The Glory of Almsgiving

Meditation for Monday of the First Week of Lent

(Lev 19:1-2, 11-18; Mt 25:31-46)

As we continue our Lenten journey this week, the readings of today underline the importance of charity, especially at this season. In the first reading, Moses rolled out to the people several laws regarding how they were to relate and treat each other. “You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another…You shall not oppress your neighbor or rub him.” Life is so dynamic, and so are the points of human interaction. While the laws guide us on the right way to treat our neighbor, they cannot make such relationship perfect.

 

So, Jesus steps in to show us the perfect way, which is charity. Yes, charity covers all we are mandated to avoid against our neighbor, at the same time, it satisfies all we are expected to do for our neighbor. Jesus said on the last day, the Son of man will come in His glory, and all the angels with Him, and, sitting on His glorious throne, He will judge all peoples according to the acts of charity they performed to their neighbor. “Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food…” On the other hand, those who failed to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, etc, will be cast into the eternal fire.

 

Meditate on the glory of charity as the King comes in His glory and sits on His glorious throne to separate the righteous from the unrighteous, i.e. He separates the charitable from the uncharitable. Thus, charity sets us apart! It is a distinguishing virtue. And it communicates the glory of Jesus. Whenever we practice almsgiving, especially at this season of Lent, we shall experience a taste of glory. And this serene joyful touch of glory is proof that a particular act of charity is true and divinely inspired. Therefore, every act of almsgiving becomes a step forward into divine glory. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Monday February 27^th, 2023.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THE RESPONSE TO TEMPTATIONS

Meditation for the First Sunday of Lent
(Gen 2:7-9; 3:1-7; Rm 5:12-19; Mt 4:1-11)

On this first Sunday of Lent, let us meditate on Jesus’ responses his temptation in the wilderness. Every temptation comes as an ‘appeal’ to our free will and it awaits our response. If we succumb to the appeal of the temptation, then we sin and wound our relationship with God. Though we know the right choice, often times our wills are not strong enough to withstand the alluring force of temptation. So, we connect ourselves through meditation to Jesus’ response to the devil, that we may draw strength from Him to overcome every temptation.

In response to the first temptation, Jesus said to the devil, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” The word of God is the anchor that can sustain in time of temptation. In the first reading, Adam and Eve lived by God’s word and avoided eating the forbidden fruit until the serpent deceived them. They pulled off from the authority of God’s word and relied on their selfish desires. In the second reading, St Paul explains that, just as one Adam’s sin let to condemnation for all men, “So one man’s act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men.” That means the life of the word of God comes to us as we participate in the righteousness of Jesus, in whom is the fullness of life. Therefore, as we live out the righteousness of Jesus, we shall conquer every temptation.

 

To the second temptation, Jesus responded, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” Sometimes in the face of temptation, we can be so casual, trying to take advantage of God’s mercy. At times too, we are taken over by pride and become presumptuous. At this point we exaggerate our capacity to overcome the temptation, and we begin to lay claim to God’s protection. However, man cannot condition God to come to his aid. Adam and Eve knew the forbidden fruit would bring death, yet they decided to take the risk. They got carried away by the empty promises projected by the serpent. You cannot throw yourself down from the pinnacle of the temple, and presuming that God will send His angels to protect you. So, in the face of temptation, we must not project our ego, instead, we respond with humility like Jesus, who through His obedience brought righteousness and justification to many.

 

Thirdly, Jesus quickly replied, “Begone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.’” The promptness of the response says it all: the child of God should react swiftly against any temptation that threaten his faith and worship of God. Think about how Eve allowed the serpent to question her loyalty to God! We must realize that there are some issues about our faith in God that are not open to questioning and debate. Our response to such temptations must be, ‘Begone, Satan.’ This swift response must be applied against any temptation that tries to hinder us from participating in the righteousness of Jesus, for it is by Jesus’ obedience and act of righteousness that set us free from the bondage of sin and death. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Sunday February 26^th, 2023.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

FRIENDS OF THE TAX COLLECTOR

Meditation for Saturday after Ash Wednesday

(Is 58:9-14; Lk 5:27-32)

Let us meditate on the conversion of Levi, the tax collector, and the warm hospitality he offered to Jesus in house. Our Lenten observances are targeted at conversion of heart. The prompt and immediate response of Levi to Jesus’ invitation, “Follow me”, is inspiring. This tax collector was so overwhelmed with the new life he found in Jesus that he organized a feast in his house the Master. “And there was a large company of tax collectors and others sitting at table with them.” This attracted the attention of the Pharisees and scribes, who murmured against Jesus, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

Now, pause and think a bit deeply how Levi, who had given up his corrupt ways, still had his former colleagues as friends. Though he had given his life to Christ, the other tax collectors were still familiarizing with him. This association can be of great challenge to his resolve to follow Jesus. It will either strengthen his resolve or weaken it. For Levi to maintain the new life he found in Jesus, he must constantly renew that prompt and immediate response to Jesus. Thus, saying YES to Jesus must be constantly renewed, especially when we find ourselves surrounded by the alluring presence of the old ways.

Therefore, ‘the friends of the tax collector’ will always remind him to renew his resolve to follow Jesus. Often times we repent of our sins, but the occasions of sin still abound. We regret our old ways, but they are still before us as available options. The friends of the repentant tax collector are still dining with him. There is no need to throwing blame or murmuring like the Pharisees. The prophet Isaiah says, “And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your desire with good things, and make your bones strong.” He does not call us once and abandon us; His voice continues to re-echo in the silence of our hearts, “Follow me.” He continues to call us, even in the midst of situations that threaten our resolve to follow Him. As we continue to answer, the Lord says through the prophet Isaiah, “I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Saturday February 25^th, 2023.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THE SILENT LOUD CRY

Meditation for Friday after Ash Wednesday
(Is 58:1-9; Mt 9:14-15)

In our meditation today, we see a beautiful link between fasting, almsgiving and prayer as given in the first reading. The prophet Isaiah describes fasting as a way to make our voices heard on high. It becomes a ‘silent loud cry’ offered up to God through self-denial. Thus, fasting is invocative. It is expected that God will quickly respond to such a humbled contrite heart. The prophet laments that there are actions that act as soundproof against the ‘loud cry’ of fasting. Such actions that can work against our fasting include seeking pleasure, injustice, quarrelling.

 

According to prophet Isaiah, fasting becomes empty if it does not incline us to righteousness. The Lord says, “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?” This shows that the authenticity of our fasting lies in its capacity to incline us to be prompt to charity.

 

Once our fasting has disposed us to charity, the prophet says, “Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.” Now, the ‘silent loud cry’ has become prayer answered; “Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, Here I am.” That is why fasting enlightens our hearts and brightens our countenance. It is only the hypocrites who look pale and draw pity by their fasting.

 

In this Lenten season, we see how fasting, almsgiving and prayer are connected. The internal strength generated through fasting inclines us to charity, which attracts answers to our prayers. In our fasting this season, we offer to God the ‘silent loud cry’ of our urgent need for divine intervention in our lives and society. And as we practice almsgiving, our cry is heard; God wipes away our tears. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Friday February 24, 2023.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THE CROSS AND THE COMMANDMENTS

Meditation for Thursday after Ash Wednesday
(Deut 30:15-20; Lk 9:22-25)

Self-preservation is the greatest instinct in man. Every other choice we make is presumed to respect our innate desire for survival. In the first reading, Moses said to the people, “See, I have set before you this day life and good, death and evil.” He urged them to obey God’s commandments as the way to choose life and multiply. To disobey the commandments will lead to evil and death. Thus, the two options of life and death have practically one singular response: the commandments. It is either we are obeying the commandments or disobeying the commandments. Thus, by that act with which we keep the commandments, we choose life and avoid death. And by that act with which we disobey the commandments, we choose death and lose life.

 

In gospel, Jesus still talked about the two options of life and death, but He presented the cross the solution. As Moses prescribed obedience to the commandments as the way to have life and multiply, Jesus offered us the cross as the source of life. He said, “If a man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it.” The choice for the cross becomes our choice for Jesus, in whom we are saved.

 

The hidden instinct for self-preservation in man has been called out of its selfish domain, purified through the commandments and satisfied in Christ Jesus. The life promised through the commandments is now flowing like a fountain in Jesus Christ. On the cross, He opened this wellspring of life for us, which is the end-purpose of the law. So, as we identify and carry our cross daily, we conquer evil, and fullness of life in Jesus Christ. That is why as we deny ourselves this Lenten season, our will is strengthened to take up our cross. Through our Lenten observances, our instinct for self-preservation now translates into love for the cross of Jesus. By following Jesus so intimately, we satisfy the law, and have abundance of life. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Thursday February 23, 2023.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

THE TIMING OF THE SEASON OF LENT

Meditation for Ash Wednesday, 2023
(Joel 2:12-18; 2 Cor 5:20-6:2; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18)

The season of lent often comes as a package that is never anticipated but, all the same, it is warmly received. Unlike Advent and Christmas seasons, we usually do not look forward to lent. However, the silence and solemnity that becloud the season envelops our hearts, and we step into it with great determination. Thus, we do not go to meet Lent, rather, Lent comes to meet us! It is a unique and outstanding liturgical season in the Church, endowed with a highly formative spirituality that is hinged on the call for prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

The timing of the season of lent is timely! It is described as a ‘veritable time’, a ‘time of favor.’ The message and observances that are clustered in lent are not exclusive to the season. This is where some non-Catholics mistakenly think that Catholics observe fasting only during lent. At lent, we practice the observances, not just as individuals, but as the Body of Christ, the Church. Here, obedience goes ahead of our sacrifices. At this time, the Church leads, we learn and follow at the same time. Just as time is a continuum, and the liturgical seasons are not exclusive to each other, so also the observances of the 40 days of lent energize us onwards. The season of lent is ever timely for it comes to renew our commitment to the core values of our Christian life by redirecting our gaze to the cross of Christ.  

 

“But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast” (Mt 9:15). Think about such emptiness when Jesus, the Bridegroom, is not present. Sometimes our choices and actions make our hearts, homes, church and society unconducive for Jesus to settle in. Our fasting, prayer and almsgiving become practical expressions of our inner yearning for salvation in Christ Jesus. Meditate on how much Jesus wants to be part of our lives, families, and communities. Thus, it is timely that we should set aside this time of lent to deny ourselves of empty desires, repent of our waywardness, and align our heart desires with Jesus’ thirst for us from the cross. The eternal desire of Jesus for our salvation makes every Lenten season timely.

 

Oh! What a beautiful time lent is? It is a time of fasting and abstinence that satisfies the heart. Lent is colored with silence and solemnity, yet it drums joy and peace to the heart. As we kick off this season with ashes on our foreheads, the 40 days appear to be stretched forward, but at Easter, we appreciate every bit of the journey. Think about the beauty of a penitent Church, wrapped in contrition, and kneeling with Mary at the foot of the cross. There is no better time to make amends than now. “Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos,

Wednesday February 22, 2023

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THE WAY OF HOLINESS AND PERFECTION

 Meditation for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Lev 19:1-2, 17-18; 1 Cor 3:16-23; Mt 5:38-48)

The Lord said to the congregation of the sons of Israel, “You shall be holy; for I the Lord your God am holy.” The readings of today echo the call to holiness, at a time like this, when sin has eaten deep into every fabric of our society. The voice of Jesus resounds anew, “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” The call to holiness and perfection may not be popular among believers today, but the freshness and strength of the message cannot be denied.

 

The call to holiness and perfection takes Christian morality to a realm that can only be sustained by faith in Jesus Christ. As we embark on this journey to holiness, we begin to realize our mandate as ‘Image of God’ and live out the grace we have as those redeemed by Jesus Christ. Since God has shared life with us in Christ Jesus, and bestowed upon us the riches of his glory, the way to holiness and perfection is now accessible and available. In the Old Testament, holiness was measured by keeping the commandments. But in the New Testament, holiness is measured by following Jesus and living out His righteousness.

 

Often times, we tend to shy away when we hear Jesus say, “If any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also…” It appears humanly impossible to do so. But God had already prepared us in Christ Jesus to follow Him on that path. In the second reading, St. Paul asks, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? Our steps to holiness and perfection must begin with this conscious realization that the Holy Spirit has made His home in our hearts, and we recognize Him as the hidden wisdom that directs our thoughts and actions. That means we are expected to give out a spiritual response, even to what is done to us physically.

 

As temples of God, acting from the hidden wisdom of the Holy Spirit, the responses we give will shock the world, “For the wisdom of this world is folly with God.” The spiritual response we give becomes for us an expression of the life of Christ. For we live no longer for ourselves, but for Him who died and rose from the death (2 Cor 5:15). The cross of Christ is the ultimate temple of God, where the perfect sacrifice was offered. Hence, we bear this identity of Jesus, and carry around in our bodies the temple of the cross so that the life of Jesus may be revealed in our bodies (2 Cor 4:10).

 

Meditate on how the Holy Spirit overshadows the heart that welcomes Him, leaving no room for violence, revenge, and enmity. He leads us on the pathway of peace, love and reconciliation. This is how we can ‘turn the other cheek’, ‘go two miles with the oppressor’, ‘love and pray for our enemies.’ This is not to demonstrate our resilient capability. But it is the spiritual response we give, “So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” This is how we manifest the life of Christ, and walk on pathway of holiness and perfection. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Sunday February 19^th, 2023.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com