Reflection on the Gospel of Monday Week 30 by Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 

THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST VS THE GOSPEL OF THE HYPOCRITES

(Luke 13:10-17)

The preaching and teaching are Christ's. But the Hypocrites wanted to steal His show.

We saw Jesus teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. A woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years which made her unable to stand straight was there too. Thus, this woman stood between the two preachers, Jesus Christ and the ruler of the synagogue.

Jesus did not stop at teaching; He freed the woman from her infirmity. At this, the ruler of the synagogue began his wicked sermon: "There are six days on which work ought to be done, come on those days and be healed, and not on the sabbath day."

With this, he discredited the good work done by Jesus. Jesus replied him:

"You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?" This put all his adversaries to shame.

Jesus in love looks into us to discover what is not straight. He finds out the areas the devil has held us bound. He confronts everything in us that is crocked, bent and queer. Jesus comes to touch us in those areas that are not straightforward. He wants to arrest that which makes us to bend, hide or not to stand erect.

The enemy wants to keep you bent for ever. He wants to hold you down for long. Eighteen years is not enough for him. He wants you not to stand. He doesn't want you to maintain your spiritual height. He doesn't want you to attain the moral probity you are supposed to enjoy. He preaches a different gospel from the gospel of Christ. He wants you to remain at the level of inferiority complex. He does not want you to set your records straight once again. He gives you excuses to keep it for another day.

To be straightened, you may go through pain. You may be subjected to public correction. Allow yourself to be chiselled into shape by Jesus. Present yourself like this woman to Jesus. Don't hide. Don't cover your weak points.

Present yourself in spiritual direction to Jesus and to men with the spirit of Jesus. If you fail to, the many forces right, left and center waiting to misdirect you will take hold of you and preach the evil message to you. They have no remedy to your problems. They have no solution to your plight.

Is your life still straight, moving upward to heaven or elsewhere? Is Christ still the author and finisher of your faith? Are you listening to the message of Christ or of the hypocrites around? Jesus loves you and cares for you with an everlasting love. But the voices inviting you here and there mean no good for you. They are not seeing what Jesus is seeing in you. Jesus wants to free you. Be freed. Do not preach an Antichrist message and do not receive an Antichrist message. If you do, you will remain in state of crisis.

Let us pray

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, you have the message of eternal life. We want to hear you call us. We want to come as you're inviting us to come and be healed. We want to straighten every thing that is crocked in our lives. Touch us with your love. Win our attention with your love. Address and rebuke every force distracting us from following your direction and guardians. May whatever vice that has taken hold of us for long flee now that we may be free through Christ our Lord. Amen

God bless your Monday

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh