"ANOTHER GOSPEL"

Meditation for Monday of the 27^th Week in Ordinary Time

(Gal 1:6-12; Lk 10:25-37)

It is interesting that we are beginning the first week of the month with St Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. St Paul wrote this letter to address the wavering faith of the Galatian Christians. This was as a result of a different version or approach to the gospel that some people spread among the Church in Galatia. This brought controversy and disunity among the believers. St Paul was very upset about this development, and addressed the issued firmly.

 

If at the time of St Paul, at the early hours of the Church, some people were spreading an adulterated version of the gospel, how much more today that the Christian faith has become an open market place! As we listen to St Paul this week, we must be conscious of these religious ‘confusionists’, who speak with so much audacity and eloquence. “Take care then how you hear” (Lk 8:18). “By there fruits you shall know them” (Mt 7:16). St Paul pointed out some signs for us to know when a preacher is perverting the gospel of Christ.

 

Those who preach ‘another gospel’ often seek the favor of men; their messages are targeted to please men, not God. They bend the gospel to be at the service of human conditions, instead of man to reach out and be uplifted by the gospel to the realm of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. This makes it easy for one to embrace their doctrine, since man is in constant search for solutions to his problems. Then, it becomes a ‘human-conditioned’ or ‘problem-solving’ gospel message. Imagine how alluring this can be. At the end, the quest for solution to human problems takes the place of the hunger for eternal life and salvation in Christ Jesus, which is the ultimate goal of the gospel.

 

In defending the true gospel, St Paul says, “For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” It is a divinely revealed truth, not fruit of human argument or reasoning. A revealed truth is received and transmitted under ‘obedience of faith.’ This makes those who receive the true gospel docile to word of God and to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, the message that came through human reasoning gives rise to stubbornness, rigidity, and an emotional outburst that can fade away at any time. The revealed truth is calm, powerful and enduring.

 

The parable of the good Samaritan demonstrates what can happen to the lives and homes of those who receive a perverted gospel; charity is mortgaged. Think about the selective act of charity in the priest and Levite, their exalted self-importance and self-preservation, and how their selfish religious sentiments do not embrace common humanity. These are immediate marks of ‘another gospel’, and they are ravaging our society  and Church today. The good Samaritan shows the ordinary life of one who is schooled in the revealed truth of the gospel of Jesus: he is inspired, and becomes a source of grace and healing for others; his love goes beyond boarders and conquers every barrier. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Monday October 3, 2022.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THE REWARD OF FAITH

Meditation of the Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

(Hab1:2-3; 2:2-4; 2 Tim 1:6-8, 13-14; Lk 17:5-10)

There is a growing trend of ‘entitlement mentality’ among people of this generation. This disposition makes one feel that he deserves one particular favor or the other; it makes you feel that someone is indebted to you, that you are suffering because someone did not come to your aid. This negative vibe has brought disgruntlement among some families and friends. ‘Entitlement mentality’ has also crept into our relationship with God. Some pray as if God is owing them; they feel that because of some good deeds they have done, God must reward them immediately. Among the prevalent prayer points we hear today is the invocation of ‘destiny helpers.’ This intention flows from the belief that God has destined someone to bring solution to your problems. So, you pray that this ‘destiny helper’ should locate you promptly. A man with ‘entitlement mentality’ is reward driven, even in his spiritual exercises.

 

The readings of this Sunday present faith as that divine disposition to life that is not reward driven, but summons one to personal responsibility and commitment. The prophet Habakkuk presents a situation that is challenging, and needs urgent and immediate response. As the man of faith cries out to God for quick response, we hear from the prophet that God will respond at His own time. “If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay. Behold, he whose soul is not upright in him will fail, but the righteous shall live by his faith.”

 

Faith looks up to God. In time of need or suffering, the expectation of faith increases. The parable of the humble servant demonstrates how faith in God purifies the intentions of our service, such that we look up to God in faith to carry out our duties of life, without conditioning ourselves with the expected rewards. We may begin our journey of faith out of fear of hell, and move on further out of desire for divine providence and heavenly reward. But the pure faith that looks up to God and renders service solely for His own sake, is at the height of the journey. Such faith, even if it is as small as a grain of mustard seed, can move mountains, and bring timely the rich reward of faith.

 

Jesus says, “When you have done all that is commanded you, say, ‘we are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” Then, the rich reward of faith surprises us, and energizes us. However, the real test of faith comes when we have to be committed to our duties and faith journey, amidst challenges, even before any divine consolation arrives. That faith action that perseveres without the motivation of reward, will always be stronger than the challenges it meets. This is the kind of faith that is purified like gold in a fire (1 Pet 1:6-9), and it is this faith that purifies our intentions and our actions. This is the faith that tested and qualified Abraham as our father in faith (Heb 11:17-19).

 

That is why the second reading urges us to be courageous and rekindle the gifts of God that is within us. “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control.” Meditate on the courage, love and discipline it takes to remain firm in faith, and render our humble service to God without the motivation of reward. Think about the purifying power of faith when we persevere in prayer, and continue to render our worship to the God who answers prayers, even when we have not received the answers to our prayers. Such prayer life echoes the prayers of Jesus on the Cross; it becomes a living testimony of Christ crucified, following the pattern of faith and love that is rooted in Christ Jesus.

 

Once our relationship with God is purified of ‘entitlement mentality’, we can confront our lives with the truth of faith that no one owes us anything, in fact, whatever favor we receive is a free gift of grace. This disposition brings us so much freedom; freedom to believe and to pray in season and out of season, and freedom to relate with others in peace. It enables us to avoid the frustration that comes with too many expectations. Above all, it disposes us to be creative and contribute our own quota to better the lives of others. Let us treasure this truth of faith, which brings divine reward at its own time, purifies and overcomes every obstacle. “Guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.” Amem.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Sunday October 2, 2022.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

STANDING FIRM IN GOOD TIMES AND IN BAD

 Meditation for Wednesday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time
(Job 9:1-12, 14-16; Lk 9:57-62)

On this third day of our meditation on the Book of Job, we reflect on Job’s response to his friends. We recall that when disaster befell on him, Job surrendered himself to God saying, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Satan must have been so disappointed that this faithful man neither denounced God nor even gave him some credit for the evil he brought to his household. Job gave Satan no recognition since he accepted all that happened to him as the will of God for him. But the anguish was much upon him that he wished he was never born. Satan continued to tempt him in subtle ways; whatever Job loved became a source of temptation for him.

His beloved friends came to sympathize with him. They spoke at length to convince Job that what befell him was a punishment for sin. For them, no innocent man would experience such disaster (Job 4:7-8). Even if Job claimed to be faithful, they argued that no mortal can be upright before his Maker (Job 4:17). Job felt hurt that his friends who were supposed to comfort him were indirectly mocking him (Job 6:13-15). He said to them, “Put me right, and I shall say no more; show me where I have been at fault” (Job 6:24). What would have been the implication of Job admitting that he was suffering because of his sin? Job would have lied against God, and he would have felt unjustly treated. Then, God would have appeared to be wicked, and deserved to be denounced. In that case, it would be difficult to surrender to the will of God since evil had caught up with him. In other words, by admitting what his friends proposed, it would have been that, either evil was stronger than the goodness of God in his life, or the will of God produced the evil. Job did not fall to this trap of Satan. Think about how many of us fall to this trap…

Job explains to his friends that, while it is true that man cannot be just before God, it means man cannot be equal to God in holiness. He is the creator and all power belongs to Him. God can make and overturn things as He pleases; “Who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars; who alone stretched out the heavens…who does great things beyond understanding, and marvelous things without number.” Job insisted that, though he was innocent, he could not claim right before God, but only to appeal for His mercy. Thus, he acknowledged that it belongs to the almighty God to give and to take, to make and to overturn. With this strong act of faith, Job continued to worship God and surrender all to Him.

The faith of Job is the disposition we should have as we go about our daily activities. This will help us to see through the good things or bad things that come our way the mighty hand of God at work. Sometimes we may desire so much, wishing to do great things for God, but He directs us to the little things, saying, “foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head.” At other times we may be over burdened with many cares, lots of bills to pay, or so many pleasures to enjoy, but the Lord calls from the depths of our hearts saying, “Follow me…Leave the dead to bury their own dead…” If we follow the example of Job, our hands shall remain firm on the plough of the kingdom of God; we shall continue to move forward. Amen.

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Wednesday September 28th, 2022.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THE FREE FLOW OF GRACE

 THE FREE FLOW OF GRACE
Meditation for Tuesday of the 26^th Week in Ordinary Time
(Job 3:1-23; Lk 9:51-56)

Job lost all he had; evil had befallen him. The design of Satan was to get the man of faith to join him and rebel against God. If Job were worshipping God because of the good things of life he enjoyed, taking those things away would make him to withdraw his steadfastness in God. In the face of suffering and pain, man turns to himself, which was the basic trick the serpent used to get Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. When man no longer relies on God but looks up to himself for answers, Satan will begin to proffer quick and easy solutions, without regard to God’s will. Remember the temptations of Jesus, how Satan tempted Him to eat stone as a quick remedy for His hunger. Satan taught it would be easy for Job to reject God, ‘mold his own golden calf’, and offer allegiance to a god that cannot save him!

 

“Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.” This was not the reaction Satan projected. He expected Job to think highly of himself, his ego and status, and denounced God for allowing such injustice on him. But, no! Job taught less of himself, saying, “Why did I not die at birth, come forth from the womb and expire?” When a man humbles himself, especially in the face of suffering, and not project himself as a ‘necessity’, he becomes available for the free flow of grace. This disposition is foreign to proud Satan, he will only remain restless around such a humble man.

 

“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose hearts are the roads to Zion” (Ps 84:5). Such are the men who seek the Lord, who seek the face of the God of Jacob (cf. Ps 24:6). Now, reflect on Jesus making His way to Jerusalem, and some Samaritans would not allow Him pass through their village. The disciples James and John burned with anger, and asked Jesus to allow them to send down fire on those Samaritans. But Jesus rebuked them. Think about how hatred and anger block our hearts from the free flow of grace, and make us act like Satan by inflicting pain on others. Jesus went up to Jerusalem, humbled himself on the Cross, took our sufferings and pains upon Himself. From His wounded side the free flow of grace gushes forth upon us. Unlike the Samaritans, we must open our hearts to Him by humbling ourselves like Job in the face of life situations, so that there will be a free movement of His grace in our hearts, to nourish and to heal us; flowing through us to our neighbor. Then, every plan of Satan will come to nothing. To God be the glory! Amen.

 

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Tuesday September 27, 2022.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

The Satanic Trap

Meditation for Monday of the 26^th Week in Ordinary Time
(Job 1:6-22; Lk 9:46-50)

This week we shall be reading from the Book of Job. The man Job is popularly known for his suffering. Today’s reading reveals the background of the story behind Job’s suffering. As we meditate on the beginnings of his ordeal, we come understand deeper how Satan operates.

 

When God asked him where he went, Satan answered, “From going back and forth on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” He wanders everywhere, prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (1 Pet 5:8). He is restless, unstable and inconsistent. You cannot fully master his tricks. He tries to lure us to be restless and unstable too. That is why we must be watchful of impulsive behavior or that irresistible pump to act, especially when it involves actions that are inconsistent with our commitments or purposes in life.

 

God praised Job for his uprightness and faithfulness; a man who turns from evil and would not fall for the tricks of Satan. Imagine how hurtful this would be to the proud evil spirit! He felt humiliated, and answered God immediately, saying, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not put a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth your and now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” You see how Satan convinced himself that all men are under his control, and that men worship God for their own benefits, and not for God’s own glory. Think about how this satanic understanding of faith for personal gains has eaten deep into our society. It is this false approach to faith that is motivating the current quest for miracles. This kind of practice has made many Christians restless and unhappy.

Then, God said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only upon himself do not put forth your hand.” The devil went forth to strip Job of all his possessions and all the good things of life that made his life worthwhile. Imagine if Job was attached to any of things he owned. It would have been easy for Satan to lure him away from God. But, while Job prospered, he saw all he had a God’s gratuitous gift, unmerited favor. Whatever we are attached to, or whoever we are attached, becomes a weak link for us to be trapped by Satan. On the other hand, if we worship God and follow Him like little children, in humility and total abandonment to His will, there is no evil we cannot overcome. Even if misfortune befall us, God will surely raise us up. That is why at the end of all the attack of Satan, Job worship God and said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Amen.  

 

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Monday September 26, 2022.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

THE VICTORY OF THE SUFFERING SERVANT

Meditation for the 26^th   Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
(Amos 6:1, 4-7; 1 Tim 6:11-16; Lk 16:19-31)

As I was meditating on the readings, the opening phrase of the gospel caught my attention; “Jesus said to the Pharisees…” This group were known for their love of money and honor (Lk 16:14-15). Jesus continued to correct their wrong idea of wealth as the ultimate sign that one is standing right before God. The message of prophet Amos about those who indulge themselves with pleasure, “And anoint themselves with finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph”, is further elaborated in the gospel. As those blinded by pleasure to the ruin of the house of Israel would go to exile, so did the rich man who neglected Lazarus ended in hades. This parable is relevant to us today as the pursuit of wellbeing in the midst of economic hardship has become our most re-occurring prayer point, and even the reason we pray.

Think about the life of affluence that brought the rich man to hades. He had all he needed and more, and he enjoyed his wealth to the fullest. His problem was not that he had wealth, but how he used it. Also, he went to hades not because he enjoyed himself, but because he neglected the poor man at his gate, and valued his dogs more than Lazarus! There are times we fall into this temptation, placing more value on things than human dignity. Think about the times when we value our personal gains and pleasure over truth, love, peace and unity. In each of these cases, there will always be a ‘poor Lazarus’ at our gate dying of hunger. To such people, Amos says, “They shall now be the first of those to go into exile.”

 

Meditate on the sufferings of Lazarus. Poverty, hunger and wounds became his identity. We see in him the image of the suffering servant, who shares in the sufferings of the Messiah. Lazarus did not go to Heaven because he was poor, but because of the messianic dimension of his suffering. Lazarus at the gate mirrored the life of Jesus, who came to his own and his own people rejected him (Jn 1:11). He became a reflection of Jesus, who had nowhere to lay his head (Mt 8:20), and was hungry and worn out (Mk 11:12; Phil 4:12). Lazarus humbled himself like Jesus, who emptied Himself and took the form of a slave, and without complaint and bitterness, “Desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table.” As Jesus was humbler even below the standard of a slave (Phil 2: 7-8), Lazarus was reduced to a lower value in the eyes of the rich man as the dogs licked his wounds…! In addition, the wounds of Lazarus became a participation in the wounds of Jesus, of whom it was said, “Through His bruises you have been healed” (1 Pet 2:24).

 

Think about the agonizing and shameful death of Jesus on the Cross, and see through it the death of Lazarus in such a pitiable state. Therefore, as Jesus Christ rose from the dead, triumphing over all the sufferings and death, so did Lazarus find victory in the bosom of Abraham. Our journey to eternal life begins now, to the extent that we live out in our mortal bodies the life of Christ. That is why St Paul tells us in the second reading to, “Aim at righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” We do not need anyone to come back from the grave to tell us to, “Fight the good fight of faith”, and to be committed to our baptismal promises. The Cross of Christ is the ladder with which we climb to victory and to eternal life. The rich man, in his enjoyment and attitude to Lazarus, rejected the ‘way of the Cross’, which is the only way we truly enjoy life, and live to the fullness of life. Amen.

 

 

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Sunday September 27, 2022.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

“THE ACCEPTABLE TIME”

Meditation for Friday of the 25^th Week in Ordinary Time
(Eccl 3:1-11; Lk 9:18-22)

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted.” Let us meditate on these words so that we can have the right disposition towards our daily responsibilities and faith journey. The two-way dynamics of time given in the first reading is a deep reminder that we should not be consumed by any one side of the coin of time; we should not dwell on any side in isolation of the other. For example, if we are sweating at the time of planting, we should at the same time remember the joy of the time of harvesting. That means if we accept the time of birth, we should be ready to accept the time of death.

Think about how wise and strong we will be if we approach life with this consciousness of the two-way dynamics of time. Time is constantly unfolding. On whatever side of the coin we are now, a new dawn is unfolding. This awareness will make us battle-ready; hardly will we be thrown off balance when the odds are against us, for there is time for everything. It will help us to apply discipline and moderation in life. Thus, this wisdom is indeed the right disposition we need to live a happy life, for it humbles us, giving us stability and constancy even in the face of the changing times.

 

Meditate on such sweet and beautiful stability and constancy that is not ‘owned’ by one season or the other; it keeps us firm in good times and in bad, in silence and in speech, in abundance and in lack, in time of health and in time of sickness, etc. It means we live, no longer for anything happening under the earth, for such a life will flourish at one season and dry off at another season. However, as Christians, “Whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's” (Rm 14:8).

 

In the gospel, Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do the people say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” Jesus instructed them that He would go through the time of suffering, the time of rejection, the time of death, and rise on the third day. Therefore, Jesus is for us the Lord of all times, the Alpha and the Omega (Rev 22:13). “Besides, you know the time has come…” (Rm 13:11-14). All times and seasons are now God’s time (Kairos), since Jesus Christ has won for us eternal salvation in time. That means all times and seasons are nothing but opportunities for us to be saved. So, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2). Amen.

 

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muow, Lagos.

Friday September 23, 2022.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com