5^th Sunday of Lent, Year C: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: God does not give up on us

Readings: Is 43, 16-21; Phil 3, 8-14; Jn 8, 1-11

The message of this Sunday is simply clear. This message says that we have a God who does not give up on us; a God who reaches out to us to free us from our sinful past; a God who comes to free us from the condemnation and death we have merited by our sins and from the condemnation the world has passed on us because of our sins. This message also charges us not to condemn other people when God is still calling them tenderly to conversion. These messages are evident in the readings of today.

To understand the beautiful promises of renewal and new things from God to the people of Israel in the first reading, it will be good to make a brief recap of the historical background that led to them. The history of the people of Israel that led to the exile in Babylon was punctuated by obstinacy to the commandments of God. It was the stubbornness and sins of Israelites that led them to exile in Babylon. After the fall of Northern Israel under the Persians, the prophets of God warned the people of Southern Israel that Jerusalem will also fall if they continue to live in their sins. But the people of Israel did not heed their warnings.

Consequently, the Babylonians marched on Jerusalem, defeated her, killed her king and many of her people, and took many others into slavery. With that act of defeat and slavery, Southern Israel was already written off from the face of the earth, a replication of what happened to Northern Israel. However, when the people of Israel saw the death sentence that was hanging on their necks in the land of exile, they called on God for mercy and liberation, and God, who did not give up on them or write them off despite their sins, heard them.

The first reading of today was part of the promises of restoration from God to the people of Israel. He promised to do new things in their lives and urged them to forget their past evil lives, to move away from the memories of their past sinful lives and then look into the future with hope. God made them to understand that His novelty was not confined to the great deeds of old, but that He has already started doing new great things in their lives. Dear friends, this is how God relates to sinners who open themselves to Him. God did not give up on Israel despite their past sinful stories because He does not rejoice in the death of sinners. God always gives sinners opportunities to come back to Him. He calls sinners tenderly to conversion. This message is also addressed to all of us.

The gospel of today presents us a practical example of how God treats a sinner. It demonstrated to us how Jesus helps sinners and wrongdoers to write another history of their lives, how Jesus helps us to right the wrongs of our past lives, how God tenderly calls sinners to sincere conversion, and how God frees sinners from condemnation and death in the hands of other human beings, giving them another chance.

The adulterous woman in the gospel of today, like the people of Israel in exile, was an example of someone whose faults and sins brought disaster and death sentence upon her. Her case was not one of accusation because she was caught in the very act of adultery. The requirement of the law (Lev 20:10; Deut. 22:13-24) for such a crime was death. So, she had already been condemned by the law and the people – she had been written off completely. What was staring her in the face, as was the case of the people of Israel in exile, was death. However, dear friends, there was someone who did not write her off, someone who did not give up on her. That person was Jesus, and He freed her from death. He gave her another chance. Jesus also challenges us not to condemn sinners but to treat them with love, helping them to come out of their sins instead of writing them off.

With this story, the Church wants you to know that Jesus has not condemned you in your sins; He has not given up on you, nor has He written you off. He knows that you still have something positive to offer to the world. He wants to restore you to goodness and glory; He has another chance for you; He has not condemned you, so don’t give up on yourself; don’t condemn yourself. In fact, all of us have attracted death by our sins, but Christ has lifted the death sentence from us through His death on the cross.

Dear friends, let us now embrace reconciliation with God, with ourselves and with our neighbours through the sacrament of reconciliation this Lent, especially by doing what St. Paul urges us to do in the second reading of today. Having been freed from death by Christ and having been given another chance by Christ, the Church invites us to emulate St. Paul by putting Christ at the centre of our lives and then counting all worldly things and pleasures as a loss. Let us make sure that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross on our behalf was never in vain. Let us distance ourselves from anything that will lead us back to our old life of sin.

Let us end this homily with this beautify song:

‘What can wash away my sins, nothing but the Blood of Jesus.

What can make me whole again, nothing but the Blood of Jesus.

O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow,

No other fount I know, nothing but the Blood of Jesus.’

 

Peace be with you.

Rev. Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 5^th SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: CONDEMNED TO DIE BUT REDEEMED TO LIVE

(John 8:1-11)

Today is the 5th Sunday of Lent. We are drawing closer to the end of the Lenten season. How well have you prepared? How close or far are you to or from God? Are you really appreciating the 40 days with the Lord to be a changed person?

The message today is both for those who are making good effort to be on the path of righteousness and to those who have made mistakes and fallen away.

We are presented today with the theme of condemnation and redemption. At one point or the other, we fall. The scripture was right when it attested that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. If you're making an effort to be holy, do not condemn those who are not yet holy. Lead them by the hand with love to Jesus Christ even as we shall soon enter the holy week. And not with malice like those we read about in the Gospel today who brought the adulterous woman to Jesus for condemnation. Jesus reveals to us the secrets of receiving redemption from God. Let us learn from Christ Our redeemer.

 

FOCUS ON GOD AND LISTEN TO HIM

From Jesus, we learnt the important virtue of staying connected with God. This we saw with the way Jesus went to the mountain. There He got direction and insight on how to overcome the world. When we are connected with God, therefore, we are made one with Him in Holiness. We are united with Him and are charged by His presence. We get inspiration from Him on how best to overcome the world and the temptations in it. When Adam and Eve enjoyed this constant revisiting of God's presence, they were guided by the will of God and never sinned. But when they stayed away and started running from God, their story changed. They were driven out and became in dare need of redemption.

Have you been charged? are you already in the state of grace? Are you basking in the joy of salvation in Christ? Are you getting used to mortification, fasting and abstinence, alms giving, etc?  Ride on! The Lord is your strength. Keep doing it! Keep practising till God perfects you in Christ. Keep looking up to Christ as Peter did when Jesus beckoned him to come. May God keep you going.

On coming down, Jesus entered the Temple and began to teach the people.

The Temple represents the various activities we are going to be reenacting this period. Let us follow each and every one of them. They are highly going to be efficacious for our redemption and sanctification.

Let's heed the voice of the Lord, teaching us the ways of God and interpreting the word to us. May we sit at His feet, relishing the spiritual fruits of repentance, true joy, peace, silence, meditation, and love of the sacred.

 

YOU ARE NOT CONDEMNED!

There are three forces that attempt to condemn the children of God.

These forces include:

The devil:

The word of God calls Him the accuser of our brethren (Rev 12:10), but it quickly added that he has been thrown down. He accused Joshua the high priest before God. God rebuked him (Zechariah 3:1). He accused Job in order to get hold of him and make him fall away from God (Job 1:6-12). Thanks be to God, Job was vindicated.

The accusers playing the role of the devil's advocate want you down, condemned, and destroyed. But the Lord that saved the adulterous woman today is ever near to save you.

 

Others

'Mmadu ka a na aria'. Men are not perfect. But most of the time, they expect perfection more than God. The Pharisees and scribes that brought the woman caught in adultery demonstrated the policing role of men when it has to do with fault finding, destructive criticism, and malicious treatments.

We should not lead people to be condemned. We should not pray God for the elimination of our fellow human beings. We should not seek to disgrace people because of their mistakes.

Are you a victim of blown crime? The adulterous woman might have regretted her actions while still on the way to Jesus. Is there a sinful past of yours people still hold against you?

Listen Child of God, the Lord is telling you today that you are a new creature. Old things have passed away. You're not condemned. Their accusations are not more than the love of God. They are not better than you. You can be the best. You're not as bad as they have defined you. Just go and sin no more, and you will be good with God.

 

The Self

The self is a very strong force that condemns children of God. The conscience continues to torment us without stopping. The sins of our youthful days continue to come again and again to our minds. When they come back to us, some take to alcohol to drive it away. Others get fixated to that sin. Some others are frustrated, depressed and demotivated.

This is a period of healing. You don't need to keep repeating the confession of that particular sin of your past over and over again. The Lord has forgiven you. When it comes to your mind again, simply tell yourself: "The Lord has healed me." "The Lord has set me free."

The Lord has redeemed me with His precious blood. And if the Son of man sets me free, I believe I am free indeed.

Hear what Jesus told the adulterous woman when others left: Has no one condemned you? "She said; no one, Lord." She has already started calling Jesus Lord. Yes! Why not? She was condemned to die, but she has been redeemed to live. That power that can deliver her from those bloodthirsty men must be a great one.

Hear the reply of Jesus to her as well: Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again."

 

WHAT A GOOD NEWS!

Beloved in Christ, if God can not condemn you, who else can? You're not condemned to be a slave to that sin. You're not condemned to remain in that sinful relationship. You're not condemned to be held by the vain things that charm you most. You're not condemned by the evil words and gossip of the world.

You have been set free. In this freedom, don't stop worshipping God in spirit and truth. In this freedom, don't go back to your old life of immorality, irresponsibility, lack of spiritual awareness, just name them.

May God bless His word in your heart.

 

LET US PRAY

Thank you, Jesus my Redeemer and Saviour. If men were God, I would have been condemned. But glory to Your name that in You I have a hope of second chance and indeed You have given me many chances. Set me free from the grip of the forces that accuse me daily before Your Divine Majesty and by the virtue of the activities of this Holy season, grant that I may enjoy the privilege and honour of being called Your child through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Happy Sunday (5th Sunday of Lent, Yr C)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

4^th Sunday of Lent, Year C (Laetare Sunday): Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: I will rise and go back to the Father

Readings: Jos 5:9-12; I Cor 5:1-21; Lk 15:1-3.11-23

Today, the fourth Sunday of Lent, is called Laetare Sunday. It got this name from the entrance hymn of today’s liturgy, which is taken from Isaiah 66:10-11. It says, “Laetare Jerusalem”, meaning “Rejoice, O Jerusalem.” It continued, “Be joyful, all who were mourning; exult and be satisfied.” So, the church invites us in this middle of the Lenten season to rejoice, to express joy and hope because Christ will reconcile us to the Father through His death on the Cross.

It is on this note of joy in the Lord that the first reading of today gave us the account of the joyful celebration of the Passover by the people of Israel in the promised land after they have been rescued and liberated by God from all their enemies. Theirs’ was not a freedom or victory won by their hands and strength, but by God. Thus, they kept the fourteenth day of the month as a day of commemorating the great deeds of the Lord in their history.

The second reading of today concentrated on this theme of reconciliation with God: the reason why we have been told to rejoice today. It tells us that God reconciled us and the world to Himself through Christ, not counting our trespasses against us anymore. Having done this for us, God has now appointed us as ministers and ambassadors for Christ, entrusting us with the ministry of reconciling the rest of humanity to Himself. Therefore, dear friends, our old life of sin has passed away, and a new life has begun in us: the new life of Christ, the new life of holiness, of love, of peace, of charity, of kindness, and of service towards others.

Dear friends, St. Paul informs us that in Christ we have become a new creation. He, therefore, urges us to always get ourselves reconciled with God every day. This means that we should always seek the sacrament of penance as frequently as possible so that we will not have any stain of sin in us. Whenever we realize that we have fallen short of the glory of God, we are urged to run back to God’s friendship, grace and glory by going to confession so that we will continue to be a new creation in Christ.

The gospel reading presents us with the story of a son who fell short of the glory of his father and how he ran back to the glory of his father when he realized his sinful state. There are many actors in this parable. What each of the actors did can be wonderful lessons for us.

In the first place, we have the prodigal son who allowed himself to be led astray by his youthful exuberance, his ambitions and the influence of his friends. He wanted freedom without limit, enjoyment without limit, parties, and highlife without end. To get all these, he departed from the presence of his father because he felt that living in the presence of his father was a hindrance to his aspirations. In the same way, some people do not come to church/God’s presence because they think that identifying with Christianity will hinder them from living the kind of life that their hearts yearn for. Some youths also do not feel comfortable staying at home because they want absolute freedom, the kind of freedom to do whatever they want and whenever or wherever they want it.

It is good to note that as soon as the prodigal son left the presence of his father, his problem started: he started losing his life and his resources day by day because he had left where there was abundance. Dear friends, whenever we depart from the presence of God, we expose our lives to attacks from the devil and to a big loss. It is only in the presence of God that abundance and restoration are assured. In fact, it is good we know that whenever the devil wants to deal with someone, one of the first things he does is to pull that person out of the presence of God, because in God’s presence, protection is assured; the devil uses many tactics to draw that person away from God’s friendship and grace. The devil often does this by leading that person into sin. So, anytime we are facing temptations, it is good we realize that the devil is trying to pull us out of God’s grace and friendship in order to deal decisively with us. That was exactly what he did to the prodigal son. He pulled him out of his father’s presence, led him to a very distant land and dealt with him there.

When the prodigal son came back to his senses, after many years of suffering and want, he told himself that he would go back to his father and ask him for forgiveness and get reconciled with him again. This is what the church expects from each of us this Lent. Dear friends, let us depart from our sinful affairs, from our sinful relationships, from our sinful attitudes, from that place of sin and go back to our father through the sacrament of reconciliation and ask him for mercy.

In the case of the prodigal son, his father was already standing at the gate waiting for his return. In our case, God the Father opens his hands every day to embrace us and to cleanse us of our sins. We have a loving Father; therefore, let us cast away all shame and pride and go back to him. No matter the gravity of our sins, He will forgive them all. The father of the prodigal son forgave him and restored him to his former place of glory. God, our Father, will forgive us if we ask him for forgiveness, and he will also restore us to our former glory.

Having shown us the images of the loving/forgiving father and the repentant son, the parable turns our minds to the image of the elder son in this story. Though this elder son did well in his service to his father, the kind of unforgiving and self-righteous heart that he has is what the church invites us to avoid. He has a heart that wants a sinner to die in his sins. This is not the life of a Christian. By presenting the image of the first son to us, the parable invites us to shun self-righteousness and self-justification, especially the attitude of wishing that sinners die in their sins.

Dear friends, we are all sinners saved by the grace of God. Let us admit the truth that we are an assembly of sinful people. Let us always acknowledge our sins and return to God as the prodigal son did. If we do this, we will receive God’s forgiveness and experience Jesus’ personal presence in the Holy Eucharist as our loving and forgiving God.

Peace be with you.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 4^TH SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: REJOICE AT YOUR RETURN

(Luke 15:1-3.11-32)

Today is the 4th Sunday of Lent. The Holy Mother Church bids us: Rejoice! The Lenten period, as we know, is a long period of mourning, sitting in ashes, wailing for our sins. It is a time we heed the voice: "Oh come and mourn with me a while, see Mary calls us to her side oh come and let us mourn with her Jesus our love is crucified."

But the Lent is not yet over, the period continues, the journey is still on. Yet the Church resounds: "Rejoice" and also " Be joyful". These words from Isaiah 66:10-11 that serve as the entrance antiphon of today give today its name 'Laetare Sunday'.

It was addressed to Jerusalem as a mother by the lovers of Jerusalem and by those who mourn for her destruction.

It was addressed to those who have nearly lost hope in the mercy of God. It was addressed to wanderers who have wandered away from the mountain top. It is a message of hope to those plunged into the disgrace of sin and shame. The message points out to us the source of contentment. The good news is for the consolation and healing of those bruised by the falls along the way to heaven. It is a reminder for us that "it is not an easy road we are travelling to heaven..." We should be happy that Jesus walks with us to brighten the journey and lighten every heavy load. It is a limp, showing us to look forward. It is not going to end in humiliation and suffering. We shall rise! We shall be repositioned! God will reinstate us! We shall not end in prodigality.

The prodigal son left his father's joy with a fake joy, but he came to his senses and was strengthened by hope as he journeyed back home.

To really rejoice in the Lord, let us be where God wants us to be, make good use of the opportunities He gives us daily, and be at home with the things of God. In order to rejoice with Him in our everlasting home in heaven.

Let's see some of the keys to the Easter rejoicing we should look up to as we continue drawing nearer to our jubilation in the risen Christ.

 

VALUE WHAT YOU HAVE

The father of the prodigal son in the parable loved the son tenderly. Some theologians have described God's compassionate love here as the love of a mother. Here, God acts like a loving mother, loving with tenderness. In the house, the prodigal son had all he wanted; servants, food, and inheritance. Over and above all, he had a lot of opportunities at his beck and call. But he mismanaged and misused these.

Let us value this period and the grace God offers us through it. Let us value the opportunity of calling God our Loving Father. Let us appreciate the opportunities of forgiving people, showing little acts of kindness, making God happy, and remaining in the presence of God.

 

BE WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED

The Son had a comfortable place in the house, but he chose to become a gallivant, a wanderer, a squanderer. He moved out and made away with his God-given grace and wealth. Are there prodigal fathers and mothers in our world today? When you fail to give your family the attention they crave for, you are a prodigal father in the negative sense, when you lavish your resources on women outside abandoning your wife and children, you are a prodigal father. When you are happier outside your family house than in your home, something is wrong with you.

Are you a prodigal mother? When you stop being 'odoziaku' and take up 'origbudiya nke mbu' as a title, then go for check-up. When you're away from your children and husband, giving them less care and love, you are a prodigal woman. When you do not give to your children the good example they ought to follow, you're spoiling not just wealth but life.

When you cannot stay at a place and enjoy your family and allow them to enjoy you, you are a pain to God. If you are a husband snatcher, you are prodigal.

Are there prodigal young men and women? Yes! If you as a student cannot stay in your hostel without running from one place to another, you are prodigal. If you are working and can't take care of your poor people at home, you're a prodigal child. If all you care about is money by any means, you're a prodigal child. If you can kill your parents and anyone at all for money, you are a prodigal child. If you wait to spend your money at the funeral of your parents, you are highly prodigal.

Just be good and you will have a course to rejoice.

Are you a prodigal politician wasting the resources of those you are serving? Return to your senses before it becomes too late for you. Are you a prodigal Christian? Go back to the drawing board.

You have been planted through baptism in the Church. You're called upon to remain in the Church, not to wander away in sin and sell your soul to the devil and cares of this world. Blossom in grace. No matter the challenge you're going through, let the joy of the Lord strengthen you to journey on with the Lord. No condition should justify your giving the enemy a try. Don't allow any force to transplant you from where God has planted you. You're not a seed of corruption. You are a heavenly seed!

 

RETURN TO THE LORD

God waits. He walks towards you. He comes to you through the sacrament of reconciliation. He calls upon you through the word of God. Come to your senses first and stop suffering your soul in pretence that all is well with you. Don't enjoy the bondage of the evil one, and don't allow him to steal your joy and peace of soul. The word of God tells us what the enemy comes to do: to steal, kill, and destroy.

May the peace of God you enjoy never be stolen. May you rejoice in the forgiving power of God as you decide to rise.

 

GO BACK TO YOUR HOME

Going back to your home means a lot. The home is a place of reunion, a place of rest, a place of true peace. When you go back to your home you find out the plight of the people you left. You feel the pain you must have caused by your irresponsibility. You discover the pain you have caused your loving God. Kneel there and ask for mercy. Make your home a home indeed. Make it a place of prayer. Let the message of Christ make its home within you this season. As you go to God, who comes to you through the sacred mysteries of this Holy season, open your arms to Divine embrace.

Become an evangelist. Bring Christ's joy to your families. Make your children lovers of God. Make your parents friends of God. Take the joy of repentance and salvation to your offices.  As God welcomes each and every one of us back from our wonderland, may we welcome Him in the home that is our soul and remain in the joy of being called the children of God.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

We pray You almighty God to continue to strengthen us by the power of Your word.  Draw us closer and closer to You. Deliver us from spiritual laziness and moral decadence. Give us grace to live in holiness, making our lives abodes of the Holy Spirit that united with Christ we may live and reign in heaven after our earthly sojourn forever and ever.  Amen

Happy Sunday to you (4th Sunday of Lent)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 3^rd Sunday of Lent, Year C: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: He is a God of mercy and justice

Readings: Ex 3, 1-8.13-15; I Cor 10, 1-6. 10-12; Lk 13, 1-9

Dear friends in Christ, the story of the first reading of today, which showed God’s mandate to Moses to rescue the Israelites trapped in slavery in Egypt, demonstrates that we have a God who is not far from us in times of pain and sorrows, a God who listens to our cries of pain and comes to our rescue. The name of God as contained in this reading makes evident these wonderful qualities or nature of our God. He said His name is ‘I am who I Am’. It is a name that shows God as both transcendent and immanent: a God who is in the past, in the present and in the future; a God who is always close to His people.

This wonderful God, through the instrumentality of Moses, brought Israel out of Egypt and settled her in the promised land. To place Israel in the promised land, God displaced, and sometimes destroyed, many nations: Egyptians, Moabites, Amalekites, Jebusites, Jericho, etc. God equally provided the material needs of Israel as they journeyed in the desert to the land of promise. On Israel, God lavished His graces and blessings. What God demanded in return from Israel was obedience, true worship and justice among themselves. Unfortunately, the people of Israel were unable to reciprocate the goodness of God by living according to His demands. Thus, on several occasions, after several severe warnings from the prophets and obstinacy to God’s messages on the part of Israel, God knocked Israel hard on the head, allowing her to suffer several kinds of punishments under powerful neighbours.

Like the people of Israel, God has lavished us with many precious gifts. He also intervened in many difficult times of our lives and rescued us. What God expects from us in return is a life of holiness, of obedience to his commandments and love towards our neighbours. The question is this: are we living up to these expectations?

In the gospel of today, the same line of story is evident. It tells us about the unproductive fig tree and the patience of the farmer. A fig tree bears fruit three times a year and also consumes a lot of soil nutrients wherever it is planted. But the fig tree in the gospel of today has enjoyed the care of the farmer for three good years without bearing fruit. What a patient and caring farmer. Now, as we saw in this parable, the anger of the farmer erupted like fire, and he demanded that the fig tree be cut down. What does this parable tell us? It tells us that the God of love and mercy is also the God of justice; that the God who loves us will also punish us if we fail to reciprocate His love by living up to His expectations; it tells us that to whom much is given, much is expected.

Dear friends, God has given us life; He has given us good health and wonderful opportunities in this world. If we fail to make good use of these precious gifts for the praise of His name, we will attract His anger.

It was the intervention or supplication of the servant of the farmer in today’s gospel that saved the life of the fig tree for another year. So, a second chance was given to the fig tree to right its wrongs. Dear friends, our God is a God who never fails to give a second chance to his children. This Lent may be another second chance given to us by God to make right our past wrongs and to start bearing fruits of love, compassion, peace, and help to those in need; a chance to stop all forms of impurity, unforgiveness, lustful desires, and hatred towards others.

It is, however, sad that when God gives us a second chance, we take it as an outcome of our smartness. When people do bad and get away with it, they praise themselves for being smart or for having strong connections. Dear friends, it is good to know that those times we thought we were smart, those times we thought our strong connections were working, God was actually giving us another chance to stop evil. We must know that this other chance has a limit. The mercy of God tarries, but the more it tarries, the more severe our punishment becomes.

In the opening part of the Gospel of today, Jesus informed His audience that if they fail to repent of their evil ways, they will perish. Many people may find it difficult to believe that a merciful God used such a harsh tone, but the reality is that this God of mercy is also the God of justice. In His justice, He punishes us when we fail to make good use of His patience and His ocean of mercy.

