REFLECTIONS

God loves you

GOD LOVES YOU

SUNDAY BREAKFAST

 

Isaiah 55:1-3, Romans 8:35, 37-39, Matthew 14:13-21

 

 

 

There are times we feel God has turned His back on us. There are times we feel God hates us, and has abandoned us may be because of what we are passing through. But today’s readings reveal how God can care for us. God is love, God cannot but love. His loving nature ordinarily can be seen in how He continually cares and provides for all He created.  Despite our sinful nature, God has continually loved us and tends for us. The readings of today reveal how caring, benevolent and compassion our God is. Jesus is God, and hence His nature is simply to love. Today’s gospel expresses how caring and loving Jesus can be. While we think He has abandoned us because of what we are passing, we even see that the same Jesus is eager to help those who are in difficulties. The gospel is a little narrative of how Jesus fed the crowd numbered about five thousand, with children and women excluded in the counting. To fully digest the message of today we have to go in depth in the gospel in exegetical style and then apply the messages in the first and second reading.

 

A Lonely Place

 

The beginning of the chapter of today’s gospel was a narrative on how John the Baptist was beheaded by Herod. After burying his body, John’s disciples came and told Jesus what happened. When Jesus received the bad news He withdrew to a lonely place. He did this maybe because of  His closeness with John. He must surely have felt so bad to be greeted by such devastating news. He then went to a lonely place. But yet the crowds did not allow Him to be. The most surprising thing was that Jesus was not perturbed at their seemingly disturbance. There was no transfer of aggression from Him, He still welcomed them. What a loving Jesus? In His loving nature, Jesus can never send away anyone who comes to him (John 6:37).He makes Himself available to all. In Matthew 9:18, while He was still addressing John’s disciples, A leader of the synagogue interrupted Him, pleading  for the healing of His servant, Jesus immediately left what He was doing and followed Him. A mark of love and humility.

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When He Saw the Crowds

 

Immediately Jesus saw the large crowd he took pity on them and healed all the sick among them. Jesus went to have a little rest, Jesus does not need anyone to press on Him, Jesus wasn’t happy with the news He received, the expectant attitude of Him over the crowds would be that of harshness, but he began to pity them.

1.Because of the oppressive rule of the Romans that time, there was increased hunger and suffering in the land. The people were busy looking for who to alleviate the plight.  At this time the rich were getting richer, feeding on the plights of the people. Just like Herod’s house was filled with feasting, while many were out there looking for what to eat. Jesus saw them in their predicament, he didn’t feel bad that they are disturbing his peace. He had mercy on them.

2.Whenever we approach Jesus, the first thing we learn is that He is full of mercy and compassion. As the Second reading states, there is nothing that can separate us from His love,not food nor lack of clothing. This is Jesus for you. Let us always approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.( Heb 4:16).

 

Give Them Something to Eat

 

At evening time, the disciples of Jesus reminded Him of the danger of keeping the people with them because it was a lonely place, the only solution was to send the people away so that they could buy something and eat. Yet Jesus insisted that ‘it is no need for them to go: He commanded His apostles  “give them something to eat yourselves.”. Here we see a saviour who is not willing to abandon His people at the moments of need. Many might reject you, some may scorn you but Jesus can never abandon us at the point of need.

  1. Secondly,the disciples affirmed that what they have is only five loaves and two fishes, which mathematically and from every indication are not enough. But Jesus did not hesitate, teaching us to use even the smallest thing we think we possess to save souls and help those in need. Here one would expect Jesus to send the crowd away knowing quite well they don’t have enough, but instead He did otherwise. How do we treat the poor among us? How do we treat those who come to us at the moments of need? How many have we sent away? How many have we insulted? Will Jesus do the same? “Give them something to eat” is a command to every Christian out there to take care of the souls around us and in every position we occupy. It is a command to shepherd, feed,help nurture and protect those in need.

 

Bring Them To Jesus

 

Jesus told the disciples to bring the little they have to Him. Jesus knows that in Him there is no limitation, there is no impossibility. He can do all things. For the disciples they may never know how this might be, But Jesus knows.

 

1.Jesus also knows every secret about us. Jesus knows our secrets, Jesus knows how he can help us. The statement “bring them here” is not just a conditional statement but affirmative one. It is a command to the disciples. When we complain that things are not enough, Jesus says “bring them here”, when we feel like there is no hope in our lives Jesus reminds us “bring them here” when we feel marginalised, poor, in the midst of lack, possessing nothing, Jesus says “bring them here”! In the sense that Whatever we have, despite how little our resources, talents, gifts,  might be, let us bring them to Jesus. He knows what to do, the ideas we need, the people to help us achieve our aim. In the midst of Lack, in the midst of nothingness, bring them to Jesus.

2.Just like the disciples did, we have to obey this command, if we truly want a change in our lives. The servants in John 2, at the wedding of Cana, obeyed this command and there was a miracle, It is always the will of God to save his people from lack, it is His will to feed His people like He fed the Israelites in the midst of hunger. (Exodus 16; Numbers 11). Both happened in the wilderness and when the people are so much dying in hunger. Jesus knows how you can survive with that small talent you think you have. Bring them to Him.

  1. Before Jesus fed them He first of all ordered the people to sit down on the grass; He calmed their nerves. The first reading says “pay attention, come to me; listen, and you will live. I shall make an everlasting covenant with you in fulfilment of the favours promised to David”.A reminiscent of His instruction in Mathew 11:28-30 “come to me all those who are weary and overburdened and I will give you rest” In his presence today, were the wearied and tired, people who are drained by the political nature of the time, people who are overburdened by the legalism of the pharisees, people who are passing though hunger and depression, Jesus allowed them to rest first. In His presence we can find perfect peace. Isaiah 26:3 says  “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you”. David experienced this blissfulness when he says in Psalm 23 that God made Him to lie down in green pastures, and lead him beside quiet waters, to rest. A pointer that true peace can only be found in the Lord.
  2. Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing. And breaking the loaves He handed them to his disciples, who gave them to the crowds. Here we come face to face with the power of prayers and thanksgiving. Jesus here teaches us where to present our situations, where to raise our resources, where to raise the little we have. Paul says in Philippians 4:6 that  “in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God”. Do we worry or do we pray? When was the last time we thanked God for the little we have? Now we can confirm what William Wattles, author of the science of getting rich, says “You cannot exercise much power without gratitude; for it is gratitude that keeps you connected with Power.”. “Gratitude draws the mind into closer touch with the source from which the blessings come”. And the highest prayer of thanksgiving is the Eucharistic Sacrifice: The Holy Mass.

 

4b. Here also we see the mediatory role of Jesus. He takes our gifts, presents them to the Father, and takes the blessings and gives them back to us to share to the world. We go to Jesus to find mercy and strength as His disciples, He then presents our requests to the Father, and draws blessings back to us in abundance. He gives us more to enrich the crowd , to fill the world with his blessings and graces. An indication that in His presence are extravagant graces.

  1. After this, there was multiplication. Everything that happened here is beyond the physical mind to understand. Five loaves and two fishes, for a crowd that were very tired and hungry, the number of women and children were not counted which in logical terms must outnumber the number of men who were counted, Jesus only thanked and prayed, there was no addition of more loaves, yet there were left overs.How come? We do not know, only Jesus knows how this can be possible. Virgin Mary was in this kind of dilemma at the annunciation “How can this be possible? The angel says that the The Holy Spirit will come upon you; the power of the most High will overshadow you (Luke 1:35). In the face of impossible cases, let us bring our case to the doctor of impossibility. When Jesus takes our resources, talents, plans,situations etc and presents them to God, multiplication happens, impossibility bows and everything is totally transformed.

 

Conclusion

1.Taking cognizance of the above exposition, one can then understand with Paul in the second reading said that nothing whatsoever should separate us from the love of Christ.Not even hardships, distress, or persecution, no lack whether food or clothing,no oppression either political, social or economical can  withdraw us from Jesus, but sometimes when we face them, we lose faith, lost hope in God totally, Some said they prayed and nothing happened and the best solution is to lose faith. The truth still is, true peace is only in God. it is through his grace that we can pass through problems and persecutions and yet remain victorious at the end. This is why Paul says that “we come through all these things triumphantly victorious, by the power of him who loved us” The question then is why do we lose faith? Does it mean your problems are bigger than your God?

 

2. God’s Loving nature is so extravagant. The responsorial psalm says God is generous to all, his tenderness embraces all his creatures. He does not discriminate.That the crowd are following Jesus is not an indication that there is no single person there who does not hate him. There might also be people who came there for some selfish reasons but Jesus did not discriminate. He fed them all. How many times have we sought only for those who we think are standing for us? He asks in Matthew 5:46 “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?

3. Let us also use the little we have to save souls and help those in need. But today instead of doing this, we feed on the burdens of the poor, we use what we have to intimidate others, we count ourselves as lucky and others as so unlucky, we fill our homes, families, organisations etc with hatred, wickedness, unnecessary competitions and jealousy. Where do we go from here? Instead of worrying about the resources of the other person, take the little you have to Jesus. If others can be blessed, we also can be blessed. Jesus does not discriminate.

4.In the midst of impossibility, the crowd followed Jesus thick and thin. One thing with the crowd, like the centurion and the woman who suffered with the issues of blood,is that they did not wonder how Jesus might react, they just proceeded. But sometimes when we try to go before the Lord, we fill our minds with negative thoughts? What if God doesn’t answer? Will He answer? Is it today that I have prayed? And when we entertain such negative thoughts, we are invariably saying that God is not willing to answer us.

5. In whatever we do, in whatever position we occupy, do not forget to extend a helping hand to those around you. Never forget to give those around you something to eat, it can be material needs, support, financial assistance, job opportunities, spiritual food, prayers, encouragement,advice etc, Now the world is passing through challenges, remember those who are suffering around you.

6. It is good to point something good in the crowds, despite that Jesus left them, they were following Him even in the evening, they never wanted to go. Why do we easily give up? Where do we go when we are drained with hard situations? How many shrines have you visited to seek a solution? How many evil schemes have we championed just to meet up with life? Let us not forget that it is only in the midst of difficulties that our faith in God is truly tested. So Stay inspired, be blessed and remain faithful. There is always light at the end of the tunnel.

 

May God bless you dearest and help you to overcome your challenges. Amen Happy Sunday

 

Fr Okechukwu Ugwoegbu (Sanctus MArio)

Fr Okechukwu Ugwoegbu is a Catholic Priest of the Catholic Diocese of Orlu in Imo State Nigeria. He is a light bearer to souls who lose faith in God, the depressed, and those who are eager to know God more. He is a blogger and content creator and currently lives in Santa Cruz Parish Metro Manila Philippines. Email@gentlesanctus@gmail.com

 

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5 days ago • • Tags: , , ,

treasure image

The Most Important Treasure

Sunday Breakfast

 

First Kings 3:5, 7-12, 2, Romans 8:28-30, Matthew 13:44-52

 

 

 A treasure is something or somebody that is valuable. The English word treasure comes from the Old French tresor, both meaning “something of great worth”.It can be in the form of wealth or riches. There are many types of treasures but among them there is the one more important and valuable. Sometimes this treasure is hidden and revealed only to those who look for it or ask for it. This treasure is oftentimes neglected because it is not earthly but spiritual. Life is full of choices, we choose to do good or bad, we choose to remain positive or negative, we choose to love God or not. We choose to center our attention on earthly or heavenly treasure. Many are only interested in acquiring earthly treasure while neglecting the most important treasure, sometimes we go to many extremes to achieve this but hardly sacrifice even a little to acquire the most important treasure.  Man sometimes believes in the things he can see and touch and forgets the spiritual. Scripture says “seek you first the kingdom of God and other things will be added to you ( Mathew 6:33). The heart that seeks this most important treasure gets every other thing in its fullness.Solomon despised every other worldly acquisition to seek for this most important treasure in today’s reading. In the gospel Jesus used many parables to explain the importance, necessity and value of seeking first the kingdom of God which is the most cardinal and foremost of every treasure ever.

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Solomon’s Request

 

At Gibeon when God appeared to Solomon in a dream and requested that He asks whatever he would like and it would be given to Him ‘Ask what you would like me to give you”. First statement that Solomon made was “Yahweh my God, you have made your servant king in succession to David my father”.

 

  1. Here Solomon recognizes that first and foremost that what He is, is not by His power, nor by his height, nor because David loved her mother so much, nor because other sons of David made one mistake or the other, these happened but Solomon still attributed whatever he is to the power of God, unlike what we see today. Today we find it more fun and easier to think that everything we have is by our power or effort. 1 Corinthian 4:7 says “What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
  2. Solomon says  “But I am a little child, highly unskilled in leadership. Solomon’s age when he became king was not actually documented but no matter his age, we see in Him someone who totally wants to depend on God to see him through,here he takes God as the shepherd, while he is only a sheep following God in great humility, seeking first the presence of God,relying only on the power and grace of God.
  3. Solomon in his free will and choice, made a request that baffled God. Solomon’s request was just for an understanding of the heart to discern between good and evil He did not rely on his academic knowledge to do the function given to him, he did not rely on his human power, he relied on the wisdom that comes from God alone. Solomon already understood that a key component of leadership is wise and just discernment. He knows that this can only be possible if it is through God, thus the wisdom that comes from God is the best.
  4. Solomon gave God the first place in His life. Because his request depicts a man that has the interests of the people at heart rather than selfish desires, because he sees the wisdom that comes from God as the first. Because He sought the presence of God first, God gave him what he asked for and what he did not ask for, even riches, and honour were added. God gave him much wisdom that there is no one more wise than Solomon as God promised him (1 Kings 3:12).

