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 21^ST SUNDAY, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: BE STRONG AND KNOW YOUR FAITH, THE ENEMY SHALL NOT PREVAIL

(Matthew 16:13-20)

The gospel of today started with an examination. Jesus was the examiner; the disciples were the candidates. Typical of every exam, some will pass while others will fail. Some will have a poor pass while others will pass excellently.

In the class of 12 only one student passed. His name is Peter.

The exam was on 'Christ knowledge'. Knowledge of Christ is not an intellectual knowledge. It is an exercise of faith. It goes beyond historical calculations, geographical accuracy, or philosophical and mathematical mastery. It does not even stop at theological versatility. It ventures into a one-on-one encounter that reveals the divine personality.

 

Faith of one and faithful of all

Peter didn't chorus with other apostles. He stepped out of group mentality to get hold with the real person of Christ. And he succeeded. The crowd may not always be right. That every person believes it or does it is never a good reason. Are you convinced about what you do? Are you as an individual in the know of why the Church does somethings some ways? You're a unique candidate when it has to do with faith. You're the target of Christ. He picks you from the crowd. He samples an opportunity for you to shine out. Be strong in faith and accept the faith challenge. You're many but you're one. You may be husband and wife but God looks at you both as an individual faith member and as a group of faithful couple. You may be a Christian among many Christians but you're a special Christian for Christ. He wants you to prove yourself one. To prove oneself you must be able to answer when called upon to give account of your faith. And by so doing you're sharing your faith in God. Is there any faith remaining at all in you?  You've got to allow the key of faith to operate in you.

 

The Key of faith

The key was a gift Peter received after his answer to Jesus. With this key he is empowered for teaching, empowered with the word of God, empowered to forgive sins, empowered to open the heavens, indeed empowered to bind and lose. This is amazing. We are empowered to come out of our condemnation because when the Son of man sets us free, we shall be free indeed. With this faith we are empowered to pray and call God Abba Father! With this faith we see and draw from the riches of the sacraments which are seeable and only admirable with the spiritual eyes.

For these great miracles to happen, it will not be flesh and blood that will guide us but the Spirit of the Father.

Life in the Spirit is an important key of faith. Let us not be alive in every other thing, active in things of the world and dead in the spirit. God forbid!

 

Faith never Fear

Faith attracts edification. Jesus promises to build on the little faith demonstrated by Peter. He makes Him the rock on which to build. With the encouragement He gives Peter, he assures us that with Him we shall be established. Let us know Him as our Lord and master. The word of God says I will save him because he knows my name. Let us learn to call upon that anointed name that anoints, that blesses, that forgives and heals. The name and person of Christ drives away every fear. Let us call upon Him with faith and not fear.

We are afraid of a lot of things threatening our faith. Jesus assures us that the gates of hades with never prevail against us. Just as the many forces that had plagued the Church for many years have not succeeded so will the enemy not prevail in bringing you down. Be strong in faith, the enemy will not bring down that your marriage, he will not destroy your joy, he will not take glory in your health issues, he will not take glory in your vocation crisis, he will not gloat over your failures.

Face life with strong belief in God, in who he is and what He can do. He can indeed do more than we can ever think of or imagine. He gives us the secret of a fulfilled life today, it is faith and knowledge of God.

He charged the apostles not to tell anyone about it. This is a way of telling you not to endanger your faith. Do not jeopardize your faith in God with bad company, sinful conversations, satanic practices, prayerlessness etc. 

As you persevere in your faithfulness and personal and communal bonding of yourself to Christ, the head of the Church, may no power of hell prevail over you and may doors of favours be opened unto you while every sin and evil is driven far away from you through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Sunday to you (21st Week, Ordinary Time, Year A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh