TO WHOM SHALL WE GO?

Meditation for Saturday of the Third Week of Easter

(Acts 9:31-42; Jn 6:60-69)

Our Easter meditation today captures the raising of Tabitha to life. This lady was known for her kindness and acts of charity among the believers at Joppa. But she fell sick and died. They laid her in the upper room and sent Peter to come over immediately. Tabitha’s good works were so great that death could not destroy the imprints she left in their hearts. Charity performed with the grace of the resurrection comes alive; it carries the impact of such force that can conquer the grave. That is why the Eucharist and the Holy Spirit are given to us, to nourish us and inspire us from within, so that our lives and actions will have an eternal impact. Jesus says, “It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”

 

When Peter arrived, “All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing coats and garments which Tabitha made while she was with them.” Peter went in, knelt down and prayed, “Then turning to the body he said, ‘Tabitha, rise.’” She opened her eyes and sat up. Seeing this miracle, many believed in the Lord. The raising of Tabitha led to the raising of many to faith in Jesus Christ. And the raising of Tabitha was achieved through the intervention of believers who were inspired by her good works. Thus, Tabitha’s kindness and charity in faith, working through her sufferings and death, became for her a deeper participation in the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ, and brought saving grace to her and to those who believed through her.

 

Therefore, Jesus said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” The silent touch of the Holy Spirit makes the difference: a little word or action that springs up from the prompting of the Holy Spirit, sprouts out like the tiny mustard seed that grows to become a mighty tree of salvation. Hence, we echo the words of Peter and say to Jesus today, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Amen

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Saturday 29, 2023.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THE RESPONSE OF FAITH THAT OVERCOMES PERSECUTION

Meditation for Friday of the Third Week of Easter

(Acts 9:1-20; Jn 6:52-59)

Let us meditate on the conversion of St Paul. It was an extra ordinary event, when Jesus intervened, breaking through his ideologies and prejudices against Christians, and restoring him to a new life of faith in Jesus Christ. He became blind to old ways, staying three days without sight. It was as if he died with Christ but on the third day his sight was restored for the new life in Jesus Christ. St Paul’s experience was both a conversion and a commission for the mission to the Gentiles. On behalf of the Church, Ananias led hands on him saying, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

 

The words of Ananias and how the Christian community welcomed him in the name of Jesus Christ, made St Paul to realize that the Christian faith was not an imposition on their Jewish culture or on any culture; Christianity does not drag authority and relevance with any other religion and culture. It is about OBEDIENCE OF FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST (Rm 1:4-5). Despite knowing Saul to be a persecutor of the Church, at the prompting of the Holy Spirit, they responded to him and welcomed him with love.

 

That hidden power that enables a believer to act in the name of Jesus and under the prompting of the Holy Spirit comes from communion with Jesus through the word of God, the Eucharist and regular prayers. This is the Christian life in action; it is gentle but firm, hidden but overshadowing, patient but never passive, silent but speaks truth. That is why Jesus reminded us again today, saying, “Truly, truly I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day…He who eats me will live because of me.” Hence, the believer responds with obedience of faith over and above his natural inclinations and personal ideologies. This is how he survives every persecution and overcomes every trial. That is why persecuting Christians as Saul did is always a lost battle since the Christian faith has life in itself, and is never against anyone.  Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Friday April 28, 2023.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

THE HIDDEN JOY OF BELIEVERS

Meditation for Thursday of the Third Week of Easter

(Acts 8:26-40; Jn 6:44-51)

Let us meditate briefly on the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch. The man’s conversion began from his honest and humble natural search for truth as he was reading from the prophet Isaiah. Many people today claim they are searching for the truth about religion and God’s existence, but they do it with bias and arrogance. The man listened as Philip explained to him the good news of Jesus Christ. Think about the warmth he felt within him such that he asked to be baptized immediately.

“And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.” Conversion is not about imposing the preacher’s personality, but guiding one to discover the new life in Christ, which a life lead by the Holy Spirit. Meditate on the joy of the Ethiopian eunuch after his baptism. It was a victorious joy; the joy of a new life and a new discovery. It was a joy ‘received’, not a joy ‘acquired’. This joy is the mark of the transformation that comes when one enters into the new life in Christ. This is the true energy within that underline Christian worship and lead believers forward. This joy too attracts envy and persecution from unbelievers, who judge Christianity at the level of human knowledge and wit, but they are ignorant of this secret joy that announces the presence of the Holy Spirit.

 

Hence, Jesus says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” Jesus blesses us with His divine presence in the Eucharist such that even our natural self can connect to His presence. In this way, we can lift up our hearts and minds to Him, and avoid the temptation of reducing faith to the imagination of our minds. “I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats this bread, he will live forever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.” In this living bread is contained that secret joy that sustains faith and nourishes life. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Thursday April 27^th, 2023.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

NOURISHED FOR SUSTAINED GRWOTH

 Meditation for Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter

(Acts 8:1-8; Jn 6:35-40)

After the death of St. Stephen, a great persecution arose against the Church in Jerusalem. Saul took it to another level, entering house to house to drag out Christians. Imagine the uproar and confusion this would cause. The Church scattered, and believers found themselves in many other cities. Even now, the mighty hand of persecution has not left the Church. The aim of persecution was to silence and destroy the Church. Unfortunately, the seed of faith is not in Church buildings, but it is rooted in the heart of believers. Thus, persecution helped the seed of faith to germinate everywhere believers went.

The Christian faith has this unique quality that it contains within itself a principle of life that transforms persecution into a means of growth. Many attacks on teachings of the Church have helped to strengthen catholic theology and have given rise to neo-evangelization. This inherent capacity to be transformed and grow in the midst of persecution is the secret life of the Church, which is contained in her individual members. In addition, this is a testimony that to be a Christian is to have the joy of a shared life with Jesus. This spiritual joy becomes an internal energy that moves believers forward to conquer every opposition.

 

Jesus said in the gospel, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.” He gives us that spiritual food in which we commune with Him, and have His life within us, such that the life of believers is not dependent on anything external for fulfillment. With such nourishment, the faith will continue to germinate and spread despite every persecution. That is why those who are truly fed and nourished in Christ Jesus do not lack creativity, and they never lack hope no matter the setback they may experience. Jesus says, “For this is the will of the Father, that everyone who sees and the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Wednesday April 26^th, 2023.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

TO LABOUR FOR ENDURING VALUES

 Meditation for Monday of the Third Week of Easter

(Acts 6:8-15; Jn 6:22-29)

Most arguments and debate do not yield fruit because people argue from their point of view with closed minds. Worse still, the most useless arguments are more time and energy consuming. Often times, arguments hurt our ego and raise tension. When some men came to debate with St Stephen about His preaching, they felt ashamed that they could not match his wisdom. Since they could not win the argument, they decided to destroy him. Their hearts were already made up against St Stephen, such that even against all proofs, they refused to accept His message. Instead, they tried to satisfy their ego by cooking up lies against him. However, St Stephen remained calm and gracious, his face bright like an angel.

 

The mystery of faith is not based on high sounding oratory or argument but it is a demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit and the knowledge of the cross, “So that your faith should depend not on human wisdom but on the power of God” (1 Cor 2:1-5). Human knowledge alone will remain on the perceived symbols, just as those who ate the loaves took pains to look for Jesus. But He said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.” Their hearts were set on the loaves not on Jesus who multiplied the loaves. Sometimes we exhaust ourselves and pay more attention to things that are less beneficial. And to be able to focus on what really endures begins with faith in Jesus Christ, “For on Him has God the Father set His seal.” To be guided by faith in Jesus will carry us beyond the perceived symbols, which are temporal, and lead us to things that really matter and that endures. This will fill us with wisdom like St Stephen, and help us to remain gracious and calm even in the face of hostility and life challenges. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Monday April 24, 2023.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THE EUCHARISTIC SPARK

Meditation for the Third Sunday of Easter
(Acts 2:14, 22-33; 1 Pet 1:17-21; Lk 24:13-35)

Let us meditate on one of the most prominent appearances of Jesus after His resurrection. The encounter between Jesus and two of His disciples, who were on their way to Emmaus, says a lot about our Eucharistic celebration. “While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.” What could prevent believers from recognizing their Master? It is lack of faith in the resurrection or sin! The resurrected Jesus is present among believers, but unbelief and sin blur our eyes of faith from recognizing Him. That is why the Mass begins with the act of contrition, when we acknowledge our sins and ask for God’s mercy. As Peter said in the first reading, we have crucified Jesus by our sins, “But God raised Him up.”

 

In the liturgy of the word during the Mass, Jesus speaks to us through the Bible readings, just as He spoke to the disciples along the road. Only Jesus can reveal to us how He is in the Scriptures; “Beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” So, we listen to Jesus through the Scriptures, for He alone is the one who can reveal to us the hidden mysteries in the words of the Bible, and draw us to Himself as we listen. This is how both the words read at Mass and the preaching can set our hearts on fire for Jesus.

Then the disciples said to Him, “Stay with us, for it is towards evening and the day is now far spent.” The desire for communion is sparked off by our reception of the word in our hearts. At the sacred table, Jesus gives Himself in an extra ordinary way through the breaking of the Bread, which becomes His new presence. “And their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished out of their sight.” Jesus immediately withdrew the ordinary human form, but the Eucharistic form remains. In Holy Communion, the faithful realize that the Eucharistic spark within, is a deepening of the same fire they felt while listening to the Scriptures. Hence, the disciples said, “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?”

 

Just as the two disciples were energized by the assurance of faith, they received through the Eucharistic encounter to leave behind their comfort and go against their fears back to Jerusalem, bearing witness to what they experienced, so also, we rise from the Mass to go home and live out the grace we received. That is why the second reading says that our faith and hope are rooted in God through the confidence we have in Jesus, who ransomed us, not with perishable gold or silver, but with His precious Blood. That is why, like the disciples that were going to Emmaus, we must humbly listen and sanctify our hearts with word of God, so that we can have a deeper encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Sunday April 23, 2023.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

THE MERCY THAT BREAKS BARRIERS

    Meditation for the Second Sunday of Easter
Divine Mercy Sunday
(Acts 2:42-47; 1 Pet 1:3-9; Jn 20:19-31)

On the Second Sunday of Easter the Church celebrates the unfathomable divine mercy of God, reveled and given to humanity as a unique gift of the Resurrection. This great mercy of God breaks forth through the barriers of human nature and brings to us that divine touch that is beyond human understanding. The first reading narrates how the early Church was fed by the teaching of the apostles, the breaking of bread and the prayers. “And all who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need.” The divisive walls of human selfishness have been conquered.  Now, charity can spring from ‘nothingness’, and become, above all, a sharing of life (cf. 2 Cor 6:10).

That is why the sharing of the word of God, the Eucharist and prayers energize us from within to take responsibility for the needs of others. These are points of encounter where Jesus is present among us, especially in the Eucharist. As the glorified Jesus shares life with us, so He bestows on us the grace of the resurrection, which moves us forward in the bond of charity with others. The second reading says, “By His great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” Thus, faith in Jesus breaks barriers and guarantees what eyes cannot see, bringing a joy greater than the various trials we suffer. That is why the second reading insists that our faith is more precious than gold.

 

Furthermore, the Eucharist is the highest form of our expression of faith. In the Eucharist we receive all the merits and graces of the resurrection; there Jesus Himself is present in an extra ordinary way, coming to us over and above all human limitations and barriers. It is like Jesus passing through closed doors to be with the disciples. Despite the barriers of fear and uncertainty, He said to them, “Peace be with you.” Just as the resurrected Jesus cannot be stopped by walls and closed doors, the peace and mercy He gives can pierce through fear, tension, misunderstanding, unbelief, etc. Then, He breathed on them, saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” Thus, Jesus gave the disciples the mandate and instituted in His Church the Sacrament of His Mercy for sinners. Guided by the Holy Spirit, He sent them on a mission for the forgiveness of sins.

 

Just as the Church is on a mission to bring about the forgiveness of sins, the Divine Mercy goes ahead of us, breaking through human barriers and limitations, bringing us back to communion with God and neighbor. This is the mercy that pierced through the walls of Thomas’ doubt and absence from the gathering of believers, touching him with the eternal marks of divine mercy; the symbols of Jesus’ victory over human selfishness, weakness, sin and death. This evoked a great response of faith from Thomas, “My Lord and my God!” This is the response of one enveloped in the ocean of Divine Mercy. And this has become our Eucharistic response, when we lift up our hearts in faith and love to Jesus, who comes to us in the Sacrament. By our participation in the Breaking of the Bread, we commune with Jesus, who sends us forth to become apostles of His mercy. We must not allow any human barrier to quench the fire of Divine Mercy that Jesus has lit in our hearts through the victory of His resurrection. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Sunday April 16^th, 2023.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com