5.The only one who is greater than Solomon is the Wisdom of God incarnate, Wisdom par excellence, the Word made flesh (Mathew 12:42) Our Lord Jesus Christ. Even after this encounter, Solomon did not boast of what he has, but like the Blessed Virgin Mary, who sang the magnificat, giving God all glory ( Luke 1:46:55), Solomon returned immediately to Jerusalem and went to the presence of God and offered burnt and peace offering.(1 Kings 3:15). The secret here is that God was given the supreme position in the life of Solomon.

  1. If we were in his shoes, we would have asked to be the greatest person ever, the most prominent, to ride the best cars, build the best houses, sell the best products, even to kill our enemies and make others worship us. These selfish desires are what is killing us today. Solomon requested rather for a spiritual gift than a material gift and God gave him both the spiritual and material. Though later he derailed.

 


The Hidden Treasure

In the gospel Jesus compares the kingdom of God as a hidden treasure in a field, which someone has found, hides it again, goes away with joy and sells everything he has and buys the field.

 

  1. The pointer here is that the true knowledge of the Kingdom is hidden and not made easily accessible to anyone.And only those who seek it will find it. In Matthew 11:25, Jesus thanks the Father for hiding these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

 

2.Three things are revealing in this parable; there is discovery, there is joy and there is action. The secrets and mysteries of the true knowledge of God is for the few who seek God with all their hearts. If we seek Him, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). This discovery becomes a source of joy, a source of hope, that one considers it as the best that has ever happened in his life. The best thing that will happen to any soul is to find God and allow Him to reign in our hearts. This is the implication of Solomon’s request.

 

The Merchant of Great Pearls

 

Jesus compares the kingdom of Heaven to a merchant looking for fine pearls;when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.

1.Like the hidden treasure, there is the desire to seek for this treasure, there is discovery, and  among the pearls there is one of great value. There is also sacrifice to acquire this great treasure and then action. Infact both parables of Hidden Treasure and the Pearl have to do with objects of great value and sacrifice. We must be ready to seek and find this hidden treasure by all means.

 

  1. Like one who is on a discovery to find the greatest value to human life, trying to find a way of survival, trying to find the secret of life, there are many pearls out there that promise to give meaning to life but out of them all lies hidden the most important and finest pearl. Finding this will be a life changer.

 

3.This discovery gives joy. There is this joy that lives in any soul that has truly found God. The journey to this discovery requires commitment and sacrifice. They are like the disciples, who left everything to follow Jesus (4:18-22; 19:27-30) and Paul, who regarded all else as loss “for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord” (Phil. 3:8). They are like Solomon who considers the wisdom that comes from God as the most important thing He ever needs.

 

  1. We are called to seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, Seeking  the Kingdom of God and His righteousness is the greatest treasure that is greater above all other things.This is true knowledge of God, understanding His nature and salvific work through Jesus Christ and giving him the chance to reign in everything we do. Knowledge of God is a mystery that is beyond every academic knowledge, it is freely given by God to those who love Him and spend their lives looking for Him
  2. We are like the merchant-man, sent into the world not just to seek for earthly treasure but to know God, love and worship Him. Seeking Him with all our hearts. He who finds God should consider Himself lucky.

 

The Dragnet

 

Finally Jesus compares the kingdom of Heaven to a dragnet that is cast in the sea and brings in a haul of all kinds of fish. When it is full, the fishermen will collect the good ones in the baskets and throw away those that are of no use.

1.This parable is like the parable of the wheat and tares. It indicates that there is joy, salvation and vindication for the righteous at the end.

  1. It is also a pointer that there must be judgement at last and only the good will be saved. The end will never be good for the wicked. Whatever we think we do at present, whatever we think we do in secret, we should not forget that there is a day of reckoning.

