“The Righteous shall live by Faith”

Reflection for 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
(Hab 1:2-3; 2:2-4, 2Tim 1:6-8, 13-14, Lk 17:5-10)
1.0.The Dark Night of Faith
It is not easy to believe and sustain faith. This is because faith is assurance of things not seen or the guarantee of blessings hoped for (Hen 11:1). That is why faith comes as a supernatural gift. It may seem plausible to claim to believe when life is favourable. But with the experience of prophet Habakkuk in the first reading, faith is tested, doubt knocks, and only the one with strong and genuine faith stands. “O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?” The echo of the silence of God to the cry of the man faith, vibrates more in the midst of the sound of violence, destruction, strife and contention he perceives. This was the situation the prophet found himself; a test of faith.

The silence of God in the dark night of faith, when It is almost unbelievable to believe, is equally a purifier of faith. “For still the vision awaits its time...if it seem slow, wait for it; it will surely come.” The suspension of God's response to the cry of the man of faith, the elongation of his longing, stretches and strengthens faith, which in turn delivers to him the answers he hoped for at the appropriate time. And this appropriate time of blessing is the now of God. Therefore,  whoever does not stand with God now, whose soul is not upright in him shall fail. Such a one cannot possess a faith that can awake from the dark night of faith. “But the righteous shall live by Faith.”

2.0. “Increase our Faith”
This is an all time request! We all need to grow in faith. Faith that is not growing—a faith not watered and fed—withers and dies. Jesus answered, “If you had faith as little as a grain of mustered seed, you could say to this sycamine tree, ‘be rooted up, and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” That means faith increases by being put to action. No matter the size of the faith one possess, if put to use can achieve great results. Faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26).

3.0. Servants of Faith
Jesus describes how we ought to carry out the works of faith so as to grow in  faith and receive our daily bread. It is like a servant,  who goes about his assigned duties without expecting compensation or reward. He focuses solely on executing his duties, and ensuring his master is satisfied. So this servant places himself at the disposal of his master. He gets his food and drink afterwards, at the appropriate time, which is the time determined by the master, not the servant. “So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

Such a servant, by carrying out his mere duties, has elevated his faith above his hunger or problems, and placed It in the person of his master. Total abandonment or resignation to the will of God is what the saints used to describe such a faith. The righteous shall live by Faith!

The servants of faith do not trust in their endurance or hard work, but in the good pleasure of the Master. The silence of the dark night of faith surfaces as the servant is tossed from one job to another with any intermediary appreciation or reward. However, the master's good pleasure awaits him. His dedication to duty and perseverance become a sort of platform through which he receives his food and drink  at the favourable time, which is the time allotted by the master.

Jesus is the Master of our faith. The appropriate time for our daily bread is the now of God. Let us rekindle the gift of faith, and put to action all that our faith in Christ Jesus demands of us. “Your perseverance will win you your lives” (Lk 21:19).

Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
SsPeter and Paul Catholic Church
Tedi-Muwo,  Lagos
Sunday October 6th, 2019.

The Poor and the Gate of Blessings

Reflection for 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
(Amos 6:1, 4-7; 1Tim 6:11-16; Lk 16:19-31)
1.0. Prelude
The prophet of Social justice, Amos, comes again this Sunday. This time he criticizes not those who oppress the poor but ‘those who are at ease in Zion, who drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with finest oils but are not grieved over the ruins of Joseph!’ Indifference in the face of hardship, either collective or individual, is what Prophet Amos spoke against today. St Paul writes to Timothy about eternal wealth one should acquire, while Jesus presents the pathetic story of the rich man and Lazarus.

2.0. The Man on Fine Linen
The rich man enjoyed his  wealth lavishly. He was so protective of himself that he wanted to savour all the pleasures in his earnings. He secured himself with dogs! But he lived in internal insecurity since he felt sharing his food would reduce his enjoyment. Thus he hardened his heart, locked himself up in his world of affluence, and would never notice the wretched Lazarus at his gate. He denied God as His provider, made himself the giver and sole user of his wealth. His indifference to God played out in His neglect of poor Lazarus. Though he dressed in fine linen, the sore-ridden body of Lazarus exposed his naked heart. He denied himself the link he had with Lazarus as neighbour, and created an artificial barrier for his advantage. At last, this rich man died, left all the wealth behind, and landed in hell.

3.0. The Man at the Gate
“And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, full of sores...” The situation of this poor man is scary! No one would ever desire to be in his shoe. It was as if he was abandoned by both God and man; his only companions were dogs, which increased his agony. Still he was at the Gate of his blessings! All that Lazarus prayed for were abundantly in the rich man's house. However, since he was God's friend, why didn't heaven intervene directly, at least to heal his sores? Here lies the mystery...

Yes, God answered his prayer. All that Lazarus desired, God gave him through the rich neighbour. So he came to the Gate of his blessing, the rich man locked him out with the key of indifference. However, Lazarus accepted all these with patience  as his lot. His self resignation to the will of God in his suffering was a heroic virtue, which earned him a place in Abraham's bosom. Being poor in itself is not an automatic ticket to heaven.

4.0. Wealth for the Rich and Poor
Now we see in Lazarus the image of Jesus, who accepted suffering as the will of God. But the rich man, in his arrogance and pride, scorned God the giver of every good gift, and there was not the image of Christ Jesus in Him. Hence, St Paul in the second reading speaks of eternal virtues, which all should acquire in order to take hold of the eternal life to which we were called. “O man of God, aim righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” It was because the rich man was poor in these virtues that he landed in hell, while the poor man Lazarus was rich in these virtues that he rested in heaven.

5.0. The Man from the Dead
The rich man had five brothers who inherited his life of indifference to the needy. From his hell of pain he got no comforter, and he begged, “If someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” Like Lazarus, all that the rich man asked for in Hades were given to him on earth but he neglected them. He placed barriers between him and Lazarus, and this became impassable chasm in the next world. He denied Lazarus food and drink, and he got no water to quench his throat. He requested for preachers of conversion from the dead, and now, Jesus, the first born from the Dead, fulfils every prophecy and inspires contrition of heart.

These series of complaint and requests from the rich man contrasts with the silence of Lazarus. The poor and lowly are usually the voiceless in every society but Heaven speaks for them and defends their course. The One Man from the Dead, Jesus Christ, brings good news to the poor, which includes those that are poor in virtue. In fact the real calamity is lack of love. Such virtue become a sort of “gate of blessing” where the rich come down to, and the poor go up to. Here both the rich and poor enjoy well-being, and have place in Abraham's bosom.

Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church,
Ira-Nla, Lekki, Lagos.
Sunday, September 29th, 2019.

Meeting Jesus at the Gate

Reflection for 24^th Week in Ordinary Time Year I

(1Tim 3:1-13; Lk 7:11-17)

St Paul instructs the young man Timothy about the moral standard of those to occupy the offices of Bishop and Deaconate. These are not common Church posts, and must not be occupied by new converts or people with questionable character. They must be people of discipline and high moral standard. In other words, such religious leaders must be marked with the sign of the cross. Only those who carry their Cross with Jesus can lead others on the path of the cross to meet Jesus.

In the Gospel Jesus makes his way into the City of Nain with his disciples and a great crowd. “As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crown from the city was with her.” The woman lost hope; she was an epitome hopeless. Sometimes we too find ourselves in certain situations where we lose hope. Maybe someone hurt you to the extent you just cannot let go, and there is no hope of being friends again. It may be a collapse of one’s finances, and there is no hope of achieving your dream. There are those experience moral relapse or addiction, and they do not envision healing, etc.

In any case, there are usually great crowd of mourners who ‘celebrate’ our hopeless, trying to give us courage to stay put and accept the hopeless situation. Thus the crowd accompanied the woman out of the city. Then they met Jesus at the gate! Without invitation, He was moved to compassion. He saw the hopelessness of the woman, who was so devastated that she could not even ask for help! This usually the case when one feels all hope is lost. Jesus stopped the procession and said, “Young man, I say to you arise.” The boy was restored to life immediately...Encountering Jesus at the gate changed the whole situation.

Hope is restored, but only when we meet Jesus. He has opened for us a permanent gate where surely we will meet Him. That gate is the Cross! There His compassion awaits us. The Cross is the gate where we enter and hope is restored, no matter the situation. That is the only place where hope of life is restored in death. Therefore, the Bishops, priests, deacons, etc who lead us in the procession of faith to encounter Jesus at the gate must be men of the Cross.

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Ss Peter & Paul Catholic Church
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Tuesday September 17th, 2019.

Pray for Leaders

Reflection for Monday of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time Year I
(1Tim 2:1-8; Lk 7:1-10)
We continue the reflection from last week on Paul's letter to Timothy. Today he talks about the importance of making intercession for leaders. Paul seems to be very much aware that leaders can disorient people's lives. So he insists we pray for all men in positions of authority “That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way.” Such prayer is good and finds acceptance before God, “Who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” Paul asks all to pray in every place, “lifting holy hands without anger or quarrelling.”

Then Luke’s version of the story of Centurion shows a leader who intercedes for his subject. On the other hand, the elders of the Jews intercede for him before Jesus saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he built us our synagogue.” There is exchange of prayers and goodwill where there is love and humility. And Jesus moved to answer the Centurion...

Before He could get the house, this Roman Official sent a message to him saying, “Lord do not trouble yourself,  for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof...But say the word, and let my servant be healed.” Jesus marvelled at such depth of faith expressed by the foreigner. His faith went beyond the miraculous power of Jesus, which was what He needed at that time. He believed in the Person of Jesus, and quickly surrendered his desire to have his servant healed by that act of faith. “For I am a man set under authority...and I say to one, ‘Go,' and he goes; another, ‘come,’ and he comes.” By this expression, the Centurion submitted his desire to have his servant healed to the authority of Jesus. He believed in the person, who holds the command to heal. Thus he equally became a leader of Jesus, for Jesus commended his faith. “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”

This is the kind of faith with which we offer intercession for our leaders that may not lead us away from God. Jesus is the one mediator between God and men. Let leaders and their subjects focus on him, relying on His command that we might be healed and live in peace.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu,  C.Ss.R
Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Monday September 16th, 2019.
Memorial of Ss Cornelius & Cyprian.

THE CHOICE TO GO BACK HOME

Reflection for 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

(Ex 32:7-11, 13-14; 1 Tim 12-17; Lk 15:1-32)
The ugliness sin and the beauty of God's forgiveness are revealed in the readings of today. The first reading tells us how Moses pleaded for the Israelites before God and saved their lives. St Paul described the unmerited grace given him. He explains that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. In the Gospel Jesus tells three stories to show that God wants the conversion of the sinner and awaits it. The parable of the Prodigal son exposes the role of the individual, God’s mercy and those who feel they are righteous.

The Choice in Selfishness
Selfishness is the fertile ground in which sin grows. “Everyone is put to the test being attracted and seduced by the person's own wrong desire. Then the desire conceives and gives birth to sin, and when sin reaches full growth, it gives birth to death” (James 1:14-15). The choices we make can either bring us closer or away from the domain of grace, the presence of God. Thus, the young man chose to leave his father's house with his own share of property. This choice was a rebellion against everything his Father stands for, and so is every act of sin—rebellion!

Surprisingly and regrettably, he discovered that he could not manage himself. So “he squandered his property in lose living.” We always need Our Father to direct our lives. Now the boy sought for fake fathers to cater for him by going to the fields to feed swine. That is how we run around sometimes looking for satisfaction in emptiness after falling short of grace. His situation got worse. This is equally what happens to those refuse to go to confession because they felt they would fall again.

The Choice in Grace
“But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger!”’ Self-examination is key to conversion. It gives room for grace to inspire and impale us to repent. The grace of his father's generosity is active in pulling him back. Relying on this extravagant mercy, he made the radical choice, “I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you...”’ The journey back home is made on the two steps of one's personal choice and the other step of grace.

The Unmerited Grace
“But while he was yet at a distance, his Father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” Oh what a compassionate Father! He awaited the boy's return; He knew his prodigal son would return, having tasted his generosity, which does not exist anywhere else. The father offered his compassion and forgiveness freely and unconditionally—unmerited Grace! The boy's dignity and sonship was restored. And they began to celebrate. There is joy in coming back home.

The Celebration
The elder son, who had been faithful to his Father would not take this. He thought that the Father's generosity to the Prodigal son took away the answers to his prayers. This is where one is prayerful  and faithful but the answers he wished for are in the hands of the ungodly! He might begin to feel disillusioned. “But he was angry and refused to go in.” Now he sentenced his brother. Sometimes people who are faithful secretly harbour jealousy and easily pass judgement. This happens when one so much get used to enjoying God's presence that he forgot it’s the work of grace, not by his power.

Still the Father came out and entreated him, and revealed to him a secret he did not know. “Son you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.” Imagine that, he was working hard and set his heart on mere fatted calf as reward. But the generous man revealed that he himself is the reward. Nothing SATISFIES than being with Our Father. Whatever gives pleasure to the Father will eventual increase the joy of the faithful. Being with Him is enough celebrations. Therefore,  “It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he a was lost, and is found.”

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu,  C.Ss.R
Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Church
Tedi-Muwo,  Lagos.
Sunday September 15th, 2019.

The Exaltation of the Cross

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life” (In 3:14). Yes, God used the bronze serpent to save the Israelites, but only those who believed and gaze upon it. Through Moses, God demonstrated what He was going to accomplish in Christ Jesus. So today we exalt the Cross of Jesus.

“They shall look upon Him whom they pierced” (Zech 12:10). The wood of the Cross towering above all, on which is fastened Jesus, the Lamb of sacrifice, draws our attention to itself. In silence we wrap ourselves gently with Mary and John at the foot of the Cross. The Cross humbles us. There we surrender ourselves with all its strength and weakness, beauty and glamour, troubles of life and temptations, sickness and health, even life and death! All these dissolve into the one gaze of faith at Jesus hanging above.

“Ours were the suffering He bore” (Is 53:4). The Cross is for us. The pain and anguish of Jesus is unimaginable. He suffered every aspect of life open to suffering, physically, psychologically, emotionally, etc. But He accepted the suffering for our sake. We are the real owners of the pain and anguish. Hanging between heaven and earth,  Jesus freely but painfully offered up Himself to the Father in exchange. Since He was bearing within Him that which belongs to us, i.e. suffering and death, our hearts are drawn to Him; our lives are mingled with His.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His Only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16). Love is sacrificed; Love has conquered! God looks upon Jesus hanging above, and forgives us, and transforms our suffering into a means of blessing. The acceptance of Jesus' offering of our suffering becomes our merit. Thus we exalt the Cross that has made us. It towers above us as the banner of blessing; the fountain of grace and strength.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Church
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Saturday September 14th, 2019.
Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross.

Leading the Blind

Reflection for Friday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time Year I
(1 Tim 1:1-2,12-14; Lk 6:39-42)
Today we begin a journey into St Paul’s letter to Timothy. Paul began by introducing himself, indicating the backup authority that inspired the letter. “...By command of God our Saviour and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy, my true child in the faith.” Paul recognises that he is a child grace by acknowledging his unworthiness for the Mission of Christ. “The grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” Now Paul had set the background on which he would be instructing the young man, Timothy. The letter is full of admonitions and directives, which, according to Paul, flow from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

To lead people in the path of truth and righteousness is by the grace of God. Sin blindfolds us from seeing the glory of God. Those who are in a hurry to lead or make corrections are often blind guards! This is because they usually impose their humanity the path of leadership. So Jesus asked, “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?” Our human sentiments are marred by sin. We are in constant need of purification. 

True leadership,  like St Paul, begins by examining ourselves and acknowledging our unworthiness. Then we allow Jesus to lead us in the path of holiness and mission. This grace working in us brings direction to others, to the glory of God. Therefore,  it takes great humility to lead others in the path of salvation. “A disciple is not above his teacher, but every one when he is fully taught will be like his teacher.” We need to see with the eyes of Christ, that the log blocking our vision might be removed. Then we can see our way, and lead others to safety in Christ Jesus. In you is the source of life, in your light O Lord we see light (Ps 36:9).

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo,  Lagos.
Friday September 13th, 2019
Memorial of St John Chrystostom.