"FOR I HAVE GIVEN YOU AN EXAMPLE"

Reflection for Holy Thursday

Mass of the Lord’s Supper

(Ex 12:1-8, 11-14; 1Cor 11:23-26; Jn 13:1-15)

Today we begin the Easter Triduum in which we celebrate the Institution of the Eucharist and the ministerial priesthood, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. It can be described as one elongated celebration with specific pulses. In this evening celebration, the first reading reminds us of the Passover meal, prepared with an unblemished lamb, with which God delivered Israel from Egypt. The Second reading talks about the new Passover meal in the Body and Blood our Lord Jesus Christ, which is given to us until the Lord comes again. The Gospel narrates the scene at the Last Supper where Jesus washed the feet of His disciples.

 

The washing of feet was known in the tradition of Israel. It was used to welcome guests or when one returns from a journey. And this was done before one settled down to eat (cf. Gen 18:4, 19:2, 24:32). It was in the position of slaves to wash the feet of their masters when the return or when a guest comes (1 Sam 25:41). Based on this tradition, Jesus repudiated Simon the Pharisee saying, “I came into your house, and you poured no water over my feet...” St Paul used washing of feet to demonstrate the kind of service to be rendered to God’s people. It was quite dramatic and amazing as Jesus suddenly began to wash the feet of His disciples. This act He performed that evening points to His person and mission.

He laid aside His garments, and tied a towel round Himself. This was how He put aside His glory and assumed our lowly state. “Who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped. But He emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave...” (Phil 2:6-7). He tied the towel, ready for work, like a servant ready to serve his master (cf. Lk 12:35-36). At the heavenly banquet, those servants who washed the feet of their master shall receive the kind of service Jesus gave to the disciples. “In truth I tell you, he will do up his belt, sit them down at table and wait on them” (Lk 12:37).

 “Then He poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.” Imagine the surprise on their faces, and the reluctance with which the stretched forth their legs! This is one of those occasions where Jesus challenged the tradition of the Jews. Washing of feet was done by servants before one enters inside the house, and before he eats. Thus, the disciples needed to be washed before they could enter into the new life of the Resurrection. This washing will draw its effectiveness from the washing flowing from the side of Jesus on the Cross. Therefore, this washing has a Eucharistic dimension, and is an integral expression of Jesus’ total self-offering on the Cross for our cleansing. He took the position of a servant, and was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross (Phil 2:8).  

Jesus has to assume the position of a servant so that His servants can become masters! But Peter echoed the voice of common humanity who had not been schooled in this humility, “Lord, do you wash my feet?...You shall never wash my feet.” His objection exposed our struggle to pull from grace and be human. Here Peter’s humility rejected Jesus’ humility. But how can we learn to be humble if we are not docile at the Master’s humility, even unto the cross? So Jesus said, “If I do not wash you, you have no part in me.” We must allow Jesus to save us so that through us others can be saved.

“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”  He gave the instruction that the disciples should imitate Him. Thus, Christ’s faithful must acquire this habit of humility before others. This entails rendering service to them and attending to their needs. But most importantly, it involves washing their feet that they may be able to enter and dine with Jesus. We must help people live a Eucharistic life, a life pleasing to God.  This will make us appear like servants at the Eucharistic gate to wash the feet others that they might have a part in Jesus. As the living example Jesus gave today anticipates His Cross, and draws its effectiveness from there, so also shall our actualization of this example in the lives of others be a moment of cross, and our sharing in the Cross of Christ Jesus.

There are so many feet to wash! Our hearts have traveled far from home; some people can no more trace their way back. Psychological and emotional crisis are in the increase. There are lots of socio-economic and health conditions today that demand urgent intervention. Washing these feet is not to wipe out these problems, but for us to have a part in Christ Jesus, and help others to experience the example Jesus gave us.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Thursday April 9^th, 2020.

Holy Thursday.

“My Time is at Hand”

Reflection for Wednesday of Holy Week

(Is 49:1-6; Jn 13:21-33, 36-38)

30 Pieces of Silver

“So they weighed out my wages: thirty shekels of silver. Yahweh said to me, ‘Throw it to the smelter, this princely sum at which they have valued me!’ Taking the thirty shekels of silver, I threw them into the Temple of Yahweh, for the smelter” (Zech 11:12-13). This passage was fulfilled today as Judas approached the chief priests to bargain the amount they would pay him in exchange for Jesus. “What will you give me if I deliver him to you?” At this point the value of the money excited him more than the value of his friendship with Jesus. And he can go to any extent to achieve it, including entering into bargain with his own enemies! This can happen to anyone consumed by power, lust, wealth, etc.

Judas was entrusted with the wealth of the apostolic college, but he turned what ought to be service for others to personal gain. The pull of his hidden bad behaviour took him away from the one who trusted him and exalted him, and landed him face to face with those who never trusted him nor valued him! That is why we should be careful in using our natural talents, never to manipulate or cheat anyone...And the malicious chief priests were quick to respond, “And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.” What a price for the Son of God! Actually, it was not the price for Jesus, but the cost for Judas’ greed. Imagine how little he got excited for over his integrity, faithfulness and friendship with Jesus. Whenever we exchange Jesus for other interests, we equally devalue ourselves. Thirty pieces of silver was all Judas was rated.

The Opportunity

 “And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.” Sure, he could no more concentrate on his apostolic responsibilities. What a restless life! The privilege given to Judas by his vocation to witness to Jesus now became an opportunity for him betray Jesus. Meanwhile, Jesus continued to create opportunity to commune with His disciples and celebrate Passover together. “Go into the city to such a one, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” Yes, our choices define what we do with the opportunities that come our way.

It was indeed a solemn and heartbreaking moment for Jesus as they sat at table, sharing meal. He did not want to put Judas to shame before others. He freely accepted the betrayal to fulfill what Isaiah said in the first reading, “The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I turned not backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled at the beard; I hid not my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord God helps me.” By discretely communicating to Judas that He knew his treachery, Jesus gave him opportunity to repent.

The communion meal was a viable opportunity for him to retrace his steps, but he was adamant. So Jesus warned, “The Son of man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”  Evil builds its on defense. “Sin speaks to the wicked in the depths of his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes” (Ps 36:1). Thus Judas too asked him, “Is it I, Master?” Jesus answered him, “You have said so.”

This Holy Week, we have a new opportunity to witness to our faith in Christ Jesus, especially with the present challenges, and changes in our Church gathering. The Hour of Jesus is at hand, and is richly available for us to connect to. Let us use this opportunity to renew our friendship with Jesus.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Wednesday April 8th, 2020.

“NOW IS THE SON OF MAN GLORIFIED”

Reflection for Tuesday of Holy Week

(Is 49:1-6; Jn 13:21-13, 36-38)

Today we meditate on Jesus as His Hour approaches the more. For a long time He had a lot of arguments with the Chief priests, the Pharisee and the Scribes. There was a lot of external plot against Him. In the Gospel of today, Jesus’ faces a different kind of opposition, which deeply troubled him in spirit. While at table with His apostles, enjoying communion and sharing meal, Jesus declared, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” This sounded like a bombshell, and silence exploded among them. Suspicion and tension began to arise...Who among them could be harboring such unthinkable plot? So the Beloved Disciple asked, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give this morsel when I have dipped it.”

The words of the Psalmist came to mind:

“Even my best friend, the one I trusted most, the one who shared my food, has turned against me” (Ps 41:9). “If it were an enemy making fun of me, I could endure it; if it were an opponent boasting over me, I could hide myself from him. But it was you, my companion, my colleague and close friend. We had intimate talks with each other and worshiped together in the Temple” (Ps 55:12-14).

“So when He dipped the morsel, He gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot...” The Communion meal that supposed to bind them together became sieved out treacherous heart of Judas. Long before now, Judas held on to his ideology gain-making and taking advantage of others. He had opportunity of re-aligning his heart to Jesus over the years. He had been succeeding in his secret affairs until the Communion meal exposed him. Judas went out! The Eucharistic meal still does this miracle. That is why we must prepare ourselves through good life, prayer and confession so as to remain with Jesus.

“When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now is the Son of man glorified, and in Him God is glorified; if God is glorified in Him, God will glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him at once.” The heart of Jesus bears it all. He never stopped loving Judas but Judas was busy loving something else: money! It is impossible not to betray our communion with Jesus if the energies of our hearts are directed to something less, including turning attention to oneself.

This is where Peter broke the heart of Jesus when he said, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” He was so conscious of himself and his capacity to be faithful to Jesus. But faithfulness is the work of grace! How far can the self take him? Seeing through his heart, imagine how hurtful it was for Jesus that Peter was going to deny Him. “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the cock will not crow, till you have denied me three times.” By denial, Peter was going to withdraw himself from the one he pledge to commit his life.

Jesus is greatly troubled. His heart of love is wounded. His most intimate friends are set to betray and deny him. Human relationships are still bearing these marks. Jesus continues to love; He freely accepted the betrayal and denial, and offered them to the Father, who is ever faithful. Therefore, in Jesus we too will continue to love and remain faithful, even when those closest to us betray or deny us. Now is the Son of man glorified in those who share communion with Him, for their broken hearts shall be healed.

 Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Tuesday April 7th, 2020.

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

My Jesus, I believe that you are really here in the Blessed Sacrament. I love you more than anything in the world, and I hunger to feed on your flesh. But since I cannot receive Communion at this moment, feed my soul at least spiritually. I unite myself to you now as I do when I actually receive you. Never let me drift away from you. Amen.

----St Alphonsus Liguori

IN KEEPING WITH 'HIS HOUR'

 Reflection for Monday of Holy Week

(Is 42:1-7; Jn 12:1-11)

We are very close to the Hour of Jesus! While the Chief priests and Pharisees were intensifying their plot, Jesus Himself would freely step in to accomplish the Father’s will. This week, we shall see how Jesus’ free offering of Himself met with the malicious plot of the Jewish leaders against Him.

“Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.” It was like a thanksgiving supper. Lazarus became a living testimony that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. Mary expressed her love and thanksgiving by pouring an expensive ointment on the feet of Jesus. The fragrance of the ointment points to the adoration due to Jesus as the Son of God. Silence covered the room as the fragrance rises. From now on, Jesus will be speaking directly about His Passion, and will use every opportunity available to bring it to the consciousness of His disciples.

The apostles gazed in wonder until Judas broke the silence... “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” His voice sounded convincing, and all who do not put God first in everything will fall for it. The greedy and selfish man will also use every opportunity available but for his own gain, including projecting religious sentiments to do so. By projecting helping the poor to the glory God in exchange to the love and honour given to Jesus, but for his own selfish interest, Judas had already sold out Jesus in his heart! Today, many so called celebrities and social crusaders, attempt to reduce the usefulness and goal of the Church to helping the needy. But Jesus replied immediately, “Let her alone, let her keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

Soon the greed of Judas will join the malice of the Chief priests and Pharisees. These elders were working hard to destroy all evidences point to Jesus as the Messiah. “So the Chief priests planned to put Lazarus also to death, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.” What they do not know is that the Father Himself bears witness to the Son (Jn 8:54).  

Meanwhile, whatever events that revolve around Jesus this week will contribute to the unfolding of His hour. He will silently transform both the love shown Him, and the greed and malice against Him to fulfill the will of the Father.  Hence the prophet Isaiah said that the Chosen One of God will bring forth justice; He will not cry or lift up His voice. He will not act in violence but silently bring about salvation for the people.  Therefore, let our lives revolve around Jesus, then every situation or fear we face today He will surely transform to the glory of His hour.

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Monday April 6^th, 2020.

One Man should Die for All

 Reflection for Saturday of the 5^th Week of Lent

(Ezekiel 37:21-28; Jn 11:45-57)

Today we round up the 5^th week of Lent. In our readings this week, there was heated debate between Jesus and the Jews about His origin and identity. They refused to accept His divine origin and His identity as the Messiah. But Jesus would never compromise nor deny His Origin or identity. So they accused Him of blasphemy and made several efforts to arrest or kill Him but they did not succeed because His hour had not yet come. By next week He will freely surrender Himself.

Today, we hear how the council of the chief priests and Pharisees had their final meeting to strategize on how to kill Jesus. It was an emergency meeting, which was prompted by the most outstanding miracle of Jesus: the raising of Lazarus! What ought to be a good news or a reason to convince them, became the very reason they must silence Him. The meeting was chaired by Caiaphas. The agenda for the day was summarized: “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place our nation.” Everything was done in a hurry; there was an urgency to do away with Him. Their kings revolt, their rulers plot together against the Lord and against His anointed...(Ps 2:2).

 

“You know nothing at all; you do not understand that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish.” The Chief Priest was prophetic in his utterance though his intention was malicious. For the prophet Ezekiel in the first reading announced that God will gather His people as one under one king, and remove all their defilement. “But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” According to the prophet, this promise of restoration will be founded on an everlasting covenant of peace with the people...So as the leaders hurriedly conspire against the Lord, God was using them to quickly fulfill His plan of salvation. Upon Christ Jesus will lie the burden of gathering the Children of God.

The Children of God thus saved, must abide in Christ Jesus with such urgency as the elders concluded in their meeting today. “They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, ‘What do you think? That He will not come to the feast?’” At a time like this, it is expedient that we look for Him. In Him lies the restoration we yearn for. The promises given through the prophet Ezekiel today shall be ours if we pray and imitate Jesus in our lives. Next week, we shall enter in to the solemn celebration of the realization of our salvation in Christ Jesus.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Saturday 4^th April, 2020.

My birthday!!!

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

My Jesus, I believe that you are really here in the Blessed Sacrament. I love you more than anything in the world, and I hunger to feed on your flesh. But since I cannot receive Communion at this moment, feed my soul at least spiritually. I unite myself to you now as I do when I actually receive you. Never let me drift away from you. Amen.

----St Alphonsus Liguori

Escaping Persecution

Reflection for Friday of the 5^th Week of Lent

(Jer 20: 10-13; Jn 10:31-42)

“The Jews pick up stones to stone Jesus.”  Imagine Jesus in the midst of those angry faces, armed with stones. This lingering debate about the origin and identity of Jesus had hurt their pride. Grudge and rage covered their minds. Only the blood of the innocent could satisfy them. The situation of Jesus in today’s reading was captured by Prophet Jeremiah, ‘“Denounce him! Let us denounce him!’ say all my familiar friends, watching for my fall.”’ But the Prophet announced that such plan will fail and the persecutor shall stumble. He cried out, “O Lord of hosts, who tests the righteous, who see the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them; for to you have I committed my cause.”

Despite the danger before Him, Jesus began to speak to their conscience. Since they would not listen to the evidence of His works nor the explanations He gave, maybe their conscience would convince them. “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of these do you stone me?” The Jews answered, “We stone you for no good work but for blasphemy; because you, being a man, make yourself God.” Jesus made further appeal to their conscience that even scripture addressed those who heard the word of God as ‘gods’, how much more the One who came from the Father. Further, He tried to make them understand that He and the Father are working together, so they should focus on the works for them to understand. “...Even though you do not believe me, believe in the works, that you many know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

“Again they tried to arrest Him, but He escaped from their hands.” That means their conscience too was infected by their pride and grudge. They persecuted Jesus based on His person—His origin and identity—not for any wrongdoing, neither against the society nor religion. This kind of rage can be seen whenever we face racism or tribalism. It is dangerous to have a closed mind—refusing to be corrected or enlightened. This can lead to picking up stones against the innocent!

The escape of Jesus from those stones is the victory of the innocent. Faith in Jesus, even in the face persecution, is our escape root! This can come about if our heart and mind are fed by Jesus' teaching, and our consciences are formed by His word. The Prophet Jeremiah already saw this victory coming, “Sing to the Lord; praise the Lord! For He has delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers.”  Amen.

 Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Friday April 3, 2020

ABRAHAM’S BLESSINGS

 Reflection for Thursday of the 5^th of Lent

(Gen 17:3-9; Jn 8:51-59)

BEFORE ABRAHAM

God created man in his image and likeness, and man had his will absolutely united with God. It was a peaceful life in the garden, without fear or death. God needed no covenants to relate to man. But the devil tricked man, and he misused his freedom and chose to pull his will from God. He disobeyed and sin entered with death! Before Abraham, there was need to save man from swimming in sin and ending in death. God, in His love and mercy, had a plan to save man and restore him to perfect unity with the Trinity.

WITH ABRAHAM

God inaugurated the plan of salvation...He called Abraham to accept a pilgrimage of faith by going to the Promised Land. By dwelling there in faith, Abraham was to form a new human race, who would live by faith and thus they would become God’s chosen people. Now God had to relate to man by covenants. In other words, God had to attract man’s free consent by offering him promises sealed in His name! In today’s reading, God said to Abraham, “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations...I will make you exceedingly fruitful...and kings shall come forth from you.” This covenant was applicable to his descendants throughout their generations.

ARE YOU GREATER THAN ABRAHAM?

In today’s Gospel, the Jews used the case of Abraham to argue against Jesus’ origin and identity. Jesus continued to point to them that He is divine, but their obsession as descendants of Abraham would not let them hear. He said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” Before Abraham, God had a plan to save man from the domain of death. And Jesus came to fulfill that plan and bring to completion the journey that was inaugurated with Abraham.

Jesus reminded them that Abraham looked forward to seeing the fulfillment of the promised God made to him. “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see my day; he saw it and was glad.” Now Jesus shook the very foundation on which their argument was based. As their temper was rising they asked him, “You are not fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” He answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

Immediately they attempted to stone Him. Their rejection and persecution of Jesus was because they had already made up their minds on how the Messiah should be based on their own interpretation and tradition. But God’s gift of salvation was conceived even while Adam and Eve were still hiding in shame from God. And whenever we want to think out our lives for God without being open to His divine will, we too will pick up stones against Jesus. Our duty is to keep to His word; death will never be our destination. The Blessings of Abraham, and much more than that, awaits us in Christ Jesus. Amen!

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Thursday, April 2^nd, 2020.

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

My Jesus, I believe that you are really here in the Blessed Sacrament. I love you more than anything in the world, and I hunger to feed on your flesh. But since I cannot receive Communion at this moment, feed my soul at least spiritually. I unite myself to you now as I do when I actually receive you. Never let me drift away from you. Amen.

----St Alphonsus Liguori