In the second reading, Paul reminded the people of Corinth that many of their fathers died in the desert because of their failure to reciprocate God’s goodness by living lives pleasing to God. Then, he gave them (and us as well) this all-important lesson that the story of the failures of Israel in the desert was written as a warning to us so that we do not make the same mistakes they made. He said, “Now these things are warnings for us, not to desire evil as they did, nor grumble as some of them did and were destroyed by the destroyer.” He continued, “Now, these things happened to them as a warning, but they were written down for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages has come.”

Dear friends, we would not like to make the same mistakes as the people of the past in their relationship with God. We would not like to be punished by God. So, let us make good use of God’s patience (our second chance) this Lent. Let us drink from the ocean of God’s mercy, purifying ourselves of all sins, so that the justice and punishment of God will not catch up with us.

Happy Sunday to you and your family.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 

 

 3^RD SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: GRACE HAS KEPT YOU; REPENT AND DON'T FALL TO THE DISGRACE OF SIN

(Luke 13:1-9)

Today's message is a very direct one. Jesus warns. He won't want to be distracted by any other information than the information about our spiritual formation. He sees us and knows what we need most: Repentance. He insists that there's no two ways. Either you repent or you perish. Wow, terrifying! Yes, indeed but the love of God restores to us the joy of salvation. Either you are in the state of grace or in the disgrace of sin.

It is already the third week of Lent. Where are you in the journey of return? Do you still wait till you embark on the journey of no return? Are you still a slave to sin? What towers have you allowed to fall upon you? Do you still know you have a tower of refuge and strength in the God who forgives? Let us navigate through the help of today's passage to grab our guide to remain standing in grace.

 

LEARN FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHERS

The preceding episode that launched us into today's passage was where Jesus taught about interpreting the signs of the time. It harps on the need to allow our environment and things around us to steer in us the desire to cling onto the divine.

Some people came with the misfortune of those whose blood was mingled with that of Pilate's sacrifice. Whether this was for the purpose of information or temptation on Christ is not of great importance now. But Jesus observes a greater misfortune; mingling one’s blood with sin (obara ojoo adighi mma, nna wepunu ya na ndum oo, tinyerem obara di mma, kam wee di ndu). Can we today learn from that and endeavour never to fall into sin? Let us learn from the fall of others never to fall. Let not the failings of our ever-falling society make us failures before God. Let the joy of living in Christ strengthen you always.

 

DIFFERENTIATE EMPTY SUFFERING FROM SALVIFIC SUFFERING

In repentance, we take up suffering of the flesh to subdue it. Living in sin, the sinner chooses to perish and suffer under divine condemnation. Let all that we suffer here lead us to salvation and not condemnation.

Those who brought the report to Jesus saw mere and empty suffering without seeing the lesson in it. Jesus sees all we pass through, and when we go through them with sincerity, He gives us hope of salvation. Never think it is by your power or might that you can stand. No. But by the Spirit who strengthens us. You're not better than those who suffer.

 

TODAY MAY BE YOUR 'NEXT YEAR' BEWARE!

In the parable of Jesus in this Gospel, our Lord is that vinedresser who begged for another year, another chance or chances as the case may be.

Some people did the Lenten season of last year, maybe without recognising that it was going to be their last, and today, they are no more. Think of what would become of them now if they never made use of the less than one year they had. What sins have you repented of? May God save you from delay of any kind.

 

STAND TALL IN GRACE, DON'T FALL IN SINFUL DISGRACE

We are called to remain in the state of grace and never abuse the grace of our state. As children of God, we are encouraged to be fruitful. We are called upon to ensure that God finds us standing in virtue and not falling apart because of sin. Those who are standing are encouraged not to give up nor to think that it is enough to live but ensure to live in Christ, to live in Christ, therefore, is to bear lasting fruits.

What fruits have you produced so far in your Lenten journey? What fruits do you intend to produce after the Lenten season? Will you make good use of this year's opportunity? Will you be cut down? Chukwu ekwela!

