COLLECT: “TURN OUR HEARTS TO YOU, ETERNAL FATHER, AND GRANT THAT, SEEKING ALWAYS THE ONE THING NECESSARY AND CARRYING OUT WORKS OF CHARITY, WE MAY BE DEDICATED TO YOUR WORSHIP. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Deut 26:16-19; Ps 118:1-2,4-5,7-8 and Mt 5:43-48
Christianity demands a lot from those who embrace it but when you accept it and can fulfil the demands you eventually become a very blessed person. Therefore, there is always the need for one to prepare and weigh the ‘pros and cons’ before embracing it.
The passages we reflect on today (Deut 26:16-19 and Mt 5:43-48), demand fidelity from the believer. God chose Israel as his own people by means of a covenant. He told them in this portion of the Book of Deuteronomy to observe certain statutes and decrees as a sign of fidelity. They should carefully and faithfully observe them with all their heart and with all their soul, no mid-ways. If they did this, God would raise them ‘high in praise and in renown and in glory above all other nations’ and they would be people sacred to him. This is not achievable on a silver platter but must be toiled for, though God will always supply the needed and necessary grace for that.
Jesus also demands fidelity from his followers. He restates the old law or the Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses for Israel with the implication that the old law was not perfect. Real or total commitment with dedication and sacrifice is highly called for from the follower of Jesus to faithfully follow him. In today’s portion of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus calls for ‘unconditional love’ from his followers toward all people-unconditional love for both one’s neighbours (friends and relatives) and one’s enemies: so demanding. The spirit of it is that, at least the attitude of the follower of Jesus should be different from others in the community. There should be a certain measure of perfection and holiness in our behaviour and attitude.
One way we demonstrate a certain measure of perfection or holiness as God our Father is perfect in heaven, is the ability or willingness to forgive people, especially those who are our enemies. Forgiveness is one of God’s qualities or attributes and since we believe in him and follow him, we are expected to demonstrate and live it to a certain extent. Otherwise, we are not different from and better than others in the community who are not followers of Jesus. We should also note that the ability to forgive brings uncountable benefits to the person who is being offended, and to the one who has offended the other, as well as to the whole community. We cannot list them here but they are not far-fetched.
Let us know that ‘to err is human but to forgive is divine’. Therefore, we always need divine assistance, guidance and direction to forgive those who offend us. On our own, it will not be easy and possible to forgive, but with God, it is possible and easy. Let us pray that the popular expression: “LOVE FOR ALL AND HATRED FOR NONE” should not only be a popular profession, pronouncement or slogan from people’s mouths and lips, but that it should always be concretely put into practice. Go out today in search of an enemy or someone who has something against you. Make conscious efforts to forgive the person. This is demanded by God in this Season of Lent. Stay blessed and may your Saturday be fruitful.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, SATURDAY, ON THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE ANNUNCIATION, THE VISITATION, THE BIRTH OF JESUS, THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE AND THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE’. (LET US PRAY FOR HUMILITY, LOVE OF NEIGHBOUR, POVERTY IN SPIRIT, OBEDIENCE AND JOY IN FINDING JESUS) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “SHOW UNCEASING FAVOUR, O LORD, TO THOSE YOU REFRESH WITH THIS DIVINE MYSTERY, AND ACCOMPANY WITH SALUTARY CONSOLATIONS THOSE YOU HAVE IMBUED WITH HEAVENLY TEACHING. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!