The Way and the Truth to Resolve Conflicts

Reflection for 5^th Sunday of Easter

(Acts 6:1-7; 1 Pet 2:4-9; Jn 14:1-12)

1.0. The Conflict

An internal conflict broke out among the early Christian community! This was scandalous looking at their profession of faith and history. The Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. This misunderstanding arose from innate human sentiments of favouritism, jealousy, etc. This sort of scandal has been in the Church, which also is seen in Christian homes. Every church community is marked with one internal struggle or the other. The effect of this is that it disrupts the preaching and spread of the word of God—the assimilation of grace and the practice of virtue. How did the apostles resolve the conflict?

2.0. Conflict Resolution

From the wisdom of the apostles we have the best method to resolve conflicts. First they recognized the bone of contention and the parties involved. Secondly, the identified the cost effect of the conflict i.e. the pending implications that will affect their core values. “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.” Thirdly, they avoided allotting blames i.e. identifying who was guilty and who was innocent. Instead they decided to allot responsibilities. So they selected seven representatives from the interest groups, and delegated their powers to them. By so doing, these representatives would no longer represent their groups to the apostles; instead, the seven deacons would represent the apostles to the whole people. In a family or group, where there is too much centralization of power, there will mostly be inefficiency and looming conflict. Thus the apostles would now have more time to promote their core values: prayer and preaching the word of God.

3.0. “To see me is to see the Father”

If we allow conflicts to tear us apart, how can our hearts ascend to Jesus? It is mostly worries and dragging of things of this earth that bring misunderstanding. Here, our minds and emotions are buried in human gain and pleasure, then jealousy and division set in. But Jesus says, “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms...” Our secret thoughts and emotions—the contemplation of our hearts—should not lose sight of the real treasure in Heaven. The friendship and treasure we have in Jesus must form our core values, such that whatever distracts us from Him should be treated as a conflict to be resolved! Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.” If our hearts are not resolved in Christ Jesus, then our conflicts cannot be resolved! If we follow our own way, and try to promote our self-defined truth, and preserve our life, at most, we get a compromised agreement, which does not give lasting peace and eternal life.

Therefore, Jesus becomes the living stone, chosen and precious, in which we build our lives, family and Church. Then we are “built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Sometimes when we have internal struggles and conflicts, we do not want to involve Jesus. But the stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. Like the apostles, Jesus must the reason, for He is the king of peace. He is Kingdom of God in our midst. He said to Philip, “He who has seen me has seen the Father...” So our hearts need not worry who is for us or against you. The foretaste of the Kingdom of God we enjoy now in Jesus will keep us secure. As St Peter said in the second reading, we become “A chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.”

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Sunday May 10^th, 2020.

A HUMBLE TWIST

Reflection for Thursday of the 4^th Week of Easter

(Acts 13:13-25; Jn 13:16-20)

Could this be a sign of growth in the mission of the early Church? A new trend evolved today!  At Pisidia, the synagogue of officials invited Paul and his companions to address the people. This is a surprise twist since before now they were being sent out of the synagogues and persecuted. Paul zealously grasped the opportunity; he would never miss a chance to proclaim Jesus Christ. He narrated to them the history of salvation beginning from the Patriarchs down to John the Baptist. He showed how the events of their history pointed to Jesus Christ and gave way for Him. So Jesus became the highest point and the one in whom the journey of the Israelites drew its meaning.

Interestingly, the Gospel of today located Jesus at the scene of the washing of feet of the apostles. The One who was highly exalted by the Old Testament brought Himself low that He might exalt His followers. The Master took the position of a servant! He told the apostles not to seek for recognition or to be exalted. In carrying out their mission in humility, they may not be accepted. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives anyone whom I sent receives me; and he who receives me receives him who sent me.” Even when they achieve success, to God be the glory.