 

The Disciple in Kingdom of Heaven 

 

Jesus compares The disciple of the kingdom of heaven like a householder , who first of all has a storehouse where he brings in both the new and the old. The disciple of such has a storehouse of knowledge and is blessed with wisdom and knowledge. Like the scribes, he teaches with authority and right understanding of God and the law. He is always full of inspiration, that he does not lack what to say or teach.

 

Conclusion

 

  1. Wisdom is a gift from God and greater than any academic knowledge. Gifts are given, only those who look for it can find it. Through this gift, we can do great things because what lies within us then is not ordinary but supernatural. We can have it, if we sincerely spend time with God. it was in the presence of God at Gibeon, where He went to offer sacrifice that God appeared to Solomon. (1 Kings 3:4). But we hardly spend time with God and can only boast of academic knowledge. If we spend time and read the lives of the saints, we will find out that none of them despised visiting Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, but today we believe that Jesus is the Blessed Sacrament but we do not have a single time to visit that Jesus, what a sign of lack of faith.

 

  1. In the first reading, Solomon asks for understanding of the heart and wisdom to guide his people, God blesses Him with wisdom, but guess what? Jesus is the Word of God made flesh (John 1:14).  He is the wisdom of God incarnate. He told His disciples in Mathew 12;42, that He who is greater than Solomon is here.The most important treasure that anyone can have is Jesus Christ.But this Jesus is neglected and totally abandoned by the same people that claimed to love Him. We can go to any extent to be popular and make money, but we cannot sacrifice a little moment with God. What a misnomer?

 

2.To know Jesus is to know the Father,everything is only through Him. when Thomas asked Jesus but , “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. (John 14:5-7). The highest discovery is the soul who has truly found God and allows Him to reign in everything He does. Like Solomon,we have to know that whatever we have is given to us by God. When we have God, when we are blessed with his spiritual  gifts, every other thing becomes secondary.

 

  1. The problem is that we forget that we did not create ourselves, we forget, we did not come into the world on our human accord, we forget that we are here on a mission.  We forget these and think that we will live here forever. Man enters the world and forgets his limited nature to pursue shadows, and spend his life acquiring earthly treasure. In Matthew 6:19-20, Jesus says “Do not store yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth. and rust will corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust will corrupt, but guess what? man does the opposite. Man neglected God and can go to any extent to appear important. At the end everything becomes vanity upon vanity.

 

3.Like the parable of the dragnet, there must be an end to everyone and judgement awaits all. We have refused to pay attention and think we have a longer number of years to live, we take care of the body and abandon the soul but at last the body decays and the soul that was neglected continues its life journey. Just as we can do anything to acquire earthly treasure, let us not forget the most important treasure. We need Jesus, the world needs Jesus, you need Jesus. Without Him, we are nothing. So stay faithful, remain inspired and be blessed. There is always light at the end of the tunnel.

 

May God bless you dearest and give you the grace to live by His words. May Your week be blessed. Amen.

 

Fr Okechukwu Ugwoegbu (Sanctus Mario)

 

Fr Okechukwu Ugwoegbu is a Catholic Priest of the Catholic Diocese of Orlu in Imo State Nigeria. He is a light bearer to souls who lose faith in God, those depressed, and those eager to know God more. He is a blogger and content creator and currently lives in Santa Cruz Parish Metro Manila Philippines. Email@gentlesanctus@gmail.com

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Perseverance and Patience are Golden

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2 weeks ago • • Tags: , , , , , ,

20171117_132155

Gospel Reflection on Matthew 12:46-50

By Fr. John Kochupura

At first sight, Jesus seems to be ignoring if not insulting his mother Mary who came to have
a word with her son Jesus. On the contrary the truth was, Jesus was appreciating and
commending his mother because of she was doing the will of the father in heaven. The bond
that existed between Mary and Jesus was not merely the bond of blood and flesh but the
bond of ‘Grace’ in which they were closely united. Doing the will of God was the food of
Jesus and saying a prolonged ‘Yes’ was Mary’s food.

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Mary was closed to Jesus not only as a
mother but also as a disciple. She followed Jesus and participated in his ministry as a
genuine disciple. Mary in today’s gospel, with such determination and discretion waited
outside. She did not interrupt or intrude while Jesus was talking to the people. In her
waiting and following she portrays the distinctive marks of a true disciple. The disciple
follows and waits for the master and does the will of God. Blood is thicker than water but
grace and doing the will of God is thicker than blood. Let us, as followers of Jesus, be the
mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters by doing the will of the father in heaven. God bless us
all, AMEN.

 

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2 weeks ago • ,

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Perseverance and Patience are Golden

Sunday Breakfast With The Word

 

Wisdom 12:13, 16-19, 2, Romans 8:26-27, Matthew 13:24-43

 

After using the agricultural setting to drive home his point in the last readings of Sunday, Jesus continues to employ the same setting to teach the people the true meaning of the Kingdom of God and how to be a beneficiary of this kingdom. The Kingdom of God is a place where God reigns. Jesus uses three parables at the same time ; the wheat and tares, the mustard seed and the leavened bread to lay emphasis on God’s love,mercy and patience and the need to have patience and persevere to the end. In this reflection we have to take the points gradually in an exegetical style to drive home our points one by one.

 

Everything Created is Good

 

One of the qualities of God is goodness, God cannot but be good. This infers that everything that comes from Him must be good. God cannot be a source of evil. One thing we will like to notify in the gospel of today is that Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to the sower who sowed only good seed in his field. The sower is not the source of evil. After creation in Genesis 1:31 God looked at all He created, the Omniscient God proclaimed all Good. Evil comes in when there is limitation of goodness in us. This infers that the evil man or woman still has the seed of goodness in him/her. Jesus uses this parable to explain the origin of evil and and attributes the origin of evil to the devil.



When Everybody was Asleep

 

Sleeping is a moment of rest, a moment one becomes unaware of what happens to His surrounding. In the parable, it was at this time that the enemy came and sowed the weeds.This can be attributed to the time we feel less concerned about our spiritual growth, we feel unaware of the good seeds God has planted in us, we begin to think bad and low of ourselves, the enemy now comes and fills this space with thoughts of evil, thoughts of jealousy, evil, negativity etc. This also naturally explains that man by nature is good, but the evil around him today are the negative influences He has acquired over time through associations, books, social media, etc. Gradually these negative influences build a strong root in him and begin to develop overtime. Jesus tells His apostles in the garden of Gethsemane several times to get up and stop sleeping, and pray to conquer temptations. 1 Peter 5:8-9 advises the brethren to be alert because the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour. To conquer Him we have to stand up to Him. It is in the moments of our weakness that the devil creeps in, and unaware of his plans, he keeps us in bondage.

 

In His Goodness 

 

What the enemy sowed today as explained by Jesus is the darnel weeds which in greek means  zizania, which he sowed among the wheat. Zizania  in its early stages, resembles wheat, which hereby makes it very difficult to differentiate. As they grow, they sometimes become difficult to separate because  the roots of the weeds and wheat intertwine, making them almost impossible to separate any attempt to pull the weeds will also pull the wheat. So God gives them time to develop until the end of time. Points to drive home from here are:

 

1.Evil continues to exist among us and sometimes those people who perpetrate this evil look like wheat in appearance but weed at heart ,they appear good but wolves in sheep’s clothing. Many are green snakes in green grasses, they appear friendly but evil at heart. They sometimes come with smiles but full of jealousy, wickedness and hatred. But despite anything, the parable still indicates that nothing lasts forever. One day the truth will be laid to the bare.

 

2.God cares for the wheat, he does not want the wheat to be pulled away on time with the weeds. He cares for the righteous. Secondly both the weeds and the wheat eat from the same field and soil until the harvest time. In His goodness,God allows the coexistence of evil and good. He sends rain and sun to both the just and unjust (Matthew 5:45). So what we are is nothing if not for the grace of God. Everything becomes clear to us only on the last day.

 

  1. The weed growing with the wheat also indicates that it will not be easy for the wheat because the weed will provide stiff competition and challenges to the wheat to survive in the same field. This explains why good people also suffer, it is not that God has forgotten them, but their existence in the world means continual battle with challenges and evil in the world. The only way to conquer is to remain strong and persevere for there is always light at the tunnel.



Humble Beginnings and Harvest

 

1.Just like in the parable of the mustard seed and the leaven bread, everything starts small, and then develops overtime both good and bad. God allows the wheat and weed to develop over time. Since man was created good, God in his patience allows Him to come back to what He naturally is; someone created in the image of God, if he errs.the only way to damnation is persistence in the face of evil.

 

2.The three parables simply project that everything starts like a seed and then develops. The seed has been sowed already, all we need to do is to water it and make it grow. Whatever we spend our time now to nurture will one day develop into something great.

