Tuesday of
8th Week in Ordinary Time, Yr. II: reflection
Theme: Set your hope upon the grace that is coming to you in Christ Jesus. (1Pet 1:13)
Readings:
1Pet 1:10-16; Mk 10:28-31
The
hardships caused by incompetent governments and their bad policies, which have
become the only constant factor in our nations, especially in Nigeria, have pushed
some people to long for a return to the life of darkness, where the devil and
his agents are promising them easy wealth and elevated social status. However,
wealth acquired by dancing to the music of the world of darkness can only make
one occupy the first position (a position of honour) in this world while his
position in the next world will be the last. It was for this reason that Jesus,
in today’s gospel, said the first will be the last and the last, first.
Dear
brothers and sisters in Christ, in today's first reading, St. Peter advised us
not to conform ourselves to the passions of our former lives, that is, the life
of darkness from which Christ freed us, regardless of the degree of adversity
and hardship we experience here on Earth. Rather, we ought to set our hope fully upon the grace that is
coming to us at the revelation of Christ.
To jettison
the passions of evil lifestyle or the lure of evil in order to focus solely on
God's grace and providence may necessitate the abandonment of homes, lands,
brothers, sisters, and friends. But, then, Jesus assures us in today’s gospel that
all who have given up all of these for His sake will receive them a hundredfold
in eternal life.
Let us,
therefore, put our trust in God’s grace, refusing any attraction of the
underworld, because those who benefitted from them will be last at the end, despite
of the first positions they occupied here on earth.
Fr Isaac
Chima
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