THE WATCHMAN OF FORGIVENESS

Reflection for 23^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Ezekiel 33:7-9; Rm 13:8-10; Mt 18:15-20)

How often do we take responsibility for the life of others? Many a times, we are concerned for our well-being and the protection of our comfort zones, which may include the few individuals within our circle. The common trend today is to exclude or ‘walk away’ from those who disagree with us or who corrects us. So people these days form ‘uniformity’ and flock around those who will tell them what they want to hear.  Even when we hear admonitions from the word of God, we tend to select what we want to hear and respond to, especially if the message is to our advantage. Still, the messenger must deliver the message God gave him.

This is the instruction the prophet Ezekiel got in the first reading of today. His prophetic mission included delivering God’s message of repentance to the sinner. Yes, the sinner is free to repent or not, but the prophet must take responsibility to ensure that God’s message gets to man. Here, the salvation of the sinner is indirectly hinged on the prophetic mandate. Therefore, if the prophet fails to carry out his duty, God would hold him accountable for the death of the sinner. But if he delivers his message, whether the sinner repents or not, the prophet would have saved his life.

In the Gospel, Jesus stands before us as the fulfilment of the law and the prophets. He has won the forgiveness of our sins so that sinners may be reconciled with God. And he established in His Church the ministry of reconciliation; “God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:18). So, we have a new ‘prophetic mandate’ issuing from Jesus as He says, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens, you have gained your brother.” Like Ezekiel the watchman, Jesus placed the care of the soul of our brother in our hands. We must take responsibility by taking every step necessary to be reconciled with him. The new prophetic watchman looks for every possible means to heal wounds and restore unity.

What are the reasons to seek for forgiveness and reconciliation? Jesus answers that it is to gain your brother back. This unity is answered prayer; unity of intention wins us God’s favour. And the Lord dwells among us when we are united. “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Grudge, unforgiveness and disunity are serious obstacles to prayer. Everyone wins when we are reconciled to each other. Healing the wounds of disunity is part of the ‘prophetic mandate’ we received at baptism. Thus, if we want to be reconciled with Christ Jesus and be saved, we too must be reconciled with one another.

Therefore, we do not live a self-enclosed life that bears no responsibility for others. Our Christian life overflows in love to care for our neighbour. “Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law.” Yes, the command to feed the hungry and clothe the naked includes reaching out the hand of forgiveness to those hungry for reconciliation. You have been positioned as a watchman, hanging with Christ on the Cross of forgiveness. There we crucify our pride, forgiven, nourished and fed by the Body and Blood of Christ, we are strengthened to raise up the fallen. The power of the Cross is manifested in forgiveness. “We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak, and not to please ourselves” (Rm 15:1). May God give us the grace to heal the wounds that divide us. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Sunday September 6^th, 2020.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THE NEW WINESKIN

Reflection for Friday of the 22^nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(1 Cor 4:1-5; Lk 5:33-39)

 The human mind is the seat of judgement. While the intellectual mind is actively engaged in judgement of things and human affairs, true wisdom is to know the limit. Often times we overstep our boundaries and become judges of persons. This happens when we decide the fate of others, even before God. While we readily judge others, no one likes to be judged and condemned as such. Hence, St Paul tells the Corinthians that God alone is the ultimate judge. “It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgement before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.”

But in the Gospel of today, the self-righteous Pharisees accused the disciples of Jesus of not fasting along with others. Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?” The over-zealous Pharisees crossed their boundary and made themselves the determinant of who was at good standing with God. Indirectly, when we judge people thus, we secretly wish that they should act to please us. That is why it is dangerous for one to think he is better than others. He who thinks he is standing, let him be careful lest he fall (1 Cor 10:12).

Of Course, Jesus reminded the Pharisees that they were ‘old-fashioned.’ God is doing something new; a new cloth, a new wine! Something more beautiful and tastier comes forth from the Children of God when we gather around Jesus. So, whoever makes himself a judge ‘on behalf of the Lord’ and sets to condemn others automatically makes himself ‘old-fashioned.’ “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rm 8:1). So, according to St Paul in the first reading, as ‘servants of Christ’ and ‘stewards of the mysteries of God’ we are required to be trustworthy, bearing in mind that the Lord will hold us accountable.

Imagine the new wine poured into old wineskins, which bursts the skins and pours away. Oh what a waste! This is how we waste away when we over step our boundaries of thought and begin to judge and condemn others. Instead, let us empty ourselves into Jesus, the ‘New Wineskin’ that He may preserve our inner peace and sustain us in ‘freshness of taste’ each day as we remain ‘contained in Him.’ Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Friday September 4^th, 2020.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

SURRENDERING TO DIVINE WISDOM

Reflection for Thursday of the 22^nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year A
(1 Cor 3:18-23; Lk 5:1-11)

Sometimes, when people climb some height in academics, they gradually become lukewarm or drop their faith. Of course, St Paul had a hard time arguing with the Greeks, who were known for their intelligence, about faith in the resurrection (Acts 17:16-34). Today there is more of ‘social knowledge’ than deep intellectual knowledge. In other words, we are more exposed to knowledge about the ‘use of things’ than the ‘Being of things.’ But listen to what St Paul says as we continue to journey with him this Week: “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God.”

Therefore, those who have human wisdom should not boast about it, for all wisdom belongs to God (Prov 2:6), and all things are under Him. It becomes self deception, as St Paul said, for one to hold his human knowledge as the ultimate and disregard divine wisdom. That is why Christ’s faithful surrender their hearts, knowledge and possession to God through Jesus Christ. Go, sell all you have, come and follow me (Cf. Mt 19:21). Example of this is what Simon Peter did in the Gospel, where he gave up his empty boat for Jesus to use. The fishermen were washing their nets when Jesus requested for the boat. They sacrificed their time and waited for Jesus to round up. At the end, Jesus sent them back to the sea to search for fish. As a professional, with long time knowledge of fishing, Peter answered him, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing!” However, he surrendered his human knowledge to that of Jesus and said, “But at your word I will let down the nets.”

The catch was amazing! The empty boats were now at sinking point, full of fish. Peter was astonished. He ran to Jesus and surrendered his heart to him, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Jesus invited him to greater self-offering: “Do not be afraid; henceforth, you will be catching men.” Interestingly, they left everything and followed him.

As we are exposed to knowledge in the social media, academics, etc, we must be ready to surrender to the Divine Wisdom that supersedes. As we offer up the little we have, God draws us to greater heights, which in turns demands greater self-surrender till we achieve perfect union with Him. Peter offered his empty boat, left behind the boat full of fish, offered his heart to Jesus, then he followed him completely with total commitment. Whatever we know or have that cannot be offered to God is an idol. May the Lord Jesus bless our labours today that they may bear fruit, so we may follow Him wholeheartedly. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Thursday September 3^rd, 2020.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

NEUTRALIZING THE POISON OF JEALOUSY

 Reflection for Wednesday of the 22^nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(1 Cor 3:1-9; Lk 4:38-44)

Our journey with St Paul to the Greek City of Corinth began on Monday, where Paul introduced the principle of his teaching as flowing from the knowledge of Christ crucified. And his mission was a demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit, not to showcase human wisdom unlike the Greek thinkers. Yesterday he drew their attention to the workings of the Holy Spirit, who reveals the mysteries, the gifts of God and gives understanding to those who believe. This was to ensure that their faith would not be based on human wisdom, but believers have the mind of Christ.

On this third day of our journey, St Paul condemns the life of the flesh among believers. He frowns at this because the baptized ought to be led by the Holy Spirit, who becomes their new ‘frame of mind.’ Interestingly, he mentions jealousy among others as the commonest sign that they have not totally surrendered to the workings of the Holy Spirit. “For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving like ordinary men?” Jealousy is listed among the sins that oppose the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:20). Sad enough, St Paul pointed out that this jealousy exists in the house of God. Then, think about the height of jealousy that exists among friends, families, colleagues, business associates, etc. Every fruit of jealousy is poisonous to anyone it touches, beginning with the one who bears it.

According to St Paul, the simple solution to avoid jealousy is to realize that God alone matters, and He alone gives growth. He gives each according to His will and their capacity (Mt 25:15). Everyone has a role to play, though differently. “Each shall receive his wages according to his labour.” So, we must all look up to God. It takes one who has the ‘mind of Christ’, whose mind is surrendered to the workings of the Spirit, to discover himself and appreciate what God has given him. The Holy Spirit draws us to look up to Jesus and discover the things that really matter, instead burning ourselves away on jealousy.

Think about how the people ran up to Jesus at Simon’s mother-in-law’s house with various diseases and they received their healing! In the same way, when people have the glories we are praying for, we thank God for them and run up to Jesus in faith and prayer. He will cast out the evil of jealousy so that we can appreciate the gifts of God in us, and see in Jesus our ultimate good. Have a blessed day.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Wednesday September 2^nd, 2020.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

THE TOUCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Reflection for Tuesday of the 22^nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year A
(1 Cor 2:10-16; Lk 4:31-37)

On this first day of the Month of September, St Paul shifts his discussion with the Corinthians to the workings of the Holy Spirit.  There is need to highlight the operations of the Spirit so that faith in Jesus Christ will not be based on human thinking. “The Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.” It is by the Spirit that we can understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. The truth of divine mysteries is made understandable by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit in us becomes the ‘revealer’ of truth, and at the same time the ‘principle of Choice’ from which the human mind is motivated to action. This is how the spiritual man knows the will of God and is inspired to do it.

However, human wisdom poses as an ‘obstacle’ to the workings of the Holy Spirit in us. Our human thinking must be transformed by the Holy Spirit as our new frame of thought. The wordily minded person cannot pierce the depths of God; he cannot receive what the Holy Spirit offers. “The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” The obstacle that the human mind poses is removed when the believer begins to develop the ‘mind of Christ’ in his daily life. When we confront issues with the ‘approach of Christ’ then we grow in the ‘mind of Christ.’ Then, the Holy Spirit draws our mind to Himself as the new frame of thinking...

Hence, to ‘put on Christ’ (Rm 13:14) is the gateway to unlock the great workings of the Holy Spirit in us. But the Gospel of today shows how the devil ‘opposes’ our encounter with Jesus. The evil one tried to distract the people from Jesus, and get cheap attention for himself. Jesus immediately rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”

Think about the many ways we are distracted from Jesus; the unnecessary oppositions we face anytime we have an opportunity to love Jesus. Imagine how often our active minds become obstacles to us hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit. However, a brief touch of the Spirit overwhelms us, brightens our day, melts away every fear and sorrow, and reveals the gifts of God. May you have that touch of the Holy Spirit this month, Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Tuesday September 1^st, 2020.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

THE KNOWLEDGE TO BELIEVE

 Reflection for Monday of the 22^nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year A

(1 Cor 2:1-5; Lk 4:16-30)

This week we shall be meditating on the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians.  Corinth was a leading Greek City where Paul preached during his second missionary journey. Remember the Greeks had a long philosophic history even before Jesus Christ was born. As we scroll down the pages of this letter, we shall see how Paul addresses these ‘wise men’ to convince them about faith in Jesus Christ.

The human mind operates within a certain framework; it draws from its frame of reference to make judgments and accept assertions. It is not easy to draw the mind to accept new frame of reference or ways of thinking. Since the mind seem to have attraction to fancies, learned people use ‘plausible words of wisdom’ to excite their audience and convince them to accept their teachings. But St Paul quickly pulled his preaching from the style of the ‘wise men’ already known to the Corinthians. He declared himself before them as ‘unwise’, shy and ill equipped with lofty words of wisdom. He did this for two reasons. First, that the Gospel message might not be reduced to human thinking, such that it could be accepted simply because it excited their rational mind. Such euphoria does not last. Secondly, the preacher with high sounding words draws attention to himself as the learned one, the ‘powerful man of God’, etc. Here, the preacher becomes an obstacle when he becomes the main reason people gather.

St Paul says, “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” And his speech and message were only in demonstration of the Spirit and power, “That your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” It was because of the workings of the human mind that the people of Nazareth rejected Jesus, who taught them, not like the Son of a Carpenter, but by the Spirit of the Lord. And Jesus could not perform any miracles among them.

The Word of God transcends any frame of mind, ideology or cultural mindset. We should not approach the divine mysteries with a mind that is closed to itself or attached to personalities. Let the Holy Spirit inspire us; let the power of God draw us and let the wisdom of God direct us. Yes, let us move forward this day in faith with the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Monday August 31^st, 2020.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com 

FROM SUFFERING TO SACRIFICE

 Reflection for 22^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

(Jer 20:7-9; Rm 12:1-2; Mt 16:21-27)

1.0.  The Heart of Suffering

Suffering in the heart is the ‘heart’ of suffering; an agonizing heart knows no peace. The human heart and mind are full of aspirations and visions. The extent to which we are attached to these visions will determine the debt of our rejoicing or suffering if they are achieved or not. Many people are burdened in different aspects of their lives. Sometimes, our ‘heartbreaks’ are brought upon us by others and situations we find ourselves. Most times they originate from within us; from our wrong ideologies and misplaced visions and aspirations. Yes, since the fall of man at the beginning of creation, man suffers as he withdraws his heart in disobedience from the will of God. Here is the ‘heart’ of suffering, and the heart that suffers is that which is not in line with the will of God.

This is where we locate the suffering of Prophet Jeremiah in the first reading as he battles to cooperate with the will of God. Jeremiah became a sign of contradiction to himself, and a laughingstock to the people. Since Jeremiah delivered the message that people did not want to hear, he suffered mockery and shame.  Within him, the word of God became a reproach and derision, for when he says, ‘“I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,’ there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.” The suffering heart is healed when it succumbs to the will of God.

2.0.  From Suffering to Sacrifice

The human body and its pleasures bring us a lot of suffering as they divert us away from the will of God. The yearnings of the flesh, with its attraction to comfort, do not often align with that of the Holy Spirit. This contradiction leads to self-agony, frustration, stress and depression.  As this ‘battle’ rages, time is wasted, energy is exhausted and resources are misused. Fear and regret are left for the soul to chew! But the second reading of today suggests a way out. St Paul suggests that we present our bodies as living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. Once the body is offered in sacrifice, it can no more bring contradiction to the soul. But, how can the body ought to be sacrificed?

St Paul answers, “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” By offering the body in sacrifice, what ought to have brought mere suffering is connected to the will of God, from where peace of soul flows.

3.0.  Take up your Cross

In the Gospel of today, Jesus surprises his disciples as He informs them of his readiness to freely enter Jerusalem to suffer, die and resurrect on the third day. We do everything we can to avoid suffering, how can He see suffering and willingly embrace it, even to the point of death? The most important thing for the human mind is self-preservation. But Jesus demonstrates that the most important thing is the will of the Father, no matter what it involves, even if it is suffering and death. Thus, Jesus goes ahead of us on way of the Cross, where He nailed every suffering, conquered it and brought life.

In Jesus is the fulfilment of the will of the Father. The disobedience that brought suffering is conquered on the Cross of Suffering through the obedience of Christ. In Jesus we learn how to place the will of the Father over and above our heart desires and aspirations and bodily comfort. “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” And unless we follow Jesus, our suffering cannot be sacrificed. We deny ourselves by placing the will of God revealed in Jesus over and above our human desires and aspirations. We take up our cross by getting actively involved in the situations of our lives, fulfilling our responsibilities, facing challenges and bearing the burdens that come our way as the will of God. Then, we follow Jesus with our burden by seeing it in faith as our sharing in the Cross of Christ, locating our pains in His, and by applying the righteousness of Jesus along the way as the challenges unfold.

This is how we find our life; wounds give way to healing, and life overcomes death! When our suffering becomes the will of God for us in Christ Jesus, we will never be frustrated or depressed but we will continue to produce good works. The heart that surrenders to the will of God will triumph over every suffering.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Sunday August 30^th, 2020.
 www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com