You shall not perish in sin.

You will be fruitful by God's grace.

The loving saviour will not allow you to go down.

The Lord will see your trials and come to deliver you from the stranglehold of sin and spiritual fruitlessness.

LET US PRAY

Merciful Saviour, thank You for the countless opportunities You give us to come out from our sinful ways. Thank You for this Holy Season of Lent. As we reflect on Your suffering and death which led to Your glorious resurrection grant that we may cooperate with Your grace and be strengthened by it so as not to perish but rise and remain under Your grace through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Happy Sunday to You (3rd Sunday of Lent, Yr C)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 2^nd SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: FOLLOW JESUS TO THE MOUNTAIN

(Luke 9:28-36)

After the declaration of Peter about Jesus as the Christ, and the prediction of Christ about the suffering and type of death awaiting Him, Jesus took the Apostles of the inner circle up the mountain. What was His intention of taking them there? What did they witness on the mountain? Can we be part of the closest followers of Jesus Christ to journey with Him this Lenten season? Let us look at the mountain experience of Jesus and the apostles and see how it helps us. Why the upward movement and what really happened?

 

PRAYER

Jesus took them up to pray. Jesus is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. He is always in communication with God the Father. He invites the apostles to learn the act of prayers. He took them away from the worries and distractions of the world to be in touch with the Divine aura. He wanted them to go beyond the low level of operation to a higher, spiritual perception of relationship with God.  There, He showed them the transforming power of prayer. That is to say that the man of prayer doesn't remain the same. Prayer is not just a verbal thing but a reality that manifests itself in your life and daily activity. Have you been changed by your prayers? Have your prayer life been able to convert anyone to Christ? The Lord takes you up this season to pray in a higher and better way.

 

BEHOLD GOD'S GLORY

To understand this well, we have to take a look at the preceding episode where Jesus spoke about the cross. The apostles must have felt frustrated and disappointed with Jesus. Matthew and Mark's account of this same story narrates how Peter couldn't help but rebuke Jesus for painting the image of suffering. Taking them up therefore Jesus tells them it's not going to end in sorrow. It's not going to be an empty suffering but a rewarding one. That after the rains, the sun must shine, that out of the darkness of pain and tears, joy and happiness must radiate.

 

LIBERATION

 Before the coming of Christ, the Israelites were held bound by the law. They were subjects of the law. The law is represented by Moses. Jesus came, born a subject to the law, to redeem the subjects of the law. He enters into conversation with Moses to put away and cause a disappearance of the vestiges of the law. To set His people free, to bring about the inclusive new law of love. It is no longer the exclusive mosaic law that people didn't dare to near the mountain for fear. It is about freedom. 

He goes on to bring about the fulfilment of the promises and prophecies of God for humanity. In Elijah, we saw a beckoning for Christ to ride on to Jerusalem for the salvation long foretold. May the promises of God for your life come to fulfilment.

 

LISTEN

Having manifested how good it is to be in the presence of the Lord, to behold His goodness, Peter desired to remain there. Moses and Elijah were taken away. Then, an important aspect of encounter with the Lord was voiced out by the Voice that came from above: Listen! To keep the word, person, and wondrous doings of the Lord alive in us, we have to pay attention to what the Lord tells us at each point in time.

May we listen to the Lord calling on us this season to the mountain of prayers, to the mountain of encounter, to mountain of transformation, to the mountain of total self-abandonment. May God manifest His glory in our lives. May our worldliness, tears, and problems be transfigured by the presence of Christ. May we remain in constant communion with Christ the Most High.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

Thank You, Lord, for Your word today. Thank You for inviting us to the Holy Mountain of Communion and Holy Encounter with You. May we not remain the same after our encounter with You. Transform our situations for good. Open our spiritual eyes and ears. May we follow where you lead. And may we be liberated from spiritual, economic, marital, vocational, and political bondages through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Happy Sunday (Second Sunday of Lent, Yr C)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh