FINDING STRENGTH AND REST IN LABOUR

Meditation for the 14^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
(Zech 9:9-10; Rm 8:9, 11-13; Mt 11:25-30)

Against the backdrop that the rulers and influential people are the outspoken and powerful in society, the prophet Zechariah declares to Zion, saying, “Behold, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey.” The prophet explains that this King, who would ride on a young donkey would destroy the chariots from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; “He shall command peace to the nations”, and His dominion shall reach the ends of the earth. Ordinarily, the more aggressive and violent leaders overthrow the gentle and weak ones.

 

This principle of exercising power and control has filtered into our everyday life. Often times, the gentle and humble are perceived as boring and dull. The aggressive and violent presume they have the right to get whatever they want. People we commonly project to lead are often those who are forward and outspoken. Those who are calm and recollective, humble and gentle, do not gather much clout and friends. In a world that is laden with a competitive attitude, aggressive and violent people seem to be having a field day. One of the turbulent storms that is trying to wreck marriages today is power tussle. The fear of being under authority has become an epidemic among the younger generation.   

 

The prophecy of Zechariah is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, which was clearly manifested during his triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Mt 21:1-5). Jesus is the meek and humble King, who came to save us from the bondage of evil and grant us peace and eternal life. As He humbled Himself, taking our human form, in Him God has revealed Himself the ‘infants’, i.e. the humble and lowly in heart. This is the new way God reveals His life and power, which escapes the wisdom and understanding of wordily minded. Since Jesus is the Incarnate Wisdom, and the only way to the divine life, He says, “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.”

 

Therefore, Jesus invites us to come to Him with our labors and heavy laden and find rest. He says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Thus, we must model our hearts after Jesus, bearing His joke of humility. That is the only way we can find peace in our hearts, homes and society. Aggression and violence will keep us restless and powerless.

 

Our response to the divine invitation Jesus offers is made possible by the working of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us. From within, the Holy Spirit makes available and applies to us the life of Jesus. So, the strength to bear the joke, and the rest Jesus gives, are animated within us by the Holy Spirit. St. Paul says in the second reading, “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through the Spirit who dwells in you.” Hence, we are debtors, not to the flesh but to the Holy Spirit. We respond to the invitation of Jesus by opening up our hearts to the promptings of the Spirit through meditation, prayer and virtuous life. And we must avoid sin, which tends to cover the light of the Spirit from shining out in us. In this way, we shall accomplish all our labors, and there shall be no burden too heavy for us to bear, for, “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13). Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Sunday July 9^th, 2023.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

12^th Anniversary of my Ordination

 

GENEROSITY CARRIES US ALONG

Meditation for the 13^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

(2 Kg 4:8-11, 14-16; Rm 6: 3-4, 8-11)

A heart that loves will always have a strong impulse to be generous. The beauty and mystery of generosity shines out when it comes out freely from the heart without any external compulsion. We see this in the first reading where a rich woman was inspired to offer Elisha hospitality as he passed by. She perceived that Elisha was a prophet and followed up her instinct with generosity, for “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rm 13:10). Charity is the manifestation of the divine love among us. The woman’s act of charity germinated from her faith in God. Since she recognized Elisha as a man of God, her act of charity becomes a divine embrace for her. Every genuine charity flows from God and returns back to Him. And her act of charity continued to grow. From offering refreshment to the prophet, she prepared a room where Elisha and his servant could stay anytime he passed by. As charity grows stronger in the heart of the giver, it spreads and carries the giver along. At the end, God answered the prayer of the woman through Elisha, who said to her, “At this season, when the time comes around, you shall embrace a son.”

 

Wealth has a magic way of turning our attention ‘inwards’, locking us up in selfishness. How come this wealthy woman was able to look ‘outwards’ and consider the needs of Elisha? It is because of her faith and love of God, which she expressed through her generosity. According to the second reading, since through baptism we were buried with Christ into His death, so also, we shall live with and walk in the newness of life. Jesus’ self-donation is the greatest act of generosity. Having received such generosity through baptism, we too must consider ourselves dead to sin, dead to attachment of wealth, and alive to God in Christ Jesus. It is by our acts of charity that we live out and testify that we are alive to God in Jesus, and not to wealth in selfishness.

 

When the divine life in us prompts us to charity, the response must show a love greater and stronger than any human relationship. It is only when our lives are sowed like seed in Christ Jesus can they germinate to fullness of life and blossom in peace and serenity. Jesus says, “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.” True generosity is a way we deny ourselves and sow our lives in Jesus. And every act of charity performed to the glory of God must be rewarded, even if it is a cup of cold water given to these little one because he is a disciple of Jesus, not for any other reason. This is the generosity that carries us along, and brings answers to our prayers. Charity is the silent way God cares for us and answers our prayers. He who sows sparingly shall reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully (2 Cor 9:6).

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Sunday July 2, 2023.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

THE MARVELOUS FAITH

 THE MARVELOUS FAITH

Meditation for Saturday of the 12^th Week in Ordinary Time

(Gen18:1-15; Mt 8:5-17)

It was a beautiful moment when Jesus accepted the request of the Centurion about his dying servant, saying, “I will come and heal him.” But in his humility and faith this Roman official said to Jesus, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.” Jesus marveled at the faith of this man, and praised him. Many of the people who came to Jesus wanted to see signs or some demonstrations before they could believe. But this Centurion believed in the Person of Jesus as one whose has authority over time and space, such that whatever He declares must surely happen accordingly. And this authority is attributed only to God. The awesome faith of the Centurion sees the sickness of the servant from the lens of the divine authority of Jesus. From this view, the sickness ceases to be a huge problem since only one word from Jesus can wipe it away!

However, in the first reading, Abraham’s encounter with the three turns the other side of the coin of faith. The Lord said to him, “I will surely return to you in the spring, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Over hearing this, Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?” Then, the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh…Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Sarah’s sarcastic laugh was due to the fact that she viewed the problem from the lens of her human weakness, which is so limited and incapable of solving the problem.

 

Immediately, we can see the two sides of the coin of faith and the difference each makes. When confronted with life challenges and we present them to the Lord in prayer, our faith will look out for the answer either from the power of God, of which it was said that nothing is too hard for the Lord, or from our personal merits and capabilities, which are so limited and weak. As we follow the example of the Centurion, Jesus says, “God; let it be done for you as you have believed.” Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

 Saturday July 1, 2023.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

“I will; be clean”

Meditation for Friday of the 12^th Week in Ordinary Time

(Gen 17:1, 9-10, 15-22; Mt 8:1-4)

Let us meditate briefly on the beautiful encounter between Jesus and the leper as given in today’s gospel. As Jesus stepped down from the mountain, a leper knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” Surprisingly, Jesus went against the religious and cultural practice of the time by stretching out His hand and touched the leper. He said to the man, “I will; be clean.” Immediately the man was cured. Think about that divine touch that healed the man; see that holy and spotless hand that left its imprint on the sore spots of the leperos man! The touch of Jesus was soft and gentle, silent and calm, yet it was firm and powerful, and transforming. It was a victorious touch that transformed the man. Once more, think about that courageous touch that defied all barriers and prejudices to remove the man’s shame…

 

Looking back on the story of Abraham, we read how God reassured Him of the promises and made a covenant with Abraham. As a mark of the covenant, God said to him, “Every male among you shall be circumcised.” The mark will be an imprint that would differentiate the chosen people of God, who would benefit from the covenant. This covenantal mark of ownership becomes a prefiguration of the indelible baptismal seal that will differentiate people of the new covenant. Through this mark we are qualified to receive the divine touch of Jesus, which He readily makes available for us through the Sacraments of the Church. The divine touch of Jesus brings in us such effects as exemplified in the leper.

 

Therefore, let us humble ourselves in adoration before Jesus, and present our needs and situations to Him by lifting up our hearts and minds to Him in prayer, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” He responds to us prompts with His words and action—form and matter—giving us a total and complete healing, saying, “I will; be clean.” Amen.  

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Friday June 30, 2023.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

HOW TO IDENTIFY WOLVES IN SHEEP CLOTHING

HOW TO IDENTIFY WOLVES IN SHEEP CLOTHING

Meditation for Wednesday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time

(Gen 15:1-12,17-18; Mt 7:15-20)

At a time like this, the words of Jesus in the gospel of today are ever timely because there are so many self-acclaimed prophets, evangelist, pastors, etc in every city. Even in the ordinary practice of the faith, wrong approaches to faith and distorted spiritual exercises abound. How can we differentiate and identify wolves in sheep’s clothing? Jesus warns, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.” What kind of fruit does true faith produce?

Let us meditate on the experience of Abraham as given in the first reading to understand the kind of fruit that differentiates and reveals a true prophet and a true believer. It appears the old man was wondering whether he had believed wrongly or not. So, Abraham began to question God, saying, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” The Lord brought him outside and asked him to number the stars, saying, “If you are able to number them, so shall your descendants be.” Abraham believed what the Lord said, and this faith was reckoned to him as righteousness. Thus, the FRUIT OF FAITH is evident. That means true faith re-produces itself in oneself when practice rightly, and in others through the works of the true prophets. 

Further, Abraham asked for a sign to show that he and his descendants shall possess the land that God promised him. The Lord asked him to offer a SACRIFICE acceptable to him. The accepted the sacrifice in the form of a smoking fire and a flaming torch. “On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your descendants I give the land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river of Euphrates.” Thus, the fruit of a true faith will always be a pleasing sacrifice offered and acceptable to the Lord. This can vary from simple acts of charity to endurance and forgiveness, up to a life of participation in the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. 

These are ways we can identify and differentiate the numerous wolves in sheep’s clothing. At the end Jesus says, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.” Amen. 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Wednesday June 28, 2023.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

UNLOCKING ABRAHAM’S BLESSINGS

Meditation for Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

(Gen 13;2, 5-18; Mt 7:6, 12-14)

Let us meditate on how the teachings of Jesus in the gospel of today can unlock Abraham’s blessings for us. He says, “So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.” It is surprising how easily we wish to be treated differently from the way we threat others. It is only when we consider the good of others first, or when we put ourselves in their shoe before acting that we can treat them as we wish to be treated. This is justice and fairness. Much more than that, it brings about what the law and the prophets try to establish. Hence, it creates such an environmentthat unlocks heavenly blessings.

 

The dramatic story in the first reading talks about the conflict between the herdsmen of Abraham and those of Lot. Abraham resolved the conflict by asking Lot to choose first the grazing area he considered best. This is a typical example of threatening others as you would like to be threatened. This singular gesture did not diminish Abraham, instead God was pleased with and him. “The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, ‘Lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see I will give to you and to your descendants forever. I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth.”

 

Let us try to reduce selfishness today by thinking a little bit more about the welfare of others. Sometimes we place justice in front, demanding that people must be worthy and qualify to merit our kindness and love. But true justice and fairness shines out when we consider the good of others and the common good. It is like passing through a narrow gate, full of discomfort and discipline but leads life. Yes, this narrow gate of considering the good of others will definitely unlock Abraham’s blessings for us. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Tuesday June 27, 2023.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

THE LOG AND THE SPECK IN OUR EYES

Meditation for Monday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time
(Gen 12:1-9; Mt 7:1-5)

The human mind is the seat of judgement. Our basic mode of reasoning takes the form of judgement and making choices and arriving at a conclusion. It appears practically impossible for someone to apply reason on issues without making judgement about them. Thus, when Jesus says in the gospel of today, “Judge not, that you be not judged”, it appears he is asking us to ‘suspend’ reason about what we perceive. But listening further, He says, “For with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.” To pronounce judgement is to ‘conclude’ for others, and attempt to ‘determine’ the fate of someone. That means the one who raises the measure of his judgement as an objective standard for others has automatically accepted to subject himself to that same standard.

 

Obviously, our subjective views are not clear enough to see through another person’s whole intention and actions to conclude their life. We hardly see enough of ourselves; how can we claim to have perceived ourselves completely of others! It is hypocritical to abandon the log in one’s eyes while noticing the speck in his brother’s eye. That is why the example of Abraham in the first reading will forever remain fresh in our hearts. He demonstrated clearly in his obedience of faith to God’s instructions that God is all knowing, and he ‘reasoned’ out his journey in favor of God’s will.

 

Thus, Abraham embarked on the journey of faith without seeing the whole picture; without knowing what it would take or where it would end. He journeyed on with the same energy and confidence, “still going towards the Negeb.” This is how the ‘judgment of faith’ carries us forward beyond the limits of the ‘judgement from self’. This self-based rationalizing is usually blind to the self and completely biased against others. The judgment it produces cannot take us far. But when faith is the light of reason, our vision of life pierces through to the heavens and our horizon is endless. Then, we journey on; and like Abraham who became a source of blessing to others, we lead them to the right path. Instead of judging and condemning others, we inspire, uplift, encourage and bless them to continue their journey of life in the path of God’s will. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Monday June 26, 2023.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com