THE ROYAL BANQUET

Reflection for the 28^th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

(Is 25:6-10, Phil 4:12-14.19-20, Mt 22:1-14)

1.0.  “On this Mountain...”

Today the Prophet Isaiah declares the mountain of salvation. On this mountain, the Lord of hosts will prepare for all peoples an expensive feast. And there he would remove the veil spread over all nations. This mountain of celebration is also a platform of salvation, where death would be destroyed forever, tears wiped away from all faces, and the reproach of God’s people removed. This is a living mountain where all who come live freely and happy. It is a mountain of grace. “Let us, then, have no fear in approaching the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace when we are in need of help” (Heb 4:16). Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled on Mount Calvary and is celebrated today in the Eucharist.

 

2.0. “ ...Come to the marriage feast”

Jesus tells us the parable of the King who organized an expensive wedding for his son. The king loved his son so much that he committed so much to celebrate him. And he extended this love and joy to others, inviting them to participate in the love he has for his son. “But they would not come.” Imagine such embarrassment! Still he was patient and kind enough to send more servants, this time with deeper explanation about the splendour of the party. “But they made light of it and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.” How can they be causal to what their king takes seriously? They brought destruction upon themselves...But the king would not allow his son to hang in shame. New guests were invited, this time peoples from every corner of the earth, both bad and good. And the hall was full.

So the parable tells about the wedding feast of the lamb (cf. Rev 19:6-9). It talks about the transfer of the invitation to the Gentiles, and the marriage of Jesus and the Church—a permanent union, where Jesus is the Head and the Church His Body (cf. Col 1:18). The gathering of the Church is a foretaste of the eternal gathering of the children of God in Heaven. And the Church celebrates Jesus. So Jesus is that living Mountain of salvation, where are drawn to feast and to be saved.

3.0.  The Wedding Garment

“When the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.” The wedding garment ordinarily belonged to the Bridegroom and Bride. Now the invited guests are expected to put on the same garment. We have to put on the resemblance of Christ, such that God the Father sees the image of His Son in us. Hence, we are grafted into the wedding feast as His adopted sons and daughters. By choosing us to share in the love the Father has the Son, we have become a royal people, chosen for His own possession (1 Pet 2:9). 

Thus, wearing the garment means putting on the image of Christ and the Church—the Bridegroom and the Bride. Though we are sinners and unworthy of so great a Banquet, we must purify our selves, receive His forgiveness and imitate Jesus in our daily lives. The Holy Eucharist nourishes us. We consume Jesus, and must reflect his righteousness in our lives like a garment. Our actions should showcase what we profess—indicating we have accepted the invitation to dine at the Royal Banquet. But the one who fails to put on the wedding garment—who approach this Banquet unprepared—would be treated like the first invitees who turned against the King (1 Cor 11:28-32).

4.0.  “For many are called, but few are chosen”

Jesus warns us: to receive the invitation is not an end in itself. It is not enough for one to be a member of the Church or a pious group. Those who have received the grace to share in the love of the Father in the Son must back it up with an active live of virtue. Desire for heaven is not sufficient, our garment, our daily lives must reflect the righteousness of Jesus and faith of the Church. St Paul gives us a practical step to achieve this in the second reading.

“...In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want.” He gives us example of a certain level of detachment from material things, such that our motivation is not determined by what we have or do not have. In this way, whether we have farm or business, we always long to climb the Mountain of salvation. This disposition of detachment would enable us realize that it is God who supplies our every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:12.19).  

The external manifestation of this disposition constitutes a response to the Banquet on this Mountain of grace. And the habitual living out of this disposition of detachment for the Royal feast becomes a garment in which we resemble the Bridegroom and the Bride. These are the chosen few. And they will always be few. Our determination is to ensure we are among this chosen few.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Sacred Heart Catholic Church,

Gwagwalada, Abuja.

Nigeria.

October 15, 2017.

A DAY’S WALK

Reflection for Tuesday of 27^th Week in Ordinary Time Year A

(Jonah 3:1-10, Lk 11:1-4)

1.0. The Second Call

The word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time…He tried to escape the first time but ended in the belly of a big fish. He prayed, God heard him and rescued him. At this second call, he dare not try anything funny. I guess fear of the first ordeal wasenough to fly Jonah to Nineveh, if love of preaching would not move him. “So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord.”

Unlike other prophets, Jonah did not have much to say to the Ninevites. His preaching sounded monotonous. Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” There was no elabourations, no demonstrations or stories to convince his audience. It is obvious that Jonah did not go for love of the people, but just to please God and probably to avoid being swallowed by something else…

Nineveh was a city beyond compare; a great city with great sinners. The size of the city is described as taking three days journey in breath. Surprisingly, the Prophet only made a day’s journey and the whole city repented. Then we begin to wonder whether God actually needed Jonah to convert the city. His effort became insignificant in the face of the magnitude of the outcome. 

2.0. A Day’s Walk

Jonah’s one day journey was necessary for God to renew the city. “I did the panting, Apollos did the watering, but God gave growth” (1 Cor 3:6). God requires our availability. The efforts we make to bring the Gospel message and it’s righteousness to those around us are like Jonah’s one day walk into Nineveh. It is God who brings the efforts to completion. So the preacher or the one who shows good example, must do it with utmost humility, relying solely on God. It is not for show or to impress. Such a one ought to be like Mary at the feet of Jesus, as we read in the Gospel today.  

The journey is long; we may not see the end of it. We have a lot to fret and care for like Martha. But a day’s walk at the feet of Jesus accomplishes much. Jonah’s words were few. But at the feet of Jesus words may disappear. The sound of silence communicates the trust and represents the humility. Therefore, a day’s walk with Jesus ought to be our disposition in facing life challenges and in responding to God’s call.

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Mater Domini Community,

Enugu, Nigeria.

October 10, 2017.

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JONAH

(Jonah 1:1-17; 2:1, 10, Lk 10:25-3)

1.0. Jonah’s Escape

“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness has come up before me.” The story of Jonah is quite dramatic. Hearing this, the young man planned an escape from the presence of God to Tarshish. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? (Ps 139:7-10). Jonah abandoned the journey God arranged for him and embarked on his own self-thought-out journey. He felt comfortable. He relaxed at the inner chamber of the ship and slept off. Then trouble ensued: the ship was about sinking! His journey was interrupted.

2.0. Arise and Pray

 The sailors in the ship started calling on their different gods. Their prayers were not answered since    the gods of the Nations are works of human hands...(Ps 135:15-16). Funny enough, the man of God was asleep. At that time when Jonah felt comfortable, when he thought he had escaped and was secure, he could not pray but slept off. But trouble woke him: “Arise, call upon your god...”

At the end Jonah was cast into the sea. A great fish swallowed him up. “Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish.” Oh Yes! Now he did not need anyone to invite him to pray. The sleep of prayer vanished. Trouble had woken up his prayer life. 

3.0. In the Footsteps of Jonah

The footsteps of Jonah are all around and within us. How many realize the urgency of prayer when they are secure? We all walk in that footstep once in a while. On the other hand, escape from prayer is a tacit attempt to run from the Spirit of the Lord. Prayer becomes elusive at that moment when we want to hide ourselves or an aspect of our life from God. 

Like Jonah, God hears us every time, even when we call on Him from the dungeon of our wretchedness. As he prayed, the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah upon the dry land. It can never be too late to pray. “Pray constantly” (1 Thes 5:17). We cannot be sleeping under the ship of comfort when we ought to be praying. Prayer is our security.

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Mater Domini Novitiate House

Enugu, Nigeria.

09/10/17

THE CORNERSTONE

Reflection for the 27^th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

(Is 5:1-7, Phil 4:6-9, Mt 21:33-43)

1.0. The Vineyard and the Tenants

 “My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.” The Prophet Isaiah tells the story of this vineyard, planted with choice vines and tendered with the utmost care. He even built a wine vat there, ready to tap sweet wine. But it yielded soar grapes... “What more was there to do for my vineyard that I have not done in it?” He complained bitterly.  In his anger and disappointment, the owner declared destruction for the vineyard. Then Isaiah says, “For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel...and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed, for righteousness, but behold, a cry!”

Jesus gives a similar story but this time about the tenant to whom the householder leased out the vineyard. “He set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country.” This time the vineyard produced, but the tenants would not allow the householder to have his own share. They dealt with the servants sent to receive the Householder’s part of the agreement. “And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.” But the householder will not give up. He sent more servants. “And they did the same to them.” Surprisingly, he risked his son, saying, “They will respect my son.” This was in hope that the tenants would repent and respect his agreement with them. “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’” So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.

2.0.  The Householder and the Vineyard

The householder in the parable took pride in his vineyard. He invested heavily in it and handed it over to the tenants. Unfortunately, they turned against him and became bloodthirsty. But the householder would never abandon his vineyard in the hands of wicked tenants. Unlike the first reading where the vineyard was laid waste, he took every precaution to save his vineyard. He was faithful to their agreement. 

The tenants thought they could usurp their master. Still, the man was merciful and patient with them. They killed the first servants, he sent more. This shows he forgave their first act and still wanted to work with them. They did the same to this second set, but the householder was still merciful and ready to work with them if they changed and honoured the agreement. He staged his son!  He risked the life of his son for his vineyard. This is the fulfilment of the words of Isaiah in the first reading, what have I not done for my vineyard? Why did it then yield wild grapes?

The wicked tenants rejected the son sent to make peace. They brought ruin to themselves. “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” The transfer was made...

3.0.  The Cornerstone

For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting...The Pharisees and the elders of the people rejected Jesus, the Son of God, sent to make peace. They killed the prophets sent to them (Lk 11:47-51). Finally, they led Jesus outside the city and crucified him (Heb 13:12). His blood sealed the transfer of the vineyard to new tenants. He made peace by His death on the Cross (Col 1:20). Thus a new people of God emerged—the Church, sealed in the Blood of the Lamb. The Son gave his life to save the vineyard, and the new tenants are brought through His Blood. Thus, the stone rejected by the old tenants has become the cornerstone of those saved by the Blood the Son. “This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.”

The sufferings and death of the prophets, saints and martyrs find their meaning and fulfilment in the shedding of the Blood of Jesus Christ. He is equally their Cornerstone for without His Blood, they would have died in vain. 

As the mediator between heaven and earth, Jesus hangs on the Cross as the tower in the midst of the vineyard. From there he delivers us from the hands of the wicked ones. He is the hedge, the fortress around the Church—His choice vineyard. Jesus is the winepress in the vineyard that is the Church, which produces the sweet wine of the Sacraments. These means of spiritual nourishment draw there efficacy from open side of Jesus on the Cross (CCC 1225).

4.0.  “Have no anxiety about anything...” (Phil 4:6)

“For nobody can lay down any other foundation, than the one which is there already, namely, Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 3:11). The Cornerstone is laid. It is on Him we are established, and on Him alone we must build our lives. The Lord has made us tenants at different capacity in His vineyard. We are part of the Body, the Church, with different responsibilities but for the one Lord (1 Cor 12:5). This grace has been handed on to us through the blood of the prophets and martyrs, and above all, through the Blood of Jesus Christ. Hence, St Paul advices in the second reading, “Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

So our thoughts should be on Jesus, the Cornerstone. If we expel Jesus in our lives, we will lose the inheritance. Our lives must be built on Jesus as the foundation. Then we shall produce the wine of justice, truth, purity, love, graciousness. “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

St Theresa Catholic Church,

Off Ewah Road, Benin City, Nigeria.

8/10/2017.

Divine Logic

Reflection for 25^th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

(Is 55:6-9, Phil 1:20-24.27, Mt 20:1-16)

1.0.         The Unsatisfied Logic

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, says the Lord.” This message from Prophet Isaiah was exemplified in the parable of today. A householder went out early in the morning and invited labourers to his vineyard. He agreed with them for one denarius a day. Later in the day he invited other labourers, even at one hour to the close of work. Surprisingly, he started payment from the last comers, and paid them the same amount with the first comers. Anyone reading the story with common sense would join the first labourers to grumble: “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” What sort of reasoning is this?    

Ordinarily, we grumble at the face of injustice. But the first labourers were paid their just wages. Though the master’s logic surprises us, we could not accuse him of injustice. Then the murmuring came from a mindset that is inclined to competition and jealousy. Such common-sense-reasoning values what it has because others do not have it. But Jesus presents to us a different kind of logic, rooted in generosity and self-donation.

2.0.         Discerning the Common Sense

In the parable, the householder had agreement for one denarius  with the first labourers only. The later labourers were invited based on his mercy and generosity. “You go into my vineyard too, whatever is right I will give you.” While the first worked based on the agreement, covenant or law of one denarius a day, the later labourers relied on the man’s mercy and charity. His generosity became for them a ‘new' covenant or agreement, which is not based on any determinate financial gain. Their response implies they abandoned themselves to his mercy! In other words, they took the greater risk or, rather they made the greater commitment to the householder. Hence, the later labourers were given equally what is obtainable in agreement or law. Yes, the first labourers worked all day under the heat, but for their own self determination and assured reward.

“Faithful love and loyalty joined together, saving justice and peace embraced” (Ps 85:10). In God, Justice and charity go together. Charity is built upon justice but goes beyond it. “My friend...I choose to give to this last as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?” Justice cannot be sustained without charity!

3.0.         The Divine Logic

Therefore, the Divine logic is that of generosity and faithfulness. “Our God is merciful and just” (Ps 116:5). This logic often challenges our common sense. But we participate in it by committing ourselves to a life of charity—a life lived for others. This is part of the message of the second reading. “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account...” (Phil 1:23-24). Like Paul who goes out to spread the Gospel, we see the merciful and charitable householder going to search for idle labourers and bring them to his vineyard. The thoughts and ways of God are higher than ours. But we are invited to participate in this Divine logic.

Charity upgrades us. Those labourers who responded to the merciful invitation shared in the logic of the householder, and they received mercy’s reward. “Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them” (Mt 5:7). Living for others in charity is a way we share in the Divine Logic and belong to Him in life or in death. “Brethren: Christ will be honoured in my body, whether by life or by death.” It is equally a way we progress and receive with satisfaction and joy our daily ‘denarius.’  

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Mother of Perpetual Help Shrine,

UgwogoNike, Enugu, Nigeria.

24/9/2017

THE FACE OF FORGIVENESS

                                                   Reflection for the 24^th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

                                                            (Sirach 27:30-28:7, Rm 14:7-9, Mt 18:21-35)

1.0.THE BURNING RAGE

Have you noticed that an angry person often justifies himself? And as his self-pity accumulates so does his rage accelerates. Anger burns like fire! It can explode or gradually melt. In either case, the angry person is the first victim. Physically, anger can trigger hormones in the body; affect heartbeat, body temperature, digestion, etc. It can distort sleep, induce ulcer or even lead to nervous breakdown. Anger is an emotional burden. It destroys prayer life and leaves us spiritually dry. It is contagious. If not checked, it can be an uncontrollable habit. We all get angry at some point, but no one likes to interact with an angry person. Anger spreads like a plague. Many families today are torn apart due to grudge and quick temper. And this grows into the larger society.

The first reading condemns anger in strong terms, “Anger and wrath, these are abominations, and the sinful man will possess them.” Here anger and grudge are seen as the fruits of sin. Sirach tells us that harbouring anger can be obstacle to receiving God’s forgiveness. “Forgive your neighbour the wrong he has done, and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray.” Forgiveness remains the key solution to anger.

2.0.   HARDENED HEART

In the Gospel of today, Jesus tells us the story of the unforgiving servant. When the servant begged for more time to pay the debt, his master treated him with great mercy and cancelled the debt. But on meeting a fellow servant who owed him far less than what he owed their master, he hardened his heart against the pleading of his colleague and locked him up in prison. The master was infuriated and said to him, “You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?”

Here we can see that hardness of heart is the source of anger. A hardened heart is one not touched by God’s mercy, like the unforgiving servant. Such a one is ever hungry for mutual understanding and forgiveness but less ready to give such to others. Selfishness is at the root of it all. Nothing fuels anger like selfishness and pride. However, the real consequence of lack of forgiveness is not that we hurt others, but that we incur God’s wrath. “And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt.” This Divine wrath appears to be directly opposite and proportional to Divine mercy. The difference is that the mercy was unmerited and given freely, but the servant incurred the wrath upon himself.

3.0.  THE FACE OF FORGIVENESS

The master was angry with the unforgiving servant, not just because he treated his fellow harshly nor because he lacked the capacity to forgive, but mostly because he failed to draw from the abundance of mercy shown him. Forgiveness can be difficult if we want to rely on our strength or disposition to forgive. Worse still, it can be an agonizing experience if we look at the ‘face’ of the offence or the offender as condition to forgive.

Forgiveness now has a face—the face of the Master! By cancelling the servant’s debt, the master showered him with supra-abundance of mercy, more than he could imagine. Since he ought to be sold, but set free, his current life should be lived as a gift. In other words, he ought to be overwhelmingly grateful to his master. Having been reborn in the master’s mercy, he ought to live it out. He was expected to forgive his fellow servant for this simple fact: the joy of what the master did for him. So, he ought to draw forgiveness from the master. Thus, the mercy of his master should become his reason to forgive.

Therefore, to forgive is an act of gratitude. The ungrateful cannot forgive! It’s a gesture of gratitude to God. Yes, we look upon the face of the Crucified and learn to forgive. We are expected to show mercy because we have received from His fullness grace upon grace (Jn 1:16). The second reading captures this forgiving attitude as living for Christ. “If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s (Rm 14:7-9). The supreme joy of belonging to Jesus Christ should lead us to let go of hurts, and look on them all as filth if only we can gain Christ (cf. Phil 3:8). “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13).

Forgiveness, located in Jesus, remains the authentic solution to anger. It brings healing and joy to the soul. Forgiveness is no longer what we imagine in our hearts or project in others. It is like rays of light illumining our hearts from the face of Jesus. He guarantees us of God’s mercy, and He empowers us to forgive others.

Fr. Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help,

Ugwogo-Nike, Enugu, Nigeria.

17/09/2017.