Fear of being rejected has led some people astray. A lot of people suffer crisis of relevance in their career and family. Sometimes a father or mother may begin to feel he or she is no more relevant, either because of loss of income, health failure, etc. You do not need to buy acceptance, thereby raising yourself up above where God has placed you. Jesus steps in with a new twist: humility. Though He was above all ages, still He had a humble beginning. Who would have believed that the disciple would be begged to come and preach in the synagogue! If we maintain a humble attitude towards others, and let our life journey move towards Jesus Christ as its destination, then He will bring that surprising twist that will uplift us and favour us. Amen!

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Thursday May 7^th, 2020.

BEARING THE IMAGE OF CHRIST

Reflection for Wednesday of the 4^th Week of Easter

(Acts 12:24—13:5; Jn 12:44-50)

Jesus is the image of the unseen God (Col 1:15). His very person is the presence of God among us (Jn 14:9).  And His works is a proof of the Father’s love and power among us. To believe in Jesus is to believe in the Father and the Holy Spirit. He is the light that shines the glory of the Father upon us. Being like us in all things but sin, he has shown us the way to the Father; He has given us a living example we can adapt in every situation of our lives. It is through faith in Jesus that we enter into the relationship with Him that launches us into communion with the Holy Trinity. “He who believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me.”

By acting on our faith, we too are to reflect the image of Jesus Christ, just as Jesus reflected the image of the Father. Over the years, the things that influence and motivate us are hidden from others, but from the sequence of actions they produce, they reflect certain images, which we ourselves may not be aware of.  The things we do and say do not come from vacuum. Let the love of Jesus be the energy within, and then our intentions will be to the glory of God. So we take example from the early Church. What did they do, in the first reading of today, to be ambassadors of Christ Jesus?

Their mission began to grow and multiply. They had to employ more hands to help out in the ministry. The different gifts and personalities were recognized. But still they maintained a common centre of authority in Jerusalem, living in obedience, and communal prayer. “Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” The spreading of the gospel became for them an answer to their prayers. Prayer is the key! That was how the disciples communed with Jesus, and the Holy Spirit directed them to do the will of the Father. If we do not pray, we cannot imitate Jesus.

What is that stuff you are known for? What is the legacy you want to leave behind for your family and society? Like the disciples, if we keep obedience to the word of God, and be consistent in prayer, we will have the light of Christ, and radiate that light to others. “I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Wednesday May 6th 

"THE SHEEP THAT BELONGS TO ME"

“The Sheep that Belongs to Me”

Reflection for Tuesday of the 4^th Week of Easter

(Acts 11:19-26; Jn 10:22-30)

We continue to hear about the good shepherd narrative. On Sunday Jesus introduced himself as the door through which the sheep go in and out to find pasture and eternal life. Yesterday He declared Himself as the good shepherd who lay down His life to keep His sheep secure. Today he directs our focus to the sheep, and gives us the qualities of His sheep.

“The Sheep that belongs to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me.”  To listen, the sheep must pay attention; and for them to be attentive, they must be silent. Interior silence, that inner stillness that waits on the Lord, a contemplative attitude, is a habit we must acquire to have Jesus as our shepherd. “Morning by morning he makes my ear alert to listen like a disciple. The Lord God has opened my ear and I have not resisted, I have not turned away” (Is 50:4-5). In walking side by side with Jesus our shepherd, we are supposed to be passive towards Him.  Then we can follow in obedience despite the pull to act otherwise. In silence of heart we learn the act of total surrender to Jesus that we might not succumb to wolves and life problems. Lectio Divina and other forms of mediation train us to be the sheep that belongs to Jesus.

“My sheep...shall never perish, and no one shall steal them out of my hand.” Do you feel secure right now in Jesus Christ? When difficulties come, dangers arise; the sense of security your faith in Jesus gives you, is a sign to show if you have been following Jesus as your shepherd. His words are not promises relegated to an unknown future. His words are alive and active now. Take example from the first reading of today, how the early Church felt secure and continued to flourish despite the persecutions and internal organisational deficiencies among them. They knew then that the hand of the Lord was with them. Still, where they met persecution, they relocated, and where they achieved success, they rejoiced! This was how the Apostles sent Barnabas to Antioch. On seeing the work on ground, he decided to bring Paul from Tarsus to help him. “And it was in Antioch that the disciples were for the first time called Christians.”

The Lord Jesus has declared Himself for us as our Shepherd. He opened the Door to pasture and eternal life. The whispers of His words are loud enough. We must take responsibility to position ourselves as the sheep that belongs to Him by being attentive to His words. He has a message for you today, and in every situation. We must learn the act of silence; remove our attention from things that do not matter and sinful acts that block our inner ear. It is a blessed day because Jesus is watching over you. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Tuesday May 5^th, 2020.

The Good Shepherd

Reflection for Monday of the 4^th Week of Easter

 (Acts 11:1-18; Jn 10:11-18)

Our religious and cultural formations provide the basis from which we view life. Thus the Jewish converts, born of circumcision, criticized Peter for interacting with the uncircumcised. Even Peter struggled with his Jewish identity before embracing the universal salvation in Christ Jesus. This is how our family upbringing and education sometimes dwarf our vision of life instead of launching us into God’s vision of life. Peter explained how he had a vision in Joppa in which the voice said to him, “What God has cleansed you must not call unclean.” That was how he went to the house of Cornelius in the gentile city of Caesarea. After he narrated how the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they were baptized, the Church glorified God saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance unto life.”

We do not often have all the visions of life. Even our most pious acts, in the long run, can be misguided! We cannot go far unless guided by grace. If not for divine intervention, Peter would have remained in the prison of his Jewish ideas. We need to be guided. In Gospel of today Jesus declares, “I am the good shepherd.” This imagery is so powerful and consoling. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep, i.e. the life of his sheep is so dear to Him. He protects them from wolves. The sense of security the good shepherd gives cannot be compared.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for my sheep.” There is a horizon of life we cannot enter unless Jesus Christ leads the way. Most of childhood upbringing, cultural biases, ideas of life, relationship, etc are in constant need of redemption. They will not change for the better simply because we go to Church. We must consciously allow Jesus to lead us. How? By making act of total self-surrender to His will. We read and meditate on His words in the Bible, internalize them, such that they become bundles of energy within—energy of love—from which we are moved to act. This is one way, like Peter, we can act irrespective of ourselves. Regular Communion and visit to the Blessed Sacrament have proved to be effective in smoothening our wandering emotions and mind, directing them to a realm of serenity and love that nature cannot take them to. May God give us the courage to allow Jesus to Shepherd us.

Fr Jude Chinwe Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Monday May 4^th, 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

THE DOOR TO ABUNDANT LIFE

Reflection for the 4^th Sunday of Easter

(Acts 2:14, 36-41; 1 Pet 2:20-25; Jn 10:1-10)

1.0.                     The Options

We make choices based on available options. There is practically no product we purchase today that has no alternative. Thus, alternative options compete and appeal to our freedom of choice. These competing alternatives have to re-brand and upgrade in order to become our option of choice! To win this battle, companies and marketers attract us with lofty promises. Each alternative claims to be for our advantage, reduce cost or ease suffering. This competing appeal to our freedom of choice is in religion, politics and social life. These days we see some self-acclaimed men of God in completion of prophecies and easy solutions to life problems. Every politician climbs to power by promising to bring solution to economic and social problems of the society. Betting and gambling have become huge business today because they promise so much gain with very little commitment. Defrauders succeed by selling greed; promising easy wealth. Often times, the alternative that survives is the one that most promises to take away the cross; the one that most cancels suffering!

Our human will and freedom of choice are hungry for life. Thus we are easily attracted to the gateway that promises to open the door to life.

2.0.                    The Gateway

In the Gospel of today Jesus talks about the gateway to life. And there is no alternative to it. This gateway through which we enter to find pasture and life does not admit of competition. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and robber; but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.” We pass through the door, the gatekeeper lets us in, and we become members of the sheepfold, where we find pasture and life. There is only one doorway.

Further Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep...I am the door; if anyone enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture...I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” He assures us to ask anything in His name and it will be granted (Jn 14:14). Now we have to pass our life through Jesus as through a door. Our freedom of choice cannot unlock the life it yearns for unless we choose in the name of Jesus. So the choices we make for relationship, marriage, wealth, social life, career, etc must pass through Jesus. His promises of life in the resurrection must guide us. He is the way, the truth and the life (Jn 14:6).

3.0.The Gatekeeper

“Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?” The Body of Christ, the Church acts as the gatekeeper. Through the teaching and sanctifying authority of the Church, we are welcomed into the sheepfold of Jesus Christ. “And Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ...”’ The Gatekeeper helps us to enter through Jesus the Door by granting us Baptism and forgiveness of sins.

4.0. The Door to Abundant life

“Beloved: if when you do right and suffer for it you take it patiently, you have God’s approval.” St Peter explains in the second reading that the steps with which we pass through the door of blessedness is patient-endurance. Narrow is the way that leads to life (Mt 7:13-14). “...Because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in His steps.” Jesus has declared Himself as the Door; the Gatekeeper has opened the Door. We must take some responsibility by stepping forward. And the steps we take are the crosses we bear each day and our true repentance from our sins. “By His wounds you have been healed. For you were straying life sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”

No more shall we fall in the hands of thieves; they promise us love without sacrifice, friendship without commitment, wealth without investment, pleasure without labour, education without discipline, miracles without holiness, life without dying, etc. The crowd on the broad road to death compete among themselves. Though we may face diverse options and alternatives in our choices in life, there is only one door through which we must step in to unlock the blessings we really need. Jesus is the Door; if we pass through Him we shall escape the destroyers, receive pastures and earn eternal life. As we celebrate Jesus the Good Shepherd today, we must also follow the directives of the Gatekeeper, the Church, as she opens the way for us.

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Sunday May 3^rd, 2020.

Good Shepherd Sunday.

THE GRACE TO MOVE FORWARD

Reflection for Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter

(Acts 8:1-8; Jn 6:35-40)

Up until now, the Church was doing well in Jerusalem. With the death of Stephen, the virus of persecution that had been incubating began to spread. Lifeless body of Stephen seemed to them like the death of Christianity. Since death is their finality, the death of any member would be their victory. Saul who supervised the martyrdom of Stephen now took the central stage. He went house to house to fish out members. What a commitment to destroy Christianity! So the members fled Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria.

“Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to a city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ.” This is a sign that they did not bear grudge against their persecutors. They accepted it with joy as part of their sharing in the sufferings of Christ (Acts 5:41). Grudge, enmity, hatred and unforgiveness draw us backwards in every aspect of our lives. When parents teach their children to hate, they sow a seed that would draw them backwards unless uprooted. The Church spread more. Philip performed more miracles, and great multitudes believed through him.

The capacity of the Church to strive even in the midst of harsh persecutions is another evidence of the resurrection. “I am with you always, even to the end of time” (Mt 28:20). It is only with the grace of the resurrection that the Church can climb on that which ought to bring it down to rise to new heights. This is the grace we share individually as members of the Church. Every obstacle we face will become a stepping stone to climb to new heights if only we remove our eyes from revenge, grudge, etc.

That is why we must always contemplate the risen Jesus to be strengthened. “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.” He assures of eternal nourishment, which no persecution or life-problem can take away. It is by faith that we enter into Christ to share in the grace to move forward in every circumstances. “For this is the will of my Father that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” The assurance of life Jesus gives over whelms us more than the threat of death and opposition we face each day. Today we see through situations in our lives that tend to limit us or project death, to deepen our hope in eternal life. Then our capacity to be unlimited, nourished through the Eucharist, will shine out.

Fr Jude C. Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Wednesday April 29^th, 2020.

Memorial of St Catherine of Siena.