THE ATTENTIVENESS THAT LEADS TO SUCCESS

 Reflection for Friday of the 14^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Hosea 14:1-10; Mt 10:16-23)

“Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.” This was how Hosea began to address the people as he wrapped up his prophetic ministry. After calling them to abandon their evil ways and worship of idols, he reminded them the beautiful things that God was going to do for them. “I will be as the dew to Israel; he shall blossom as the lily...for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.” Though the beginning of his ministry was tough, Hosea concluded with a message of hope.

 In the Gospel of today, Jesus continues to explain to the Apostles on the possible consequences of their mission. He made it clear to them that it was going to be a touch and life-threatening mission. “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Imagine giving somebody a job with some of the implications that Jesus outlined to the Apostles, such as being taken to court, flogging, disgrace before governors and kings, betrayal from intimate brothers and sisters, etc. Still, He added that they should not be anxious about making defense for themselves, and they should not give up because of persecution!

Indeed, these are the tough conditions in which the Gospel was preached. And every bearer of the Good News, standing on apostolic foundation, can testify to have tasted these tough times. If the message of Jesus Christ, with all its authority and authenticity, must pass through these tough moments, we must buckle up for tough times if we are to achieve any good in life. There are lots of ‘hungry wolves’ when we want to build up family, career, moral life, relationship, spiritual life, etc. However, the good news from the experience of Hosea and the Gospel message today is that tough times are the real fertile soil that germinate success.

Therefore, Jesus said, “But he who endures to the end will be saved.” How is this possible? The Holy Spirit will be working silently within, but speaks at the right moment when He is needed. “For what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Thus, the successful messenger must be attentive to the Holy Spirit at His ‘silent’ moments in order to hear Him when He ‘speaks’ at the hour of decision. With this kind of constant and prolonged attentiveness to the Spirit within, the successful person has the energies of his life shifted away from obstacles, trials and persecutions. Without attentiveness, we cannot achieve success; you need to hear ‘The Sound of Silence.’

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Friday July 10^th, 2020.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

IDENTIFYING WITH GOD'S FLOW OF LOVE

Reflection for Thursday of the 14^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Hosea 11:1-4, 8-9; Mt 10:7-15)

Our beloved prophet Hosea today talks about how Israel responded to God’s show of love upon them.  “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. The more I called them, the more they went away from me; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning incense to idols.” That means, Israel did not identify with the love and mercy shown her. But Hosea announced God’s continued show of love and forgiveness. “I will not execute my fierce anger, I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come to destroy.”

This constant flow of God’s mercy is echoed in Jesus’ instructions to the chosen apostles as He explains the missionary mandate to them, “Preach as you go, saying, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand.’” Jesus instructs them on ‘what’ they are going to do as they go. Then He tells them ‘how’ they are going to live and conduct themselves as missionaries. He further outlines to them ‘what’ they must avoid while on the journey. Finally, Jesus instructs them on how to respond if they are rejected or their message was not accepted.

Meditating on Jesus’ instructions, we see how the individuality of each of the apostles ‘disappears’ within the cloud of the missionary mandate. The apostle is to identify with the missionary journey such that the authority and mandate become a new identity for him. Therefore, the missionary journey begins from oneself! He must constantly apply the message of the Kingdom to avoid attachment to persons and things, to contain peace and to spread it along, and to avoid frustration if he fails. In other words, the life of the missionary is given meaning and centred on the message Jesus handed on to him: “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

Therefore, the bearer of the message is one who has 'lost' himself in Christ Jesus. “I live, not I, but Christ lives in me” (Gal 2:20). He lives in us through His word and Sacraments. So, the apostle must constantly meditate on the gospel for it will be alive and active in him (Heb 4:12). This is how the authority of the word, with its power to sanctify, heal the sick, and cast out demons is effected and handed on. Those who receive the message will equally identify themselves totally with it, such that the salvation of God, with His mercy and love will continue to flow, as He promised through Hosea. May it flow upon you as you go about your activities today, through Christ our Lord, Amen. 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Thursday July 9^th, 2020.

9^th Anniversary of my Ordination.

www.nwachinw.blogspot.com

THE AUTHENTIC FOUNDATION FOR HEAVENLY BLESSINGS

Reflection for Wednesday of the 14^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12; Mt 10: 1-7)

Our prophet of the Week, Hosea, decries how Israel that was richly blessed abused the grace given to her. “The more her fruits increased, the more altars she built; as her country improved, she improved the pillars.” Sometimes, those who are casual with their faith are those who have received what others are praying for. The more God made Israel to flourish, the more they built altars to false gods, and give to idols the worship due to God. Today, Hosea outlines how God would destroy those altars and uproot the pillars dedicated to the idols. Then he turned to the people and said, “Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap fruit of mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain salvation upon you.” Yes, after uprooting the false beliefs, God’s mercy and salvation will reign.

The Gospel presents to us the College of Apostles. They are individually named and identified. The apostles are the “foundation stones” on which the new and authentic worship of God is established (Eph 2:20; Rev 21:14). No other foundation is to be erected (cf. 1 Cor 3:11). Jesus gave them authority and missionary mandate. Firstly, He gave them authority over unclean spirits: to cast them out, and to heal every infirmity. The devil must be uprooted; false altars and pillars must be destroyed because the authority to achieve these has already been transmitted to and instituted in the apostles. The fruit of God’s blessings on His people cannot be offered to false gods! This is what Hosea condemned. And the apostles shall bring the prophecy to fulfillment by casting out every abode of Satan among God’s people.

Secondly, Jesus mandated the Apostles to go out and preach, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” This message would permeate their lives such that standing on apostolic foundations implies being influenced by ‘kingdom values’, that is, living out the righteousness of the Kingdom of God. Again, this mandate implies that heavenly blessings are now super-abundant, available and accessible to you. Hence, you must, in return, bear fruit for the Kingdom, unlike the Israel of Hosea’s time that returned the fruits of God’s blessings to idols.

The apostolic authority and mandate await us as we build our lives, family, Church, etc on this eternal foundation. Whenever we want to build on new foundations apart from the one Jesus established in His apostles, we are setting up such altars that Hosea condemned, which shall be uprooted and destroyed. True worship, victory over evil, access to heavenly blessings, and the mandate to spread the Good News and bear fruit for the Kingdom of heaven is ours today as we remain firm on the apostolic foundations. Amen!

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Wednesday July 8^th, 2020.     

FINDING OUR VOICES IN CHRIST JESUS

Reflection for Tuesday of the 14^th Week in Ordinary Time Year A

(Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13; Mt 9:32-38)

Prophet Hosea laments how Israel shut God out in her choices of leadership. “Israel made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but without my knowledge.” By silencing God, the rulers they chose, led them to worship idols that “have mouths but cannot speak, they have eyes but cannot see" (Ps 115:5). The prophet announced series of punishments to them, which in the end will make Israel to lose its voice in the land of slavery. “Now He will remember their iniquity, and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt.”

Imagine one losing his voice. It is like one who has no place among the community of persons. His basic means of communication is shut down. Such a person cannot express himself freely, and he will begin to experience loneliness and abandonment! This is the kind of slavery that sin and Satan try to lure us into. Whenever we ‘silence’ God  away from our daily choices, we end up in the hands of ‘idols’ that have no voice and cannot guarantee our voices.   

In the Gospel of today, Jesus steps in as He restores the speech of a man possessed by a demon. This is how we find our ‘voices’ in Jesus in the midst of a world that is attracted to lies. There is always a conspiracy against the truth both in the family and the larger society. This tendency to mute the voice of truth has made those who received their voices in Jesus to be unpopular and few. Thus, the Pharisees tried to ‘silence’ Jesus by heaping false accusations against Him: “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.” But their plan failed as all falsehood will one day collapse.

Seeing the crowds looking like sheep without a shepherd, Jesus said to His disciples “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few, pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest.” God must be involved! True shepherds are God’s sent; true labourers labour for the Lord. These are the ones who through Jesus give voice and direction to the people. But if we shut God out as Hosea lamented, we will get leaders who may take us back to Egypt.

Therefore, let us invite Jesus into our lives today, and involve Him in our daily affairs. If we make our choices in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, our voices shall continue to resound even without words.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Tuesday July 7^th, 2020.

THE TOUCH OF RESTORATION

Reflection for Monday of the 14^th Week in Ordinary Time Year A

(Hosea 2:14, 15-16, 19-20; Mt 9:18-26)

1.0.  Preface

This week, we shall be reading from the Prophet Hosea. He is popularly known for his marriage to Gomer, the prostitute. God used this unholy union to demonstrate Israel’s unfaithfulness as against His steadfast love for them.  The children born to them became symbols of the different punishment due to Israel for her unfaithfulness. God’s steadfast love with its transforming power was clearly made known as Hosea struggles to reclaim the love of Gomer, and bring her out of her filthy ways. How?

The Prophet announced plans to lure her to submission, which included the withdrawal of her merrymaking; she would be denied corn and wine, wool and flax, and her lovers would be chased away (Hos 2:4-15). Then he says, “Behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.”

2.0.  The Desert Touch

Why must such a stubborn and restless woman be taken to the desert before she could be submissive? A desert encounter speaks of dryness, thirst, simplicity and humility, and silence. Whenever our hearts become like Gomer before God, we need such a desert experience to listen and realize our standing with God. This happens when we begin to purge the heart of ‘noise’ by focusing on the real things that matter; realizing the tender touch of God’s love. Then our inner desire for union with God—yearning for His righteousness, steadfast love and mercy—begins to supersede and overshadow our hearts. Taking one’s heart to the ‘desert’ is to have an ‘alone encounter’ with God, which Hosea describes as “espousal.” Imagine how beautiful and glorious it is to have such an encounter; to be alone with God and be satisfied. This is a desert touch with which God uses to draw us to faithfulness.  

3.0.  The Touch of Faith

The Gospel of today tells us of the story of two miracles. First, a ruler came to Jesus, knelt before Him and employed Him to come and touch his daughter that she might be restored to life. The gesture of kneeling down is like a ‘desert’ experience, where one strips of himself, surrenders to a divine touch. In this submission of faith, the high official brought himself down with all his worries that he might rise in Christ Jesus. A faith that can ‘move mountains’ (Mt 17:20) is such a faith that can move Jesus to act.

As Jesus was going to the official’s house with his disciples, a woman suffering from hemorrhage touched the fringe of his garment saying, “If I only touch his garment, I shall be made well.” This touch of faith made Jesus to stop abruptly. Faith is a force; it is power! He who has strong faith is indeed a strong person. Faith is our response to God’s touch and the only way we can ‘touch’ God to receive healing and restoration. Jesus said to her, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.”

4.0.  The Silent Touch

On getting to the official’s house, there was tumult! The death of the little girl attracted so much wailing, coupled with the crowd and the flute players. It was a great noise. It was like the rowdy life of Gomer, full of confusion and restlessness. How can God’s touch be felt at such a moment? That is why there is need to be alone with God—a desert touch—where we listen and are ‘espoused’ by divine love. Thus, Jesus sent all the noisemakers away, “He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.”

Imagine the silence, the great solemnity with which Jesus used to touch the girl and restored her to life. The silence of faith has conquered the silence of death! The steadfast love of God allures us to be ‘alone with God’, where we strip ourselves of selfishness. Then, one moment of divine touch raises us to joy, life fulfillment and to total transformation.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Monday July 6^th, 2020.

BEARING THE YOKE IN HUMILITY

Reflection for 14^th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

(Zech 9:9-10; Rm 8:9,11-13; Mt 11:25-30)

1.0. Introduction

What sorts of knowledge do we rely on when faced with challenges of life? These days motivational speakers feed us with such knowledge that tends to bring out the best in us and inspire us with positive thinking. Though such self-seeking knowledge is good, but it is highly limited! Sooner or later, we discover that the self has little or no resources to take us outside of itself and to persevere in its search. Worse still, self-motivated knowledge can hardly conquer the self, which is often our number one burden.

2.0. Knowledge for the Humble

In the first reading, the prophet Zachariah steps in  to feed us with the knowledge of the expected Saviour. He described Him as “Triumphant and victorious”, and “humble.” This is how He shall bring peace to the nations. In the Gospel this knowledge of God and of the Saviour is given as a reward to the humble of heart. Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to infants.” Jesus the Saviour, in whom dwells divinity in all fullness (Col 2:9), is the most humble (Phil 2:6-8). The truly humble, therefore, shall be filled with the living knowledge of God. That is why a humble person reflects the life of Christ.

Jesus says only the Father knows the Son. But knowledge of the Father belongs to the Son and “any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.” To be humble, therefore, is to dispose oneself such that He can be found worthy to receive this divine illumination. It is to put on Christ (Rm 13:14; Col 3:10) in our thoughts and actions so that He can reveal to us that knowledge that flesh and blood cannot give (Mt 16:17). Yes, the flesh itself is a burden unto a spiritual life. Hence, the second reading encourages us not to live in the flesh so that the spirit of Christ can dwell in us. According to St Paul, to be chosen by the Son would then mean to have the Holy Spirit in us, and we too will become triumphant and victorious in every situation, including death.

3.0. Come and Learn

“Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Imagine the burden of the ignorance of God we bear! Zachariah in the first reading says, “Your king comes to you” in humility. Now He asks us to come to Him. Humility is our way of going forward to meet Jesus that He may reward us with the knowledge of God. Once this laden of ignorance is lifted, we shall have peace and rest of soul.

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart.”  The yoke of acquiring the knowledge of God in humility through Jesus Christ will always be light and easy. Within this knowledge, every burden we bear becomes light too. While knowledge of ourselves and human capabilities can be helpful at some length, they cannot guarantee peace and rest of soul. Imagine having such peace of mind that no challenges in life can alter! So when our minds are burdened, fear grips our souls, tensions rise in the heart, strength begins to fail, uncertainties becloud our vision, etc, it is time to crawl to Jesus in humility. This is time to rely on the knowledge of God for solutions.

Jesus has already humbled Himself down to our every burden; He was laden with the yoke of our sorrows that we might be relieved. He is not a motivational speaker to boost one's self-image and promises him life without suffering. No! But Jesus invites us to locate ourselves and our burdens in Him. The humble of heart are unstoppable; they have rest in their labours and peace in their struggles.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Sunday, July 5^th, 2020.

     

WE CONTEMPLATE THE TRINITY

REFLECTION FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY YEAR A

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Cor 11:13).

We contemplate today that God is three persons in the one God. In His Trinity of Persons, God is one. So the solemnity of the most Holy Trinity equally exalts that God is one. We swim with joy in this ocean of mystery; the mystery of all mysteries. Because the one God is Trinity, His perfection in Himself: perfect unity, perfect love, and His is Almighty and completely ‘other.’ Our praises add nothing to His greatness. Because He is Trinity in nature, God is the ultimate source of all life, beauty and goodness. This mystery is testified in the Scriptures, proclaimed by the Fathers of the Church, and for all time believed as dogma in the Church. Here is the source and end of contemplation; the Most Holy Trinity!

We contemplate with love and joy as the beauty of the Trinity shines on us. Pause, take a breath and think about the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in perfect Unity as One God. The mind understands in faith but does not comprehend; silent love deepens as words disappear, but the mystery remains. If God were not Trinity by now human mind would have explained Him away in theory and science! We rejoice today that God has communicated Himself to us as Trinity in the one God.

We contemplate how God in His Trinity of Persons is a personal God. He is in perfect communication with Himself. Let us create man in our image and likeness (Gen 1:26). Because He has perfect interpersonal communication in Himself as Trinity of Persons, God reaches out to us as a personal God and draws from us to a personal response. Because He is, I am! So we worship the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We surrender to His majesty all our soul, heart and mind. So He sanctifies our memory, understanding and will. Though these powers can be distinguished in us, they cannot be separated in the human person. Only when we internalize our faith in God as personal can we begin to make sense of it all.

Therefore, we are capable of contemplation in the first place because we have the imprint of the Trinity in us. That is why we are able to contain love, peace and unity within us, and be capable of interpersonal relationship. Hence, we can have personal reflection; a self-examination of our intentions, actions and purposes in life. This is a Trinitarian blessing. But, how many times do we examine our conscience? How often do we pause and allow silence to flood our heats? It is very easy for one to lose himself in life demands and the noise around, and not to be in touch with this Trinitarian imprint in him.

So we learn from the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is the daughter of the Father, the Mother of the Son and the Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Her personal response to the mystery before her led her to deep silence—a contemplative woman—who stored up all these things in her heart (Lk 2:51). Like Mary, the Trinity overshadows us. Our soul rejoices as we contemplate the Trinity today. Yes, God is One and Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Sunday June 7^th, 2020.

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

From the achieve: My reflection on the Trinity last year. click below

https://nwachinwe.blogspot.com/2019/06/in-praise-of-mystery-of-trinity.html