 

3.Despite how humble the beginning might be, the future might germinate into something greater, what we need in life is the field or the yeast which can be likened to the grace of God, God’s provision, word of God etc to water and nurture the seed in us. Then remain patient, work hard and persevere despite the challenges. Like the three parables, there is always a time for harvest.

 

Conclusions

 

  1. In the wheat and weeds, Harvest time is done by the angels of God and not men. God knows anyone who is struggling today to live a good life. When you are struggling to be good, do not think God has despised you or kept silent allowing us to suffer, but be patient and persevere, always know that God’s eye is always on the righteous (Psalm 34:15) and can never forsake the righteous( Psalm 37:28). Always know that your goodness will never be in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).

 

  1. Naturally we have the seed of greatness, the seed of goodness etc because we are created in His image. What we need is to nurture this seed and allow it to grow and mature over time. Doing this, does not mean it will be easy. We will always face challenges, persecutions and competitions from the weeds, but perseverance and patience are the keys to remain to the end.

 

  1. What we can conclude from today’s episode is that despite how long evil persists (like the weeds), despite how challenging it may be, and despite how evil will hide, there is always an end to everything. From the three parables, there is always a time of reckoning, a time of judgement and a time of harvest.

 

4.Despite how strong and mighty we think we are in this world, let us not forget that our end is certain and everything we think we possess will vanish into the thin air. Despite how strong evil today becomes, evil can never conquer good, it can only exist in the world and probably think everything is in its  power, not knowing it is enjoying God;s benevolence but at last Goodness will still have the victory. So stay inspired, be faithful and remain blessed, there is always light at the tunnel.

 

Happy Sunday and God Bless you

 

Fr Okechukwu Ugwoegbu (Sanctus Mario)

 

About the Author

 

Fr Okechukwu Ugwoegbu is a Catholic Priest of the Catholic Diocese of Orlu in Imo State Nigeria. He is a light bearer to souls who lose faith, those depressed, and those eager to know God more. He is a blogger and content creator and currently lives in Santa Cruz Parish Metro Manila Philippines. Email@gentlesanctus@gmail.com

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3 weeks ago •

bible

The Power of the Word

Sunday Breakfast ‘

Isaiah 55:10-11, Romans 8:18-23, Matthew 13:1-23

The Power of the Word

In Hebrew, the term for “word” is  dabar . Dabar is used 394 times or more  in the Old Testament expressed  as “the word of God”  and  “the word of the Lord;” through which God communicates to the people.  The world was brought into existence through the word (cf. Gen 1:3, 6, Jn 1:3; Col 1:16-17; Heb 1:3).  It is the source of life (Ps 119:25), and a light to our path (Psalms 119:105).  God revealed Himself and his will to His people through the word.Obedience to His word yielded abundant fruit while disobedience to it, brings downfall and punishment.  He revealed  himself to the patriarchs, judges and prophets through the word.The readings of today reveal the need to listen to the word and allow it to bear fruit and in turn explains the reasons the word does not bear fruit in our lives, through the parable Jesus gave.

The Word is Like the Rain and Snow       

During the dry and harmattan season when dryness fills the atmosphere and rain goes into extinction, the earth becomes so dry and farmers deem it wise not to go into agricultural produce, until the advent of the rainy season. The rainy season is like a season of joy, dry grasses become green again, plants begin to germinate and farmers begin to sow seeds. This type of transformation is used by Isaiah today to liken the word of God. Just as the rain and snow come down for a purpose to bring everything to life again, the word of God cannot but gives life and as rain and snow soften the land, the word of God softens every hardened heart. As the word of the Lord makes every seed to germinate, the word of God must bear fruit.

We are to obey it because it is not our word but that of the Creator, so if the Creator is loving, His word is for our own good and not to keep us in bondage. Isaiah 40:8 says “The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand for ever”. The power of the Word of God is not to be underestimated (Ecclesiastes 3:14). God exercised power through his word from the very beginning: “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). The bible says that God’s “word is settled in heaven forever” (Psalm 119:89). So the essence is that the word must bring something new, it must recreate, it must change,it must transform and these depend on the heart that accepts the word and does it.

Why we do not bear Fruit

In Luke 11:28,Jesus says that those who keep the word are blessed and lucky. The parable of today though is brimmed with different interpretations,let us through Jesus’ interpretation of the parable find out why we do not bear fruit after hearing the word.

