Fresh Dew Media

 29^TH SUNDAY, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: LET'S BE FAITHFUL AND PRAYERFUL IN OUR CHRISTIAN MISSION

(Luke 18:1-8)

With the parable of the unrighteous Judge and the widow, Jesus taught His disciples the need to pray always and never lose heart. The woman never relented until the judge gave her attention. Thus, Jesus calls on us all to keep on calling on God night and day for God will not fail to vindicate us.

Meanwhile, it is not just about praying or pretending to be at prayers. Faith matters a lot.

Jesus wants us not to stop praying. He wants us not to think God is delaying. He assures us that our prayers will be answered. He encourages persistence and faith. Put your whole faith in God. He is your all. Depend totally on Him. He will not disappoint you. Those who put their trust in Him are like mount Zion that cannot be shaken. Do not allow your faith to be shaken up and down by doubt, fear, weakness or sin. The Lord knows what is good for us and when best to give it to us. But He wants us to know Him first through prayers, to encounter Him first through being with Him, and to commune deeper with Him via the media of spiritual communication which is prayers. God wants a living relationship with us. Let us not be selfish in praying; Just trying to get what is good for us. Oh no. Let's also give God a listening ear to hear what the Lord God has to say, His is the sweet voice that speaks of peace to His friends. May God speak liberation unto you, salvation to your life, wisdom to your ignorance, love to your marriage, fruitfulness to your barrenness, stability and direction to your crisis, progress to your business, growth to your spirituality, calm to your troubled soul, open door to your closed doors, success to the work of your hands, fulfilment to your dreams and favourable answers to the words of your mouth and the meditations of your heart through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today in a very special way, we celebrate the world mission Sunday.  This is a day set aside yearly for Catholics all over the world to renew their commitment to the missionary movements. This celebration was created in 1926 by pope Pius XI as a day for prayers for missions. As we are called to pray endlessly in the Gospel, let us not forget to pray fervently for mission and be part of the mission of the Church.  Let us not for that as pilgrims on earth we are on a mission. Our mission here is to know Christ and make him known all over the world; We are invited to get involved in propagating Christian Education; We are encouraged to financially support the mission of the Church; We are encouraged to engage in digital evangelization and reconversion of the world. And finally, we are called upon to pray for the success and safety of missionaries in mission lands and places where Christians are persecuted for their faith in Christ.

Let us therefore accompany the Church in bringing hope to the hopeless, joy to the broken-hearted and justice to those facing injustice. May God bless His word in our hearts. AMEN

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh