The Sound of Silence

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Saturday, May 21, 2022

FOUNDATION OF LIFE

Meditation for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year C

(Acts 16:11-15; Rev 21:10-14, 22-23; Jn 14:23-19)

What is the foundation of your life? What is the principle from which you draw inspiration to act? We all have a certain backup plan, which silently gives us certain moral, mental or emotional courage to push forward. Ordinarily, it is expected that one’s faith should be his source of inspiration and the foundation of his existence. Often times, wrong approaches to faith and inordinate human desires tend to land us on false foundations of life. Moments of tribulation expose the hidden foundations of our life, and test their durability and authenticity. People of this generation seem to be in a hurry to achieve success and greatness, such that they do not create time to build capacity and enduring foundation for their lives and wellbeing. Jesus said that a foundation not laid on the rock collapses (Lk 6:47-49).

As part of His farewell message, Jesus prepares a solid foundation for His disciples. In today’s gospel reading, He anchored their hearts and minds on love, the Holy Spirit and peace. He says, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” That means, Jesus is always present to those who love Him. And those who make this love the foundation of their lives will always stand secure in Christ. To make the love of Jesus the foundation of our lives is to put His words to action. We see this love in action in the first reading, as the apostles removed unnecessary burdens from the Gentile believers, and allowed them to maintain their unique identity.

Another foundation Jesus laid for us is the gift of the Holy Spirit. He said, “But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” The departure of Jesus would not create a vacuum because of the coming of the Holy Spirit. He will become the living memory of believers, prompting and inspiring them to live out the words of Jesus. This inseparable bond between the Church and the Holy Spirit is a principle of life for every believer. Addressing the Gentiles about the issue of circumcision, the apostles said, “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things.”

Thirdly, He gave them the gift of peace, saying, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.” The life and ministry of believers must be rooted in the peace of Christ. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7). In the first reading, we see how the apostles quickly resolved the misunderstanding about circumcision, and restored peace. This action is a clear indication that Jesus laid for them a solid foundation of peace. A religion with a violent foundation will always promote violence! The peace of Christ is rooted in the heart, and it germinates with the life of believers.

Jesus says, “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” The body of Christ, the foundation of our lives is laid on a solid rock. Meditate on the city of God, the new Jerusalem described in the vision of John in the second reading. This heavenly city is filled with the glory of God, radiant like rare jewel and clear as crystal. It is well protected with a high wall, with twelve gates and twelve angels. “And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” The Lord Himself was the temple of that city, and the glory of God was the only light that brightened the place. This vision of the new Jerusalem captures the life of a believer, who laid the foundation of his life in Christ Jesus, and walks in the Holy Spirit. He will have no cause of shame, and he will overcome every fear. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Sunday May 22, 2022.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Streams of Love

Monday, May 16, 2022

"PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU"

Meditation for Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

(Acts 14:19-28; Jn 14:27-31)

‘World peace’ is still an idea that is far from reality. While we face many conflicts and terror, beginning from the family to the larger society, the human heart yearns for peace! Sometimes violence erupts in the name of peace making! Without peace, man cannot live out his full potentials, and human dignity can easily be trampled upon. Despite the increasing noise of violence, the silent voice of peace continues to survive. Peace has a hidden strength and weight that disgraces the empty uproar of conflict.

Now, think about the experience of St Paul in today’s Mass reading. The Jews stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But he survived. The next day he continued his mission in another city, accompanied by Barnabas. His experience became a message of encouragement, for he said to the people, “Through many tribulations, we must enter the Kingdom of God.”

It is obvious that St Paul found peace despite the violence that was projected at him. Maybe we need to review our idea of peace from this example. And listening to Jesus in the gospel of today, we get a new and deeper understanding of peace. He said to his disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.” We see now that peace is a divine gift, which are asked to be open to, and receive freely. So, a world that shuts God out of its affairs cannot know peace! A heart that is not attuned to God cannot be open to peace.

The peace that Jesus gives is different from the worldly understanding of peace. The peace the world gives is that of ‘convinence.’ Sometimes, here peace is reduced to mere tolerance and absence of conflict. The world applauds itself of having achieved peace where peoples’ lives are not in touch with one another, and individuality reigns. At the end, survival of the fittest becomes the order of the day, and the temporary peace vanishes. But the peace that Jesus gives is different.

Jesus offers us a peace that goes to the human heart, and conquers hatred and division. A peace that is received as a gift, uplifts the hearts and reaches out to the neighbor. Thus, the peace of Christ is the fruit of love and justice. Such a peace does not hide from my neighbor, but it overcomes the barriers of division. This peace that is stronger that human hatred can only come from our union with God.

The silent voice of peace pierces through with great might, yet it conquers hatred, division and violence with calmness gentility. Therefore, peace is a major part of our prayer this day, since we look up to Jesus to bestow it upon us as individuals, in our families, our country, and in the world at large. And peace is still our answered prayer today, for Jesus Christ has already given it us, though we are yet to receive its fullness. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwac Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Tuesday May 17th, 2022.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

DO NOT JUDGE OTHERS

Meditation for Wednesday of the 28^th Week in Ordinary Time
(Rm 2:1-11; Lk 11:42-46)

It is often the case that those who readily judge and condemn others are more like to do the same things they condemn. St Paul picks a case against those who judge others, emphasizing that the judgement of God will come upon those who do such things. According to him, we should not take God for granted by presuming upon the riches of His kindness, forbearance and patience for ourselves while at the same time condemning others. Whoever does this is storing up wrath of God upon himself. Since God is kind and patient, we have no excuse to judge others, “For in passing judgment upon him you condemn yourself.” On the other hand, those who show patience in good works shall receive glory, honor, peace and eternal life, “The Jew first and also the Greek.”

Focusing on the failings of others is a lot of distractions and unnecessary burden. It makes one a hypocrite. That is why Jesus condemned the Pharisees who focus on external religious shows but neglect justice and love. “Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and salutations in the market places.” The Pharisees and the Jews who received this good news of God’s salvation first ought to lead by example, and also to those who have received this message of grace; they are expected to manifest the kindness and patience of God to others. That is why we must not allow external practices distract us from the person of Jesus Christ, whom we are called to imitate and follow. Once we divert from the right spiritual road to take, we shall be wallowing the wrong path of impatience, judging others and over conscious of what others are saying about us.

St Edward, pray for us. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Wednesday October 13^th, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

Love one another

Saturday, May 14, 2022

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Meditation for Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year C

(Acts 14:21-27; Rev 21:1-5; Jn 13:31-33, 34-35)

Is it realistic to love everyone? We know that no one can be loved in return by everybody, including those that you showed love and care. Naturally, love diminishes when planted in the dry soil of hate and unappreciation. Human love is selective. But it can cross borders and reach even unfriendly grounds only by divine help. Without this help from above, human love will definitely shrink to selfishness and self-destruction. That is why it is necessary for human love to be open to divine intervention.

Meditating on the readings of today, we see that the divine intervention that uplifts human love comes as an injunction: “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” So, the love of God comes, not nullify human love, but to draw it out of itself to a greater outreach, to reach everyone. The love of God as a commandment becomes the guide and motivation of human love; it is the ‘reason’ and energy that powers the love of believers. To love even as Jesus loved means He had laid down the example to follow, and the principle of love.

Jesus’ love for us defined His words and actions, and ministry on earth. Love conquers the self; it overwhelms and consumes the lover. It becomes part of the person, an inseparable identity. Hence, Jesus said to the disciples, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Since love becomes the ‘life’ of the lover, whenever love is reciprocated, a bond is formed. Thus, the divine love that goes ahead of the lover establishes this bond between the believer and God.

“The love of God urges us on” (2Cor 5:14). Therefore, the Christian, who goes forth to love his neighbor and to love everyone, comes as one who is already in love (with Jesus), and not as one who comes to discover love in his neighbor! He goes forth as one already trained and empowered by the love of Jesus. This is how believers can love one another and at all times. And this is how they bear witness that they belong to Jesus, for the effects of their love and lives will always be greater than what human love can offer.

This bond with Jesus that encounters one another in love is exemplified in the life of Paul and Barnabas, as given in the first reading. These two disciples travelled through many cities and villages, especially in Gentile territories, establishing new churches, and strengthening believers, despite many tribulations and persecutions. Their love for the gospel conquered every obstacle on their way, as the Gentiles appreciated the love shown them.

This love that is anchored on the love of Jesus brings newness! Unredeemed human love, with its high boundaries, shortsightedness, and reclining to selfishness, easily gets bored, dissatisfying and warn out. The second reading makes us understand that the newness that the commandment of love brings is a foretaste of the new heaven and earth, and the new Jerusalem. It comes forth like a bride adorned for her husband. To love as Jesus loves mingles men with God; it creates room for the love of God and the kingdom of God to dwell among us. The vision of John becomes a living experience of those who obey Jesus’ commandment of love: their tears will be wiped away, they will overcome mourning and pain, and death will not be their end. The love of God will move them forward so that they will not dwell in the past, and all things shall be new for them.

This newness of life that love for one another in Jesus Christ brings is a foretaste of heavenly glory on earth. It is our sharing in the glory of Jesus, in whom the Father is gloried. The world is full of hatred and division; worldly love is myopic, selective and selfish. Jesus has planted His love among us that with Him we can conquer the world, and love everyone and love to eternity. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R