  1. From the reading of today, the problem is not the word but the heart that receives the word. In essence we shall cease blaming God for any circumstance but blame ourselves who have remained adamant to the word. The word in its nature has the capacity to build, to grow, to germinate, to change. For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.(Heb 4:12). The word of God is full of power, but we do not pay attention to it or we take it for granted.  This is why James advised that we should not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. But to do what it says.(James 1:22). The implication is that how we respond to the word of God, indicates how it will remain effective in us.

2.When we hear the word without understanding and do not wish to understand, Jesus says that at this point the evil one comes and carries what was sown in his heart: this is the seed sown on the edge of the path according to the parable. Examples here are the Pharisees, the scribes, the chief priests who were antagonistic to Jesus because they refused to understand him. This group will always twist the word to their own understanding, they will like to make you believe in their own subjective understanding of the bible.  They gather more followers who follow their reasoning than the teachings of the church. The devil works perfectly in this type of people. This is also when we hear the word and swallow it literally without interpretation.

  1. When we hear the word and welcome it at once with joy, but it has no root deep down and can never last; when trials and persecution come, we fall. These ones fell on a rocky path. The crowd who responded positively to Jesus during his earthly ministry and even shouted Hosanna while He entered Jerusalem and yet turned against Jesus during his suffering and persecution belong in this field. This simply indicates that while we receive the word, temptations and challenges, might come. These can come from friends who will tell you how foolish you are,in what you are doing. Those in this group are also those who encounter persecutions, challenges, suffering to the extent that it will look as if God does not exist, at this point some lose their faith. This is why Jesus likens the one who keeps the word as a wise man, which built his house upon a rock, And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded upon a rock. (Mathew 7:24-25).

3.When we hear the word, but the worry of the world and the desire of riches choke the word and so it produces nothing. These are those who only listen to the word for the sake of what  they want to hear, they only see God as an ATM machine, God of dollars and euro, when they could not find the dollar and euro, they lose faith. The rich young man who was full of his possessions (Luke 12 13-21) is a good example. This is also when we allow the things we are passing through to take upper hand in our minds than God is. These ones will desert Jesus to save their lives and pursue wealth.

The Good Soil

The good soil are those “who hear the word and understand it. They are those who have passed through the stages discussed above. They are those who know that the word in its nature is capable of changing and transforming its subject, what they need only is to apply the word. These are people who don’t take the word literally ,they find its meaning, and live on its guidelines. They are those who received the word and conquer the challenges and temptations that came their way, they are those who who never allowed the problems of this world to demean the power of the word in their lives, they do not only hear it, they live the word, and it bears fruits much in their lives, they are those who know that God’s word is worth than riches, they do not allow the desires the wealth and riches to quench their thirst. These are the seeds that fell in good soil and bear a lot of fruit.

 

Jesus also uses the notion of the  “harvest” as an indication that there is a time to sow, a time to fight, a time to work, and there must be a time to reap only if one does not lose hope in life. Harvest indicates that there was a time someone planted.

 

Secondly Jesus uses hundredfold, sixtyfold ,thirtyfold as a way of explaining that the harvest is a gradual process, it is not something to be rushed.

 

The use of abundant harvest and hundred fold is an indication that the word bears a lot of fruit if we can keep to it.This can be anyone, it doesn’t matter what state you are in, all it matters is to be able to change and amend the type of life we live.

 

Conclusion

 

  1. Paul referred to the word of God as the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (cf. Eph 6:17) This Paul emphasised is highly effective in the battle against powers and principalities of the evil kingdom, and against the kingdoms of the world. The word of God is a mighty weapon, when we place our faith in it, the Holy Spirit makes it efficacious.  We need to be conversant with the word to be able to win the challenges of life both spiritual and physical.

 

  1. The Word of God is inspired by the Holy Spirit (cf. 2 Tim 3:16-17; 2 Pet 1:20-21). To eat the word, is to stay inspired.  When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He responded to the devil three times “It is written”. In essence that the only way to win temptations is through the word.

 

  1. We need the word to live, for Jesus says that man shall not live by bread alone but by every  “live by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Mt 4:4). We can be destroyed by lack of the knowledge of God (Hos 4:6), and be blessed if we hear and keep His Word (Lk 11:28). The question remains, when was the last time you read the word? When Was the last time we heard the word and kept to it? We have the map already, and the map is the word. So let us continually feed ourselves with the word of God.

 

God bless you dearest and Happy Sunday.

 

Fr Okechukwu Ugwoegbu (Fr Sanctus mario)

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4 weeks ago •

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