6^th Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr Isaac

Theme: Exceeding Righteousness

Readings: Sir 15:15–20; 1 Cor 2:6–10; Mt 5:17–37

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today the Church reminds us of a very important moral truth: whatever we become in this world, and wherever we will be in the next, is the result of the choices we freely make each day. The decisions we take in our daily lives shape our future. If we choose the good, we prepare for a joyful life on earth and eternal glory in heaven. But if we choose evil, we jeopardize our happiness both now and in the life to come.

Throughout history, many great thinkers have tried to deny human responsibility for moral choices. They have appealed to science, nature, psychology, and philosophy to argue that human actions are predetermined by external forces, leaving no room for free will. Yet the truth remains: before every action, two possibilities stand—to choose or not to choose. Whichever we embrace, we have made a choice, and the very existence of choice reveals freedom.

It was in response to the attempts by some Jews to blame their environment and the social realities around them for the moral and spiritual choices they were making that the author of the Book of Sirach wrote today’s first reading. He addressed Jews living in Greek pagan cities, immersed in the Hellenistic culture that believed humans were helpless pawns in the hands of the gods and that human actions were predestined. Influenced by this worldview, many Jews joined the Greeks to participate in immoral practices, actions contrary to God’s commandments, and then blamed Greek culture for their sins. Sirach told them that the prevailing Greek culture should not lead them to compromise their religious duty of keeping God’s commandments. He made them understand that whenever an unholy action was presented to them by Greek culture, they still possessed the freedom to choose or not to choose. Therefore, if they chose evil, they chose death and were responsible for that choice; but if they chose the good, they chose life.

Dear friends, we too often feel tempted to blame external forces for our moral failures. Sometimes we blame friends, society, culture, nature, or psychological pressures. But today the Church reminds us that obedience or disobedience to God’s law is always a free choice, and we are responsible for the consequences of our choices. God places before us, in every action, the choice of life or death, good or evil. Whatever we choose will be given to us. We cannot blame anyone for the decisions we freely make. Let us therefore choose the good always.

Choosing the good, however, may bring insults or persecution. Sometimes society as a whole embraces evil. We see how secular culture and governments promote false ideologies about human life and human sexuality, even enforcing them through law. As Christians, what do we do when confronted with such choices? Do we follow the majority down the wrong path, or do we stand firm in the truth?

Dear friends, we are called to rise above the false choices and teachings of the world. We cannot join society in choosing evil, even if choosing the good makes us a minority. In today’s Gospel, Christ tells His disciples that unless their righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees, they will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Likewise, if we cannot reject the false ideologies and immoral teachings about life and human sexuality promoted by governments, friends, and society, then heaven is not for us. Jesus expects His followers to make choices that are better, purer, and holier than those of the world. He calls us to exceeding righteousness.

To choose the good consistently, both Sirach and St. Paul remind us that our decisions must be guided by the wisdom of God. We must not rely on human wisdom, which often uses attractive but deceptive arguments—sometimes even appealing to science—to justify evil or to claim that God’s teachings are outdated. Consider the promotion of abortion as a woman’s right, homosexuality as a human right, euthanasia as compassionate care, bribery and corruption as unavoidable, or fornication as necessary for social life. These are products of worldly wisdom, not God’s wisdom. The Church urges us to seek the hidden, quiet wisdom of God, found in His commandments, and to let this wisdom guide our daily choices. Christians must live above the basic moral standards of society.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us concrete examples of how His disciples—meaning all of us Christians—are called to live above the basic moral standards of society. While the law teaches that physically killing another person is murder, Jesus asks more of His disciples. He wants us to recognize anger in speech, anger in thought, and anger expressed in actions as forms of murder as well. Jesus places anger and hatred on the same level as murder and tells us to avoid them, because when we hate someone, we have already killed that person in our heart. Hatred denies another person the dignity and love they deserve; in this sense, it is a kind of murder. Anger and hatred also prevent us from seeking the good of others.

Jesus also wants us to understand that anger and hatred divide Christian communities, and a divided community cannot offer worthy sacrifice to God. Our daily communal prayers and our participation in the Mass lose their meaning if we harbor resentment or hostility toward one another. Instead, Jesus urges us to go and reconcile with our brothers and sisters before coming into God’s presence to make our offerings.

The law also condemns adultery as a physical act, but Jesus demands more from His disciples. He teaches that lustful desires are already adultery in the heart, because sin begins in the mind. Therefore, we must uproot lust from our hearts before it grows into action. Likewise, while the law permits oaths as long as they are truthful, Jesus calls His disciples to such integrity that oaths become unnecessary. Our “yes” should mean yes, and our “no” should mean no.

Jesus wants us to heal the roots of social evils of murder, adultery, and deceit by eliminating the attitudes that give rise to them. Anger and hatred lead to murder. Lust leads to adultery. Lies are deceit in themselves.

Dear friends, let us ask for the grace to choose the good always, guided by God’s wisdom, and to live the exceeding righteousness that Christ expects of His disciples.

Peace be with you.

Rev. Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 6^TH SUNDAY, YEAR A: REFLCETION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: HOW IT IS VS HOW IT SHOULD BE

(Matthew 5:17-37)

The Gospel of today is part of the collections of Jesus' teachings and sayings on the mountain, popularly known as the sermon on the mount. His sayings are loaded with wisdom, for He is the wisdom of God. His teachings are filled with knowledge intended to correct, redirect, educate, set records straight, reveal the mind of God, and guide people on the right path by the light of the word. Let us follow Jesus and see the steps He followed to impact His message.

 

OBSERVATION

Jesus must have observed the people, listened to them, been with them, and spoken with them. During the course of their interaction, He must have observed the missing links in their thought patterns, modus operandi et modus vivendi. He must have tried placing side by side what they do, what they say, what they claim to have heard, and what they believed with what they ought to hold fast to. And this led Him to help them out, to lead them out of both their ignorance and their distorted knowledge.

If Jesus looks below, wouldn't He find out that it is worse now than then? Certainly, He will observe a lot of abnormalities, inconsistencies, inhuman deeds, light headedness, etc.

Could it be that the silent days of Jesus before His actual public appearance was a period of observation for Him, of mingling with them, mixing with them, discussing with them in the form of dialogue? Yes, it is. Then, when the time came, He came out to teach with authority. Has Jesus not observed us a lot, given us enough signs to believe and choose good and not evil? Must we wait for the teaching that will be thought by experience? Let's be conscious of Christ in our midst trying to guide us in the right path of life.

 

AND JESUS BEGAN TO TEACH THEM

When a teacher, a speaker or a preacher stands to teach, speak or preach as the case may be, the people weigh him, predict what he has to offer or attempt to grasp where he is heading to or even expect him to say what they want to hear. Jesus warned them against such thoughts. He says: "Do not think I have come to abolish the law and the prophets." This presupposes the fact that there were people who would love Jesus to thwart or bend some of the commandments to suit their personal whims and caprices. Such persons are not happy with the " how it is" that is in line with "how it should be." There are times when the practice of our world is in order. There are people still who do not want it done that way. Thus, Jesus comes to confirm the happenings that are good while discouraging the laws or rather the interpretations of the laws that are actually misinterpretations.

Are there laws we wish the Church, the society, the family, and the community to abolish? A particular community begged the Bishop to remove the sixth commandment for them. A boy pleaded with the father to allow him to be viewing obscene videos. A man told his wife to look away from his immoral and irresponsible lifestyle for peace to reign. Some individuals in the Church continue to push for the pope to approve homosexuality and see it as normal. In the faces of such circumstances, Jesus maintains: "I have not come to abolish but to fulfil."

He comes to call the spade by its name. Good is good. Evil is evil. No middle position. This is the summary of His teaching. Say yes when you mean yes, and say no when you mean no.

 

WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD?

This statement continued ringing in the Gospel: "You have heard how it was said... But I say to you. "What have you heard? From whom? These are the questions. It is very important that we evaluate the sources of our information to avoid deformation that comes through misinformation. This is a lesson we must learn from Jesus. We have to learn to listen to what God is in the midst of the multiplicity of ideas flying here and there. We have to go back to the drawing board to know how God wants it to be and how, indeed, it ought to be before we venture into it. After hearing the many opinions, we must only listen and act according to the directive of Christ in order not to face the crisis of abandoning God.

Society is saying a lot, the social media is saying a lot, the peer associations are saying a lot, the various groups on the social networks are saying volumes. When in crisis in your marriage, do you go to these various sayers? When you are into relationship problems, where and who do you run to? Jesus is the only teacher per excellence. Your children in school will hear a lot. But when they come back, insist on: "But I say to you." Temptations to cheat will come up but hear Jesus tell you: "But I say to you" Friends will advise you to do it this way or that contrary to your faith in God but obey Christ telling you: But I say to you. Don't get used to how things are now that are not in accord with the will and teaching of Christ.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 LET US PRAY

Thank You, Lord God, for Your Son's word today from the holy mountain of Your glorious inspiration and truth. May it continue to be a light to our paths and a lamp for our steps. Grant that we may be rightfully guided by these right teachings and encouragements through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Happy Sunday to you. (6th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Yr A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 5^th Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: You Are the Salt of the Earth

Readings: Is 58:7–10; 1 Cor 2:1–5; Mt 5:13–16

Dear friends in Christ, for several Sundays now, our readings have reflected on Christ as the light of the world and on our vocation as Christians to reflect that light wherever we are. Today, the first reading and the Gospel continue this theme of light, but the Gospel adds another powerful image: salt. In this gospel, Jesus says, “You are the light of the world,” and also, “You are the salt of the earth.” Since we have spoken much about light in the past weeks, let us focus today on salt.

Let us try to understand what Christ meant when he told his disciples that they are the salt of the earth. When Matthew recorded this statement, he assumed that the disciples already understood what being “the salt of the earth” implied, so he offered no explanation. However, when Luke (14:34–35) and Mark (9:50) recorded the same saying, they added clarifications about salt to help their audiences grasp what Christ expected from his followers. Both evangelists began by affirming that salt is good and then explained what Christ wanted his disciples to do as the salt of the earth.

It is therefore helpful for us to consider what salt does in order to understand what Christ meant when he used this metaphor. Let us survey some uses of salt in the Old Testament and in the ancient world to unravel what Christ means when He calls us the salt of the earth.

Salt as a Preservative: Salt is one of the earliest and most common preservatives known to humanity. To prevent food from decaying, people added salt before storing it, because salt keeps bacteria, ants, and insects away. In ancient times, cereals and other seeds were preserved with salt. For the ancient Greeks, salt was seen almost as a “new soul” breathed into dead things; without it, something corrupts and decomposes, but with it, freshness is retained. In other words, salt defeats corruption, decay, and decomposition wherever it is introduced.

So, when Christ said that we are the salt of the earth, he was telling us that just as salt preserves things from decay, Christians are meant to preserve the world from every form of moral and spiritual decay. We are called to protect society from ideologies and practices that lead to corruption and decadence. Dear friends, we are preservers of the good things in society. Just as salt keeps food fresh, we Christians are to keep our society fresh with love, peace, charity, and fraternal correction. We are to uphold and preserve the good moral standards of our communities.

Just as salt defeats corruption wherever it is introduced, Christians are to confront and overcome corruption wherever they find themselves. We are to swim against the currents of corruption already present or emerging in any institution or society we enter.

To defeat corruption and preserve freshness, salt must mix well with what it is meant to preserve; it allows itself to be absorbed. In the same way, Christians are not to isolate themselves from society or withdraw from social life. We are called to engage in the social, economic, and political life of our communities so that we can heal society from within. Yet, as salt does not allow itself to be corrupted by what it touches, we too must not allow the corruption around us to defeat us as we participate in the life of society.

Salt as Seasoning/Condiment: Job 6:6 says, “But no one can eat tasteless, unsalted food.” Salt is a substance found in every kitchen. It adds flavour to food and seasons what would otherwise be bland. Without salt, even the richest dish becomes insipid and unappealing.

Dear friends, salt gives flavour to food. Without it, a well-prepared meal becomes tasteless. In the same way, the world becomes tasteless without the flavour of Christianity. Christians have the duty to restore the divine flavour—the divine taste—that the world lost through sin. To those who have lost the joy and taste of life, Christians are called to be restorers of joy and hope. We are meant to be diffusers of joy in a depressed world. God sends us to restore the flavour of joy, love, compassion, peace, happiness, tolerance, and mercy to families, relationships, and communities torn apart by hatred, war, selfishness, and intolerance.

One remarkable thing about salt is that it leaves an unmistakable mark on food; it does not lose its identity. You do not need scientific analysis to know when food has been salted—the taste is evident. In the same way, Christians must not lose their identity in the world. We are Christ’s disciples and restorers of divine taste. This identity should be visible to everyone who encounters us. If we fail to live according to our identity, we lose our “taste” in the world.

Let us ask ourselves what kind of flavour we are adding to the lives of our friends. Is it a positive flavour or a poisonous one? Are we adding goodness to society or negativity? Are we making the lives of others sweeter or more bitter? Salt does not lose its saltiness; let us not lose ours.

Salt and Health: Medically, a deficiency of salt or sodium in the body leads to depression, weakness, nausea, vomiting, cramps, headaches, irritability, confusion, seizures, coma, and even death. During the Nigerian–Biafran War, salt deficiency in people’s diets contributed to widespread cases of kwashiorkor. Salt is essential to human health. In the same way, Christians are essential to the moral and spiritual health of the world. Christ is telling us that without our good works, the world will suffer terrible deficiencies with painful consequences. He warns us that if we lose focus on the good things he has sent us to do, the world will suffer greatly.

Salt as Purifier: The prophet Elisha used salt to purify the river of Jericho (2 Kgs 2:19–22). Salt has long been used to cleanse materials of germs. Its association with purity is strengthened by its glittering whiteness. The ancient Greeks called salt “divine,” while the ancient Romans considered it the purest of all substances because it comes from the purest of all things: the sun and the sea. In the Old Testament, salt was sprinkled on temple offerings to make them clean before being presented to God (Lev 2:13).

Dear friends, just as salt purifies whatever it touches, every disciple of Christ is called to be a purifying agent in the world. We are to purify the world of sin through our good works, through our loving admonitions to friends, by refusing to support evil, and by refusing to compromise our Christian identity. Christians are meant to have a cleansing, antiseptic presence wherever they find themselves. But if we do not first cleanse ourselves of our own sins, we cannot hope to cleanse the world of its sins. Let us therefore repent, seek God’s mercy, and then extend that same cleansing grace to others.

Our Vocation as Salt: Just as salt makes a positive difference wherever it is placed, so too should a Christian make a positive difference wherever he or she is found. Light should overcome darkness; love should overcome hatred; mercy should overcome cruelty; charity should overcome selfishness; peace should prevail over conflict; meekness should temper arrogance; humility should defeat pride. This is our vocation as the salt of the earth.

Peace be with you.

Rev. Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 5^TH SUNDAY, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: TASTE GOOD AND SHINE BRIGHT

(Matthew 5:13-16)

How do you taste? How do you shine?

These are the questions that should occupy us as we contemplate on how Jesus sees us. We have a God whose taste is too good, who created us good, who sees and wants to see nothing but goodness in us. He wants us to be sweet, to be productive, to be useful. He wants us to live a purposeful and meaningful life. He wants us to live a seasoned life, life seasoned by grace, by holiness, by love of God, and of our neighbour. He compares us with salt, the agent of tastefulness and meaningfulness.

Thus, in the world, we are like salt.

Why is it that family life, religious life, social life, political life, and so on and forth seem to be meaningless and worthless? Could it be that marriage has lost its marriagness? Could it be that politics has lost its politicness? Could it be that religion has lost its essence? Could it be that life has lost all its value for people now to take their lives and those of others? Jesus warns us against allowing these essences of our existence to lose their importance in us. Try to discover why that which makes your life sweet and that which should sweeten the life of the people around you is missing. A man told his wife: 'adighikwa uto itoom' (you're no longer sweet to me). What happened along the line?  Is the question.

How do you taste before God? Will God accept you, your prayers, your worship, your life as a sweet-smelling sacrifice to him? or reject you, throw you out for your filthiness, sinfulness, and bitter life?

How do you taste before people? Are you honey or vinegar in the life of people you meet?  When Jesus received the vinegar on the cross, He vomited it. When people in their bitter experience encounter you, do they spit you out and say: tufiakwa! Azi gbakwa! (God forbid!) Or do they thank God and say: This is a God-sent, He is a good man/woman. What people saw when they met you the first time, do you live on with it or disappoint them along the line? Never lose your saltiness. Some people are deceptively sweet, the sweetness of excess condiment; such people taste good at first sight but make those who take them in to purge.

In the old rite of Baptism, the candidate received salt at the prayer of exorcism. As salts of the earth, we are called to oppose the corrupt practices of the world. We are to take away contaminations from people's lives. We are to kick against the demonic manipulations of the world. We should be important in every family we enter, every life we come in contact with, everything we touch. We should be concerned about our worth. Are you as worth as salt? In the Roman history, salt is said to be used as a reward for soldiers. They were paid with packets of salt. In fact, it is believed that the world salary derives from the Latin 'sal', which means salt. Just as no one can afford to lose his salary, let us make our lives as valuable that no one will be happy to lose us. May we like the salt be tasty in people, be healing to them, be a preservative in them.

 

LET US SHINE BRIGHT

Jesus did not stop at telling us that we are salts. He also says that we are lights. Not small lights but great lights that should shine in the world before all men. Yes, that all men must see it. "Anaghi ekpuchi ihe oma aka" (Good things are not covered). He invites us not to hide our goodness. It should be radiated. Jesus explains a specific type of shining. It is not the 'mgbaza' type of shining, (empty show) it is never the 'makeup' nor the 'notice me type of shining'. Oh no! The shining meant here is not shining for the self or to draw attention to the self but the candle type of shining. The shining that burns itself for others, the shining that burns to the glory of God, the shining that is so bright that people think of the source of the light. In whichever area of your life you're shining, shine to the glory of God. You cannot be hidden if you are a divine light bearer.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

We thank You Oh Lord for Your word today. We pray for Your grace that people may see Your light through us and in us and give glory to our heavenly Father, may every meaningless, tasteless and worthless thing in us be touched by the Salt from above that we may keep shining with holy, economic, political, moral, academic and marital worth in the world through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Happy Sunday (5th Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr. A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 4^th Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

The Beatitudes: Paths to True Happiness

Readings: Zeph 2:3, 3:12—13; 1Cor 1:26-31; Mk 5:1-12a

Dear friends in Christ, the readings of today point us toward the paths that lead to true happiness—happiness in this life and eternal happiness in the life to come. The desire for happiness drives human aspirations, decisions, and sacrifices. People work tirelessly, often losing sleep, because they long for a secure and joyful future. In today’s Gospel, Matthew presents Jesus as a teacher of the Way, seated on a small hill, teaching His listeners the true paths that lead to the happiness their hearts long for.

In the first reading, the prophet Zephaniah speaks of the qualities of those who will be spared on the day of destruction. Zephaniah was a prophet who emphasized the doom awaiting the wicked people of Judah. Yet, in the midst of his warnings, he also affirmed that not everyone would perish—some would be spared. These remnants of Judah were called “blessed” because of the virtues they possessed. They sought justice, humility, truth, and righteousness. While others would groan in pain on the day of destruction, these virtuous ones would rejoice, for they would not be marked for destruction.

In today’s Gospel on the Beatitudes, Jesus expands this teaching by describing the qualities of those who will find true happiness—not only in this world, but in the eternal kingdom. He outlines the values and attitudes needed to enter this everlasting home of joy: poverty of spirit, hunger and thirst for justice, compassion, meekness, mercy, integrity, peace-making, and the willingness to suffer persecution for the sake of righteousness.

The word ‘beatitude’ comes from the Latin ‘beatitudo’, meaning blessedness, divine joy, or perfect happiness. Christ was essentially telling His disciples, “If you desire true happiness, be poor in spirit; hunger and thirst for what is right; be compassionate and meek; be a peacemaker and a person of integrity; and be willing to suffer for the sake of goodness. Embrace these virtues. Live them daily.”

If we were to survey opinions in today’s world about what leads to happiness, the qualities listed in the Beatitudes would hardly appear. Many would say happiness comes from having large bank accounts, exotic cars, luxurious homes, expensive food and wine, attractive partners, high political positions, job promotions, nightly entertainment, or the ability to travel anywhere at will. It may surprise many that none of these things appeared on Christ’s list of true happiness. This teaches us that lasting happiness cannot come from things that do not last. True and enduring happiness does not come from material or fleeting pleasures, but from possessing what is eternal—God Himself. Our true happiness comes when we possess God and His kingdom, and Christ gives us the dispositions needed to attain this. He is not condemning the good things of this world, but He warns that possessing material comforts without the virtues of the Beatitudes leads only to the destruction Zephaniah foretold.

In essence, the Beatitudes fulfil and complete the Ten Commandments. While the Commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai present a series of prohibitions—things we must not do—Jesus presents the Beatitudes positively, as virtues we must cultivate to receive the reward of salvation. One of Matthew’s aims in his Gospel is to show Jesus as the Messiah foretold by the prophets, the One who fulfils the Law and the Prophets. In the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew presents Jesus not only as a new Moses, but as one greater than Moses. Just as Moses ascended the mountain to receive the Commandments and give Israel the Law, Jesus ascends the mountain, sees the crowd, and gives the new Law to the new people of God. Obedience to the Commandments led Israel to the Promised Land; obedience to Christ’s teaching in the Beatitudes leads Christians—the new Israel—to the kingdom of God.

Let us now reflect more deeply on what the Beatitudes—the new laws of Christ—ask of us.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus proclaims the poor in spirit blessed. It means poverty of spirit is the path to true happiness. We are poor in spirit when we trust God as our ultimate source of security, when we recognise our need for Him, when we surrender our plans to His will, and when we repent sincerely of our sins. We are poor in spirit when we hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Jesus also tells us that to be happy we must be meek—gentle. We are meek when we surrender ourselves to God instead of becoming aggressive or demanding. True meekness is the ability to be rightly angry at sin and injustice, but never at people.

Jesus says we are blessed when we hunger and thirst for what is right. To be righteous is to do God’s will. We hunger for righteousness when we respect others deeply and treat them with dignity. Jesus wants us to help those who have been abused regain their dignity. It is providential that the Bishops of Italy invite us today to give priority to children, especially those who are victims of war, violence, abuse, exploitation, indifference, and abandonment. This must be part of our mission this year.

Jesus also promises happiness to the merciful. He calls us to forgive unconditionally and to ask forgiveness for the wrongs we have done. A merciful heart is essential for peace and joy. When we hold grudges, we cannot be free or happy. Let us therefore forgive and be merciful.

Jesus says the pure in heart are blessed. Purity of heart means sincerity, honesty, and moral integrity. The pure in heart do not deceive others. They will see God face to face on the last day.

Jesus also blesses the peacemakers. A peacemaker works actively for reconciliation, is willing to forgive, to let go, and to help others resolve conflicts with love. We are called not only to live peacefully but to help others live in peace—beginning in our families and Christian communities.

Finally, Jesus says we are blessed when we are persecuted for our faith and for living a good life. He calls us to follow His example and that of the apostles who suffered for the truth. We must not renounce our faith in difficult times, nor be ashamed to stand for what is right, even if we stand alone. Today Christians face many forms of persecution. Jesus invites us to overcome them with steadfastness.

May the Beatitudes guide our daily choices and lead us to the eternal happiness God desires for us.

Peace be with you.

Rev. Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 4^TH SUNDAY, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

POVERTY IN THE SPIRIT: THE PATH TO BLESSEDNESS

(Matthew 5:1-12a)

In a world that emphasised affluence, riches, and position of honour, Jesus talks of poverty as a blessing. Who will understand that? In a world where poverty is a curse and everyone tries everything possible, even tries to package to look wealthy. Jesus addressed the poor to be blessed. Poverty is a state of lack, being in need, or not having what one wants. There are many different kinds of poverty: financial poverty, intellectual poverty, psychological poverty, environmental poverty, spiritual poverty, etc. Jesus was specific about the kind of poor people He addressed today as blessed with the kingdom of heaven.

THE POOR IN SPIRIT; Who are they? The poor according to Matthew's Gospel Jesus, meant were those who knew their need for God. They are like beggars for things of the spirit. They gasp and pant for the ruah Adonai (breath of God) They feel lifeless without the Spirit of God. They can do anything to preserve the life that God gives. They can go to any extent to avoid whatever that doesn't give God glory. They are those who long eagerly to be satisfied with blessings from above. They are those who have the wisdom to understand that no matter what the world promises that what God promises is the best. They are those who have understood the transient nature of the things of this world. They may be powerful in the human definition, but for the fact that they know that their power is given to them, they discharge it according to the directives of the one who gave it to them. They are those who understand that the position they occupy today, another occupied yesterday, that they will not be there forever. For this they are humble. They are the wise people who do not feel secure on the security they think they have achieved; financially, medically, politically, etc.  They know that there is a source to all they have, and because of this, they remain under the authority of God, respecting the dignity of their fellow human beings and living their lives without intimidating anyone.

 

WHAT POVERTY IN THE SPIRIT IS NOT

The blessing Jesus gives to the poor is particularly for the poor in spirit.  The message is not for those who take themselves to be poor in the worldly usage of the term to clap for themselves and remain in poverty without making any effort. It is not a call for the rich to allow the poor to die in their poverty. It is not a licence for the world leaders, African leaders and even the Church to continue impoverishing the people and our world through their incentive policies. It is never a promotion of poor in the spirit teaching of Christ to give kudos to the negligence of the suffering in our midst. The poor in the spirit are not those who live unhappily because they do not have money or food and as such are ready to do anything at all without recourse to God. They are not the arrogant, malicious and selfish people in the high and low classes. They are simply in both high and low classes but have chosen to take up the heaven attitude, the attitude of being, the life of the beatitude which keeps them conscious of God as the all in all.

 

BLESSEDNESS UNTO BEATIFIC VISION

The whole eight beatitudes expressed our conditions of vulnerability on earth and our openness for divine assistance to reach our goal, which is heaven at last. The purpose for which Christ took His disciples to the mountain to announce these blessings is to make us focus on our heaven goal and never forget the roles we have to play to continue attracting God's blessings.

In whatever you are facing today, you must see it in the beatitude. After each of them, there is blessings when you pass through them with the vision of Christ before you. They are encouraging words. They help us know that God is in control of everything happening around us.

So, if you're poor in the spirit, you're blessed for the kingdom of God is for you. When you're mourning, you're blessed for God will comfort you. Are you meek? You're blessed even when your meekness is misunderstood as weakness by people around you. When it is for the sake of righteousness that people call you names and make fun of you, he will satisfy you. You are blessed for being merciful, pure in heart, being a peacemaker, being persecuted. All these, when undertaking for the heavenly riches, in the spirit of the first beatitude opens the kingdom of God for us where we shall be with Jesus as the head of the body, the Church.

In our longing to be poor in the spirit for the kingdom of God, may God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

Thank You Jesus for taking us to the mountain of the beatitude where You spoke words of blessings for us as a people and for me as an individual. Make me recognise how empty I am without You. Continue to bless us here on earth and bring us safely into Your kingdom unhindered by the riches of this world that have become abuse and distractions for many. Continue to bless us in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

 

Happy Sunday (4th Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 3^RD SUNDAY, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST: CHANGE YOUR WAYS

(Matthew 4:12-23)

It is the third Sunday of the ordinary time in the Church's liturgical calendar. This Sunday is dedicated to the appreciation of the word of God. Today's message highlights the transforming power of the word. The word is not just verbalization but vitalization. Let us hear Jesus the Word and live according to His ways.

 

THE NEED FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE MESSAGE

The Gospel began by telling us where the word took John the Baptist. John the Baptist was arrested. He was the agent of the Word. He carried the message of Christ, He prepared people for Christ, the word that would become flesh through his spoken word and preaching. He feared no one, He preached by the authority of He that is to come. The climax of it all was the message delivered to Herod, a message inviting him to retrace his steps. For this, He was thrown into prison. Why do we hate the truth so much? Why do we hate living under the light of divine truth? Why do we hate those who tell us the truth? Why do we try to hold the truth down?

The word cannot be imprisoned. Jesus came and continued with the same message John preached in a higher level. The word will not rest until evil in the world is arrested. But unfortunately, we allow evil to arrest the word. We follow the world and keep the Word in chains. No matter what happens, the word must be heard. Little wonder John called himself the voice. Can the voice be held bound? When the Baptist was in the prison, the voice of his message continued to ring even louder and more still through the word himself, whom he voiced. You can cut the head, but you can't cut the Good News. May we heed the word of God and work on ourselves instead of working against it and its agents.

 

THE NEED FOR CHANGE

Some translations used repent, while others used change. The question is, what really needs to be changed in us? Our ways. These are the ways that are contrary to the ways of God. These are the things we have created ourselves to be. These are the images we derived outside the image of our creator. These are the instructions we got from the enemy of our salvation. Jesus must have seen the need for this change and wants us to see the need for change in our lives. The word should motivate us to do good. It should discomfort us when we are not getting it right. It is meant to bring us back to our senses. Let's be touched by the word of Christ Himself as Christians that we are and be changed for good.

Let us listen to those called to spread the word. Let us be preachers in word and deed. Let us be healed and heal our world of all her infirmities by the power of the word of God. Let Christians who are privileged to hear this word endeavour to change the world whenever and wherever they are offered the opportunity. May the message of Christ in all its richness find a place in us and transform us, transform our leaders, transform our land, transform our system and transform the entire world order. May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

Oh Lord our God, we call upon You to cast the light of Your word in our world. May we see light in the light of Your word. Deliver us from the prison of not speaking the truth of Your word and from the misfortune of not following the dictates and ways of Your Son Our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

Happy Sunday to you (3rd Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr. A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh