TRANSFORMED TO WITNESS

 MEDITATION ON THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD
(Dan 7:9-10, 13-14; 2Pet 1:16-19; Mt 17:1-9)

Have you ever wondered why the Church celebrates the Transfiguration of Jesus but does not celebrate His other miracles, such as walking on the water, the Raising of the dead, Feeding of the Multitude, etc? This is because the Transfiguration, like the Baptism of the Lord, is more than a miracle; it was a landmark event that ‘characterizes’ or ‘defines’ the mission of Jesus. It is a foretaste of where our faith-journey ends, the glory of Jesus (2Thes 2:14).

In the first reading, Prophet Daniel saw a vision that depicts the Transfiguration.  St Peter in the second reading recalls his experience that day as a first hand witness to the Transfiguration of Jesus. “For when He received honour and glory from God the Father and the voice was borne to Him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,’ we heard this voice borne from heaven, for we were with Him on the holy mountain.” For Peter, this was a landmark event that formed their conviction in the power and glory of Jesus as the Messiah. The Transfiguration event—the experience of the glory of Jesus—became a ‘transforming’ moment in their lives. Like a consuming fire, all their mind and heart are ‘taken up’ into that experience. So, they now witness to Jesus with their lives.

It is interesting to note that Peter did not mention any of the great miracles of Jesus as the ‘reason’ they are His witnesses, except the Transfiguration, which has a direct relationship to His Resurrection. Sometimes, people give the impression that Christianity ‘glories’ in human suffering. In other words, it is as if we must ‘have problems’ before we can believe and be saved! The landmark of the Christian faith is the Glory of Jesus. It is our hunger; it is our destination.

That is why when Peter saw the sparkling Jesus as He was taking with Moses and Elijah, he ‘lost himself’ in that glorious cloud, and said, “Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish, I will make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” As he was saying this, “a bright cloud overshadowed them.” God Himself covered them with His ‘tent of glory.’ It was like David who wanted to build a house for God, but God objected, saying that it was He who would establish a dynasty for David (2 Sam 7:1-17). The glorified Jesus was introduced to them by a voice from the cloud, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.”

Therefore, listening to Jesus, modelling our lives after Him and imitating His righteousness are the ways we respond to the invitation to enter into His glory. And each time we ‘taste’ His glory, we too shall be witnesses like Peter. Great miraculous moments may fade away; in fact, we may not even accrue to God the miracles of our lives. But a little taste, a small glimpse into His radiant face leads us on, such that even when we try to put it aside, it resurfaces every now and then. It is a testimony that we have an eternal destination in the glory of Jesus. That is why our faith is glorious; our Liturgy is glamorous, adorned with beauty, and believers are joyful and courageous, though they have many things to endure.

Have you ever had a glimpse of the glory of Christ Jesus; Maybe in reading the Bible, in the Eucharist, Confession, in acts of Charity, in your prayers, etc? The Transfiguration is the mark of our Christian life; in it resides the glory that moves us forward. May the Glory of Christ Jesus overshadow you today that you be lifted above every difficulty and shielded from every evil, through Christ our Lord, Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Thursday August 6^th, 2020.
Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

CONFIDENCE IN FAITH

 Reflection for Wednesday of the 18^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A
(Jer 31:1-7; Mt 15:21-28)

Jeremiah continues to deliver the message of hope. God declares and pledged Himself as the God of all the families of Israel. “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” He promised to rebuild Israel, adorn her with beauty and fill her with merrymaking. They shall plant and reap the fruits. In those days, Zion shall be the holy City where they go up to meet the Lord. At the end, Jeremiah said, “Proclaim, give praise, and say, ‘The Lord has saved His people, the remnant of Israel.”

In the Gospel, Jesus was moving down to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Suddenly, a Canaanite woman appeared and tried to disrupt His journey with her urgent request: “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon.” Surprisingly, Jesus kept silent and continued moving as if He did not hear her. But the woman so consumed by the urgency of her request, and her confidence in Jesus as the answer. So, she refused to ‘listen to the silence’ of Jesus towards her need; she followed Him along the way with more cries...This was unusual! The disciples could not understand the silence of Jesus, neither saying yes to her nor saying no. For their convenience, they begged Jesus to send her away since it was obvious He was not ‘interested’ in her case.

However, the ‘Silence’ of Jesus became like a ladder with which the woman climbed in her prayer and faith. The more Jesus kept silent, the more she followed and increased her request. The silence of God is attractive. It drew the woman along...Her longing moved on and on until she landed at the feet of Jesus, and humbled herself completely. Jesus explained, “I was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” That means by jurisdiction, she was not qualified. But the woman came to Him on the authority of faith, not jurisdiction. So, as Jesus was speaking, she quickly knelt down before Him and said, “Lord, help me.” Then, Jesus objected on the authority of status: “It is not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” Again, she acknowledged that she has no ‘status right’ to lay claim to the miracle. “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.” Faith triumphs! What we do not deserve by ‘moral jurisdiction’ or what we cannot receive by ‘righteousness status’ can be poured into our laps by faith and humility. The authority of faith breaks barriers. This lowly Canaanite woman is accounted among the great women of the Gospels. For she was able to ‘wrestle’ favour from Jesus with faith like the Virgin Mary at the wedding at Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle though His hour had not yet come (Jn 2:1-11).

Do you have such a faith that is overflowing with trust and confidence in Jesus as your only Saviour? Do not be distracted; do not be discouraged. Your faith is your working authority. March forward to your daily responsibilities with faith-filled confidence. The blessings God had promised through the prophet Jeremiah shall be yours today, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Wednesday August 5^th, 2020.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

 

CLEANSE THE HEART

 Reflection for Tuesday of the 18^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A
(Jer 30: 1-2, 12-15, 18-22; Mt 15:1-2, 10-14)

Prophet Jeremiah began to announce a message of hope. “Thus says the Lord: Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tent of Jacob, and have compassion on his dwellings; the city shall be rebuilt upon its mound, and the palace shall stand where it used to be.” All the idols they ran to could not help; only God would heal this wound. No more foreign rulers, but their ruler shall come forth from their midst. “And you shall be my people, and I will be your God.”

It was dramatic in the Gospel as the Pharisees and Scribes from Jerusalem came to Jesus. These were law-conscious first class citizens. They complained about the disciples not washing hands before eating. Jesus turned to the people, called their attention and said, “Hear and understand: not what goes into the mouth defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” This answer was a blow on their pride and sense of relevance! They took offence at Jesus.

What comes out of the mouth, comes from the soul, and expresses the state of the heart. And since God looks at the heart—the centre of thought and emotions—it is what makes one to be in good standing with God or not. Thus, washing hands as a form of cleansing to avoid defiling the person before God is misplaced. It is the heart that ought to be cleansed, then, the words that comes forth would be clean. In other words, the defilement that comes from the mouth ought to be uprooted from the heart and mind. How can this be possible?

“I, the Lord, search the heart, test the motives, to give each person what his conduct and his actions deserve” (Jer 17:10). The heart is a ‘secret place’ and elusive. If the word that comes from man can defile him, taking in the word that comes from God will heal him. And if the word of God makes its home in our hearts (Eph 3:17), then, our mouths will speak of the righteousness of God, joy and peace. That was why the Pharisees and Scribes who closed their eyes with pride and jealousy against the words of Jesus, vomited anger and persecution. By meditating on the word of God each day, our hearts shall be like trees planted by the waterside that is evergreen, producing good fruit in season and out of season (Ps 1:2-3; Jer 17:8). Learn this spiritual exercise, and Jesus will make His home in you. And no defilement shall take root in you.

As you continue to join in our meditations on the Mass readings, May God sanctify + you that your every labour may bear fruit to the glory of God, Through Christ Our Lord. Amen!

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Tuesday August 4^th, 2020.
Memorial of St. John Mary Vianny
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

“LORD, SAVE ME”

Reflection for Monday of the 18^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A
(Jer 28:1-17; Mt 14:22-36)

It was dramatic for Prophet Jeremiah as he battled with the fake prophet, Hananiah. Against Jeremiah’s warnings, Hananiah told the people what they wanted to hear: that God had broken the yoke of the King of Babylon, and all the exiles and vessels would be restored. He was very outspoken and aggressive in his approach, tearing the symbolic wooden yoke Jeremiah wore on his neck.  Often times, lying lips are the loudest and overpowering but they do not last (Pr 12:19). They come like a raging storm to sink whoever is not already standing firm on truth. Hananiah’s message was ‘convenient’, soothing the people’s lifestyle.

 God will destroy every lying tongue (Ps 12:3). The Lord announced severe punishment for Hananiah. “Go, tell Hananiah...You have broken wooden bars, but I will make in their place bars of iron.” For deceiving the people, this fake prophet was cut off from the face of the earth. Sugar-coated words that appeal to our human convenience usually attract easy followers. When a child of God begins to follow the same ideologies with unrighteous people, he should be careful because falsehood is not far from him. Truth is of God; when we abide in truth, we enjoy God’s presence and long for Him. Be careful of persons, lifestyles, actions, transactions, etc that pull you away from God; they make you ‘foreign’ to God and wound your prayer life. If it happens, know that lies are knocking.

 As we said earlier, most times we are deceived because we had already lied to ourselves. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are walking on the ‘turbulent waters of this world.’ We love in the midst of hate; we still trust though living among deceivers. We live and move in an insecure society; we make huge investments in an economically barren society. The storm is raging! Fake prophets, loud and domineering, are fuelling our stagnant and staggering faith-life with ‘prophecies’ that only make us shout, AMEN! But the messages do not challenge us to repent and draw closer to God, while some other 'prophecies' have no reference to our well-being or our salvation.

 So, we constantly cry out in the words of Peter, “Lord, save me.” This prayer must be the disposition of our heart, a ‘mantra’ with which the heart breads. In this way, Jesus, who is the Truth, will sustain us and save us from sinking into the ocean of lies. As you go about your activities this Month, may Jesus hold you firm on the truth, and save you from deceivers. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedei-Muwo, Lagos.
Monday August 3^rd, 2020.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

THE SILENT PLACE OF SATISFACTION

Reflection for 18^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Is 55:1-3; Rm 8:35-39; Mt 14:13-21)

1.0.  THE LONELY PLACE

“When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, He withdrew from there in a boat to a lonely place apart.” Imagine the debt of sorrow and distress Jesus had to bear in the face of human wickedness! And relate it to how many people today are frustrated, heartbroken, and other forms of emotional distress. Jesus withdrew from the noise—from the people and His ‘ordinary activity’ of the day—and went to a quiet place to stay alone. Within that ‘silent place’, He would drink the cup of sorrow to the full and conquer it. He would step out of it, re-energized and satisfied.

Think about the ‘wine and milk of satisfaction’ that Isaiah offered in the first reading. Such satisfaction can be likened to the freshness of heart we get when we step in with Jesus into ‘the place of silence.’ Isaiah said, “Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you and everlasting covenant...” This inner peace is given freely, to everyone who thirsts, at no cost! Jesus has sanctified the ‘place of silence’ as necessary for healing hurts and finding inner satisfaction.

2.0.  THE CROWDS FOLLOWED HIM

Suddenly, Jesus’ quiet moment was disrupted; they crowds found Him out. This ‘demanding crowds’ can be compared to ‘distractions’ in prayer. Many people run away from meditation because they just cannot concentrate. Once they step into the room of silence ‘Crowds of thoughts’ would step in and dislodge their concentration. These ‘attention seekers’ would want to sap the energy we got from the ‘wine and milk’ we drank in the room of meditative silence. So, from His lonely place, Jesus stepped out with deep compassion for the crowds and attended to them. What ordinarily came as a distraction to His quiet time became ‘an action of God’ among the people. This ‘action of God’, which they felt in the authority of His teaching and the healing of the sick, would grow into providing satisfaction to the crowds.

3.0.   “AND THEY ALL ATE AND WERE SATISFIED”

The disciples had three complains: 1. It was evening; darkness would soon descend, so the people should be dismissed as soon as possible. 2. It was a lonely place; they had nowhere to get help. 3. The crowds were too many; the number of ‘mouths to feed’ was more than their resources, which were five loaves and two fish! Note that each of these ‘obstacles’ was enough for Jesus to give up. But the energy of His deep compassion, which is rooted in the silence of the heart, was stronger than the weakness the obstacles represent.

Therefore, “And taking the five loaves and the two fish He looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.” The first response a contemplative heart gives to the weakness of others is ‘compassion.’ Love will always find a way out. The compassionate response of Jesus transformed the bread and fish into a 'concrete action of God’ as the crowds ate to their satisfaction. The beauty of this action illumined the darkening evening, and turned the ‘lonely place’ into a garden of refreshment. But this sublime and awesome act would lead any honest heart that tasted the meal to contemplate Jesus. Here, the heart continues to ‘feed’ on Jesus in silence.

4.0.  THE HEART OF SILENCE

A heart that ‘feeds’ on Jesus, in silent meditation, cannot be lonely; it is warm, peaceful and compassionate. It is a heart that has fallen in love with Jesus. It is a Eucharistic heart that clings to Jesus like the Beloved Disciple at the Last Super. Nothing can separate such a one from Jesus. Whether he is busy or resting, in tribulation, distress, persecution or in need, he is “more than a conqueror through Him who loved us.” This binding love we have in Christ Jesus is stronger than any principalities or human weakness. Through meditation, our heart becomes a ‘lonely place’, where we enter (with coordinated attention on the word of God) to encounter Jesus in silence.

As you have joined in THE SOUND OF SILENCE meditation this Sunday, may God satisfy the yearnings of your heart and quench your thirsts. May He renew His love in you so that you are more than a conqueror in every challenges you may face. May Almighty God bless + you, in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Sunday August 2^nd, 2020.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com 

WHEN TRUTH HURTS

 Reflection for Friday of the 17^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Jer 26:1-9; Mt 13:54-58)

It is always difficult to do the right things. We easily follow the wrong crowd or spend much time on things that do not really matter. Have you noticed that sometimes the real people that matter in our lives receive less attention! We all want good things and we hate liars, but why does truth hurt? It is difficult to follow ‘crowd life’ or ‘trending ideas’ without abiding in falsehood. In the readings of today, both Jeremiah and Jesus were rejected by their people respectively.

The Lord sent Jeremiah to the Temple on the Sabbath to address the people as they gathered to worship. He warned them of the looming danger if they refused to repent. “Thus says the Lord: if you will not listen to me, to walk in my law...and to heed the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you urgently...then I will make this house like Shiloh...” Hearing this, instead of repenting of their evil ways, they got angry at Jeremiah. His words became an arrow that pierced their hearts. The priests, the fake prophets, and all the people gathered around Jeremiah and held him, saying, “You shall die!”

In the same vein, Jesus came to His home town and taught in the synagogue. His message touched them. They were surprised, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the Carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary?” They took offense at Him, and refused to accept Him. But Jesus answered that a prophet is not without honour except in his own country and in his own house. And he could not perform any miracles there because of their unbelief.

Truth hurts when we have settled for falsehood and accepted it as ‘truth.’ Then, the presence of truth begins to appear like falsehood. In the case of Jeremiah, the people were engrossed in the ‘peace’ they enjoyed while disregarding God’s law. They took pride in the beautiful temple, while their personal lives were abomination unto the Lord. But Jesus was rejected because His people held tight to their pre-conceived knowledge of Him, and they refused to be open to a new discovery about Him. ‘Truth’ displaces our ‘centre of pride’, uprooting it from our self-pleasure or ‘personal convenience’ to the righteousness of Jesus Christ, who is Truth Himself (Jn 14:6). Secondly, truth is ‘ever new.’ It brings newness to the heart. Truth hurts in a heart that is hardened; a heart that is not open to the fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Imagine the danger the Israelites faced by rejecting Jeremiah, and the divine blessings the Jews missed by not accepting Jesus. These are the cost of falsehood. Jesus has come to make His ‘home’ in our hearts. He comes, loaded with blessings. Let us not reject Him by holding to our old ideas or be blindfolded by self-centred lives. The word of God sets us apart from the crowd. We pray today that God will open our ears to hear the truth, and the courage to accept it. May He remove all falsehood from our ways. Amen.

 Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Friday July 31^st, 2020.

Memorial of St Ignatius of Loyola.

THE POTTER'S CLAY

Reflection for Thursday of the 17^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Jer 18: 1-6; Mt 13:47-53)

The Lord sent Jeremiah to the potter’s house for an important lesson. He saw the potter working at his wheel. “And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.” The potter had in mind the design he wanted, if the clay did not come out as he wanted, he reworked it. Then the Lord spoke to Jeremiah concerning Israel, saying, “Can I not do with you as this potter has done? Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.”

So, we are like clay in the hands of God. He created us in His own image and likeness, but the ‘clay’ spoiled due to sin and selfishness. Now, He decided to rework us into another vessel, which is Jesus Christ. Yes, He will continue to remould us into the image of His Son until we fit perfectly into the Original design He had in mind (Rm 8:29). Imagine the patience, the dexterity and love with which the skilled Potter is handling our fragile earthen life, carefully transforming us each day into ‘another Christ.’ So, we carry in ourselves the imprint of the life of Jesus (2Cor 4:10-11). As long as we are alive, God continues to remould us; we must dispose ourselves in His arms, and cooperate with His grace at all times.

But time will not be with us forever. The parable of the net that was cast into the sea, which gathered all sorts of things both good and bad, tells us that there will be time to sort out the good from the bad. At that time, there will not be opportunity to remould our lives. Evil shall be destroyed as wastes are burned in a fire.

The message of Jeremiah is encouraging. May be we have failed several times to imitate Jesus. Sometimes it appears we are stagnant in our spiritual journey. Changing times and situations, such as health failure, financial crisis, death, etc can becloud our minds and distract us from our commitment to live like Jesus. God says through the prophet that He is still working on this fragile Clay. If God is still working, we should continue to cooperate with Him. Do not give up on yourself; trust in His grace. At the end of the day, Christ Jesus will be all in all (cf. 1 Cor 15:28).

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Thursday July 30^th, 2020.

www.nwachinw.blogspot.com