COLLECT: “MAY THE WORKING OF YOUR MERCY, O LORD, WE PRAY, DIRECT OUR HEARTS ARIGHT, FOR WITHOUT YOUR GRACE WE CANNOT FIND FAVOR IN YOUR SIGHT. 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”.
Jer 11:18-20; Ps 7:2-3,9-12 and Jn 7:40-53.
Today’s scriptures are more specific about what envy and jealousy are able to do. The wrong conclusion of issues is one. The crowds wrongly conclude that Jesus is not the Messiah because he comes from Nazareth, and not Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). In their misguided and misfunctioned reasoning (typical for all envious and jealous people), they do not even remember that Jesus was born in Bethlehem but grew up in Nazareth (Cf. Lk 2:1-7). They cannot think correctly/rightly.
Envious people find it difficult to agree on what is factual or truthful, especially about the people or situation they are envious of. For instance, the people in the Gospel disagree among themselves about who Jesus is. Some believe he is the prophet others are convinced that he is a fraud. In that sense, a group that is made up of envious people will never agree or be united.
It will always be divided, and will never achieve its aim.
This is evident in today’s Gospel, where “a division occurred in the crowd because of him” (Jesus).
Attempting and plotting to kill/murder are clear manifestations of envy and jealousy. Out of envy and jealousy, the people make attempts and plot to arrest Jesus, find faults with him and kill him. The Prophet Jeremiah also suffers his portion in today’s first reading.
His own people, out of envy and jealousy, resulting in acute hatred, plot and make attempts to kill him, “…they were hatching plots against me: ‘Let us destroy the tree in its vigor; let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name will be spoken no more’” (Cf. Jer 11:19). Do we still experience such acts and aspects of envy and jealousy in our contemporary world? Certainly yes. What shall we then do as believers/Christians?
“Two wrongs do not make a right” says the adage. Therefore, revenge or retaliation (“You do me, I do you. Man no go vexed”) should not, and should never be the remedy as a believer/Christian. Both Jeremiah and Jesus have given us the right attitude towards those who, out of envy and jealousy, attempt and plot for our murder and destruction.
“But, you, O Lord of hosts, O just Judge, searcher of mind and heart, let me witness the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause!” (Cf. Jer 11:20). Also, Jesus prayed on the cross to the Father to forgive his accusers and those who were crucifying him, for they did not know what they were doing. He also preached in the Sermon on the Mount that when we are going to make offerings and at the altar, realise we have something against a brother/sister, we should leave our gifts at the altar and go back to reconcile with him/her. Is this hard and impossible ahing to do? Yes, however, with God, it is possible. The Holy Spirit can do the impossible things for us.
On our own, we cannot. May we today, submit ourselves to the will of God and bring before him all the things that are impossible for us to do as human beings. He can do it for us. Let us learn to always entrust our causes, worries, fears and anxieties. Stay blessed and happy Saturday.
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: “MAY YOUR HOLY GIFTS PURIFY US, O LORD, WE PRAY, AND BY THEIR WORKING RENDER US FULLY PLEASING TO YOU. 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!