SOMETHING GREATER

 SOMETHING GREATER
Meditation for Wednesday of the First Week of Lent
(Jonah 3:1-10; Lk 11:29-32)

How convenient to settle for something less! We desire greatness, but feel threatened by the road that leads there. We want good life, but we make friends with those who act otherwise. Still, we must keep striving because something greater is here.

Jesus was surrounded by miracle-seekers, who were blinded by their selfish pursuit of miracles. But Jesus was offering something more than their selfish desires, i.e. repentance, forgiveness and salvation. Jesus said to them, “The men of Nineveh will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.” Jonah was reluctant to go on his mission, but Jesus freely offered Himself for our salvation. Jonah spent three days in the belly of the fish, and Jesus was buried three days under the earth. While Nineveh was a great city of three days journey, Jonah only made a day’s journey, but Jesus says, ‘I am with you always’ (Mt 28:20). Jonah threatened the people with destruction, but Jesus offers a message of love, peace, forgiveness and eternal life, which He demonstrated with His compassion and miracles.

Indeed, it is an evil and unrepentant generation that seeks signs for itself, and by so doing, settle for less. That is why to habour sin is to settle for less! This season of lent offers us another opportunity to melt our hearts in contrition and repent of our sins. Through fasting, prayer and almsgiving we continue to strive for something greater as we draw closer to Jesus. We need such a humble contrite heart even more than the people of Nineveh, for we are destined for greater things in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Wednesday March 9^th, 2022.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

EMPTY WORDS

EMPTY WORDS
Meditation for Tuesday of the First Week of Lent
(Is 55:10-11; Mt 6:7-15)

The prophet Isaiah assures us that God’s words do not come down nor go back empty. Like rainfall, His words come with nourishment and return fruitfulness. Then, how can we render empty words to God in prayer, who even speaks to us with His life in Christ Jesus. Hence, Jesus says in the today’s gospel, “In praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”

Empty words are those that do not come from the heart, or those words that are not in touch with our real life and deepest desires, or words that are not true. Also, we heap up empty phrases when we address God in words that are not true to Him, or when we ask for things that will not bring Him glory. Such empty phrases can come when we seek for vengeance in prayer instead of forgiveness, etc. Prayer must be genuine, with our words flowing from our hearts and minds.

If we can be tempted to address God with empty phrases, how much more readily do we present false selves to others! The fact is if we cannot not relate genuinely with others, unforgiveness, jealousy, etc, will cloud our hearts and, in turn, render our words of prayer empty! Since God knows the secrets of our hearts and our needs even before we pray, and He speaks words of life and divine favour to us, let us set our hearts free to bear fruits of divine glory by being true to one another, and forgiving them of their trespasses. Amen.

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Tues March 8^th, 2022.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                    

 

The New Opportunity

 Meditation for the First Sunday of Lent
(Deut 26:4-10; Rm 10:8-13; Lk 4:1-13)

Truly, the devil is always looking for opportunity to lure the children of God away. But the opportunities are not far-fetched. In fact, we tend to even multiply them and render ourselves vulnerable to sin. After forty days in the wilderness, the hunger biting Jesus was a fertile opportunity for the devil to tempt him. “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” St James rightly said that it is from our desires that the devil sneaks in to lure us to evil (James 1:13-15). And human desires are insatiable; from desire for food and wellbeing to desire for companionship, power and control. Still, the more we get these things, the more we desire them. Thus, the opportunity for temptation abounds.

The victory we have over every temptation is that we are given a new OPPORTUNITY to submit our desires to Jesus Christ. We do this by ensuring that whatever we desire is in accordance with the righteousness of Jesus and in His name. “Submit yourselves to then to the Lord, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you” (James 4:7-8). “And do not give the devil a foothold” (Eph 4:27). So, we put on the full amour of God against the schemes of the devil by ‘desiring Jesus’ and His righteousness and holiness. In other words, we must ensure that all our desires and aspirations are geared towards the glory of God.

Selfish desires and ambitions are fertile grounds for temptations to germinate. But the victory of Jesus over Satan has become our escape route. This victory has given us a new opportunity to overcome the devil. Now there is no temptation we cannot overcome since our human will is sealed in Christ Jesus as we submit our desires to Him.

Fr Jude Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Sunday March 6^th, 2022.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                     

STREAM IN THE DESERT

Meditation for Monday of the Second week of Advent, Year C

(Is 35:1-10; Lk 5:17-26)

Expectant and longing humanity is clearly typified and expressed in a sick person who awaits healing. In a way, sickness embodies human suffering. It brings loneliness and fear, and renders one incapable of free movement and actions. Often, a sick person finds himself in the arms of others, like the paralytic, who have to take care of him and help him recover. When this longing for healing looks upon God, it becomes a concrete expression of our great expectation and waiting—our Advent—for divine intervention and salvation. 

For those who wait on the Lord, Isaiah says in the first reading, “They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God…Be strong, fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” The prophet assures that healing shall flow like streams in the desert, soaking those who wait for the Lord with everlasting joy and gladness, “And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” 

In Jesus is the fulfillment of the living waters of healing. The compassion, freedom and generosity with which He attends to the sick flows like streams in the desert. And people ‘flowed’ to Him to be healed. Some men carrying a paralytic, had to go through the roof to lay him down before Jesus. And Jesus recognized this act of faith that passed through barriers. To reach Jesus was the only thing that mattered, for His divine touch was assured. So, the men transferred the ‘problem’ in their hands to Jesus, and they stepped back, relaxed and watched! 

As Jesus took charge, they realized immediately that He was offering more than they envisioned, for He said to the paralytic, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” To the attacking scribes and Pharisees, Jesus also acted as an Advocate, defending the man’s case before the people. Thus, He encouraged the man and his friends to continue to believe and to receive the forgiveness of sins He was offering. Jesus showed that the man’s physical paralysis was not more important than his spiritual paralysis. By forgiveness of his sins, Jesus was laying down His life for that paralytic because that is what it takes to wipe away sins! “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?”

So, our Advent longing for the Lord can be truly represented by the longing of the paralytic and his friends to meet Jesus, our healer and advocate. He said to the man, “I say to you, rise, take up your bed and go home.” And the people glorified God, for like stream in the desert, God’s divine touch uplifted them.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Monday December 6th, 2021.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

www.soundofsilence.ng

PREPARATION FOR THE LORD

PREPARATION FOR THE LORD

Meditation for Second Sunday of Advent, Year C

(Baruch 5:1-9; Phil 1:4-6.8-11; Lk 3:1-6)

The readings today invite us to prepare for the Lord. PREPARATION is an important step we must take if we are to succeed in every undertaking or situation in life. We prepare for exams, for work, for sports, for marriage, etc. Preparation shows how important something is to us or how committed we are to it. If we fail to prepare, then we have ‘prepared to fail.’ To avoid such failure, the Book of Baruch and the message of John the Baptist call on us to “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked ways shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

 

A valley ‘swallows’ one, and keeps him running round within the enclosure instead of moving forward. Think about that ‘valley of anger’ that swallows up every drop of joy and peace. It could be a valley of laziness that encloses our good intentions to work hard and make progress. Imagine a valley of compulsive expenditure or live of addictions that swallow up our finances and render us financially sterile! Do you identify any kind of ‘valley’ in your life? If we must meet the Lord, and enjoy the favor He brings, these valleys must be filled up. 

A mountain is a huge ‘obstruction’ on our way. When we pile up sins, adding one bad behavior upon another, soon a huge blockage rises in our hearts and we feel cut off from the way to salvation. The voice cries in the wilderness as we prepare for the Lord that every mountain must be levelled. Sometimes we find ourselves on crooked ways, adorning our words and actions with lies and deceit. At times inconsistence and instability become our swing of life! That is why we should be watchful when every little choice before us is attacked by indecision. The way of the Lord is straight! Every crooked way must be straightened if we are to meet Jesus. And the rough edges of our lives must be smooth; those aggressive ends, selfish and stubborn must be smoothen with a touch of love and kindness. 

Therefore, Saint Paul urges, “That your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” On his part, Baruch says, “Put on the robe of righteousness from God.” This is how we arm ourselves to fill up every valley that prevents us from seeing the salvation and glory of God, level every mountain that block our way to reaching God’s blessings and answers to our prayers, straighten crooked ways that divert our lives from the right path, and smoothen the rough edges that render us inefficient. Then our hearts shall be ready, and our song shall ever be, “Come Lord Jesus, do not delay.” Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Sunday December 5th, 2021.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

www.soundofsilence.ng

PLENTIFUL HARVEST

 Meditation for Saturday of the First Week of Advent

(Is 30: 19-21, 23-26; Mt 9:35-10:1, 5-8)

In our advent meditation today, we are caught up in the beauty and strength of Jesus’ compassion for helpless humanity. As the crowds gathered “Like sheep without a shepherd”, Jesus indicated that there is much work to be done. His compassionate work of healing and redeeming humanity needs to be extended. “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send our laborers into his harvest.” The laborers are to continue the compassionate work of Jesus, which Isaiah prophesied, “He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you.”

 

“And He called to Himself His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity.” The authority was given to them freely to carry on Jesus’ compassionate work of healing and redeeming wounded humanity. It was not meant for their own selfish gains. The laborers of the Kingdom act on behalf of Jesus; they carry on with ‘delegated’ authority, thereby representing Jesus before the people. This is how they bring Jesus’ compassion to the people. Such laborers are good shepherds who gather the people for Christ.

 

The harvest is plentiful; there is a lot of work to be done! We need more laborers filled with the authority of Jesus, and touching lives with His compassion, and gathering people for the Kingdom of Heaven. Wounded humanity is waiting and yearning for the healing and liberation of the children of God (Rm 8:19-23). But God has also answered our prayer by bring closer to us the Kingdom of God we are praying through the laborers He called. “And preach as you go, saying, ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without pay, give without pay.” Therefore, Heaven is waiting to receive plentiful harvest, for salvation is nearer now (Rm 13:11). Amen

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Saturday December 4^th, 2021.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

www.soundofsilence.ng

“DO YOU BELIEVE THAT I AM ABLE TO DO THIS?”

 Meditation for Friday of the First Week of Advent

(Is 29:17-24; Mt 9:27-31)

In the Gospel of today Jesus asked the two blind men a direct and touchy question: “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” This question was directed not to two causal blind beggars by the roadside, but two blind men that made stringent efforts to get to him for healing. They followed Him along the way, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” Even when Jesus entered the house, the men still made there way to get to Him. If they did not believe, why would they go through such stress to get to Jesus?

 

Another meditative question is: why did Jesus suspend His response to them but delayed and “dragged” them along? Their desire to be healed, if it were coming from Faith, must include the freedom of Jesus to answer them at His own pace and according to His will! Though they were crying aloud, their faith silently followed Jesus and ‘dragged’ the men along, despite the inconveniences. Having arrived at the feet of Jesus, their faith had been purified of selfishness such that even their desire to be healed was recognized as freely in the arms of Jesus. In other words, imagine the faith of a blind who believes that Jesus has the power to heal him though he still remains blind before him! He continues to believe even when that healing is delayed or denied…

 

Thus, when Jesus asked the above question, the men quickly answered, “Yes, Lord.” Then Jesus touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be done for you.” What a divine touch on those who had touched Jesus in faith! A lively faith, fused with divine favor that becomes answered prayer to those who posses it. As we approach Jesus with a renewed faith this Advent, may we feel His healing touch on us. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Friday December 3rd, 2021.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

www.soundofsilence.ng