the point of his need. Sometimes people enslave others in the name of being charitable to them. But the master’s charity to his servants is liberating, meeting each at his genuine need or ability. The Master does not allow His servants carry a cross they cannot bear (cf. 1Cor 10:13). His charity to them was not causal; it was well crafted. He loved each servant despite his shortfall or mightiness, each according to his ability.

In addition, his delay in returning is part of his craft of charity. He gave them ample opportunity to put in their very best. The servants were not under pressure. They enjoyed free space and time. “Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.” Their outputs showed how each responded to the generosity of their master, who bequeathed to them, talents, time and space. We must note that time and space was given equally, but talent was given to each according to his ability.

2.0.  The Light of Creativity

Creativity and industriousness shine out like the good wife, as described in the first reading. “Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates” (Prov 31:31). In the same way, the first two servants put their talents to use. The master praised them for their creativity and hard work. “Well done, good and faithful servant...enter into the joy your master.” We could feel the joy and confidence in the two servants who put their talents to profitable use. Creativity enlightens the heart. Those who are ingenious and industrious rejoice at the work of their hands. 

 “Not so are the wicked, not so. For they are like chaff that is blown away by the wind” (Ps 1:4). The servant with the one talent hid it in the ground. He subjected the one talent to darkness and decay! He blamed his master for  his failure: “Master, I knew you to be a hard man...so I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground” (Mt 25:24-25). He did not know his master. In his selfishness, he never appreciated his master’s charity, and obviously, never loved his master. We are asked to fear God, but never to be afraid of Him. Fear of God is wisdom. To be afraid of him is the outcome of unbelief and hardness of heart. Thus, there is darkness in his heart.

The master exposed him: “You wicked and lazy servant!” (Mt 25:26). His first problem is wickedness, which indicates the lack of love in his heart. He is a man of anger, vengeance and decay. The light of charity could not penetrate his darkened heart. His heart was unfruitful, so he could not yield any profit.  Secondly, he was a lazy man, so unwilling to work or take risk. He who does not want to carry his cross will end up being a cross to others. It is funny that this servant could not take any initiative for productivity, even to deposit the money with the bankers. This man is contrasted with the good wife, who is loving and hardworking. The lazy servant ended up in the outer darkness, where his heart belongs, and “where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth” (Mt 25:30).

There is joy when we use our talents well

God is the source of creativity. The more we realize ourselves in God, the more creative we become. Faith and love enlightens us and dispels that fear that tries to darken our hearts. Creativity shines.

3.0. The joy of the Harvest

“Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap” (Ps 126:5). The master’s method of reward is quite unique. He applied the same standard of reward to the two servants who were productive, showing that he loved them equally though their abilities vary. “I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master” (Mt 25:21,23). Now, the servant shall enjoy like his master. No eye has seen, no ear has heard what God planned for those who love Him (cf. 1Cor 2:9). The joy of the harvest surpasses the pain of the sowing. The sufferings we go through now cannot be compared with the blessings that await us (cf. Rm 8:18). Abundance awaits those who put their talents to creative use.

“But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief” (1Thes 5:4). The light of creativity shines on us through Jesus Christ. “In your light we see light” (Ps 36:9). He enlightens our hearts that by loving God, we may discover ourselves and love the gifts he has bequeathed to us, each according to his ability. Jesus tells us this parable to prepare us for the judgement day so that we would not be taken unawares. Furthermore, this parable encourages us to be creative and industrious with our talents. There is no alternative to hard work and creativity.

Wickedness and laziness should not be part of the children of light; they belong to darkness. They spread poverty like a plague. “For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or darkness” (1Thes 5:5). Therefore, keeping awake in faith and love of God, floods the light of creativity into our hearts. But we must be courageous to be industrious like the good wife and put our talents to use. Hard work does not fail. The joy of the harvest awaits us, even to eternity.

___________________________________________

Fr Chinwenwa J. Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Church of Ascension, Nyahasang,

Calabar, Nigeria.

Sunday, November 19, 2017.