Tuesday of 8^th 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

 

Monday of 8^th Week in Ordinary Time Yr. II: reflection

Theme: With God’s grace, nothing is impossible

1Pet 1:3-9; Mk 10:17-27

In today’s gospel reading, our Lord Jesus assured his disciples that what is impossible for humans is never impossible for God; with God, all things are possible. This assurance came because of his disciples’ bewilderment at his teaching on how difficult it is for the rich to inherit the kingdom of God.

Indeed, the resurrection of Jesus Christ has given us a solid assurance that nothing is impossible for us if the hand/grace of God is upon us. This was revealed to us in today's first reading by St. Peter, who declared that Christ's resurrection had given us a new birth and made us eligible for an inheritance that is impervious to all circumstances, imperishable, undefiled, unfading, and safely kept for us.

In today's gospel, the young man who approached Jesus thought about the great task that faith required of him, but all he saw was impossibility, and he was forced to give up because he did not have faith in God's grace. 

Dear friends in Christ, the situation of our world may challenge our goals, projects, resolutions and faith requirements with many obstacles and trials, but St Peter assures us today that these trials, which are unavoidable, are only a test of our solidness in God. Whoever wraps himself with God’s grace and stands tall in moments of trials will discover that with God, all impossibilities are made possible, and all battles are won. With God, all mountains of problems will be moved, all hurdles of trials will be jumped, and all clouds of difficulties will be cleared.

Never give up, for God’s grace will make the impossibilities you see today possible. Amen.

Fr Isaac C. Chima