Sound Of Silence

THE GOD OF MISSIONS

Meditation for 30^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

(Jer 31:7-9; Heb 5:1-6; Mk 10:46-52)

1.         THE GOD OF MISSIONS

Happy Mission Sunday! It is a bright day as celebrate our call to share in the mission of Jesus Christ. In the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah proclaimed God’s salvation to Israel as He brought them back from exile. The good news of this journey back home is that even who on their own could not make it, were all brought back home and resettled. Among these includes the lame, the blind, the pregnant women, etc. “With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back.” We celebrate the God who goes forth to lead His back home, where there is freedom, peace and progress. Above, He resettles His people, even the helpless, where they can worship Him, “For I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first-born.”

Jesus, the First-Born of God became our high priest, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you…You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” In Jesus, God is on a mission to bring salvation to the world and raise up adopted children for eternal life. So Jesus comes as our High Priest to be our mediator; to bring answers to our prayers, to strengthen us in our weakness, to heal our ignorance and waywardness, and to offer the one sacrifice for our sins.

We see this missionary journey of Jesus fulfilled in His encounter with the blind man called Bartimaeus. He called the man out from the lonely roadside, healed his blindness. Imagine such a turnaround for Bartimaeus; it was for him a new life! With his new sight he could see the beauty around. But with the eyes of his faith, he saw that Jesus was his new place of resettlement. The fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah that He would bring His people home was fulfilled as Jesus becomes that NEW HOME, where believers are resettled and they find freedom, peace, progress and worship God in spirit and truth. In Jesus as the Mediator, we offer the perfect sacrifice that is pleasing to God, and through which we are offered to God.

2.       NO ONE TAKES THIS HONOUR UPON HIMSELF

We are called to share in the mission of Jesus Christ. “And one does not take the honour upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was.” Every encounter we have with Jesus carries with it at the same time an invitation to the mission, to witness and bring others to salvation. When Bartimaeus realized the new life that Jesus can give, he could not remove his eyes from Him, and he followed him on the way! He became a missionary. The greatest vision he had was the eyes of his faith that saw Jesus deeper than those who even lead him to meet Him. Our participation in the Mission of Christ is our joyful response to the divine touch we received through the grace of Jesus Christ, our High Priest. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Sunday October 24th 2021.

www.soundofsilence.ng

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE IN CHRIST JESUS

Meditation for Saturday the 29^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year B

(Rm 8:1-11; Lk 13:1-9)

Since we cannot even win the internal battle by ourselves unless by the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, St Paul declares, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.” The grace of Jesus Christ, flowing from the Cross, assures of victory over evil, sin and death; it is always alive and active. Thus, this grace is our assured victory against the law of sin. God sent His own son in the likeness of sinful man; He condemned sin in His flesh, thereby fulfilling the law, in order that those who live by His grace in the Holy Spirit will, not only fulfil the law, but achieve what the law could not achieve, i.e. justification and eternal life.

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on things of the Spirit.” St Paul explains that the mind that is set on the flesh is death; such a mind is full of fear, hostility, lawlessness, etc. “And those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” But those who soar on the wings of grace in the Holy Spirit are alive and at peace with themselves, with others, and with God! “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the fig tree to show how God has manured us with the rich grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. And made this grace available and accessible through the sacraments. We constantly need to repent and walk deeper in His grace, bearing fruits of righteousness for eternal life.

St John of Capistrano, pray for us. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Saturday October 23rd, 2021.

www.soundofsilence.ng

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THE INTERNAL BATTLE

Meditation for Friday the 29^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year B

(Rm 7:18-25; Lk 12:54-59)

The human will is powerful and visionary. But it is a mystery how it can become powerless in the face of temptation. We always will and desire what we perceive to be good. To do good, and persevere to do good, takes more than mere desire or human will, for the best of our resolutions may be absent on the day of action! However, unless we will and desire it, we cannot persevere in good deed. The question St Paul raises today is: how come we will and desire what we know to be good, but end up acting directly the opposite, thus contradicting ourselves and betraying our will. This is like a self-inflicted injury, but it happens; we regret and feel bad, still we repeat the same thing. “I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.”

St argues that the reason we act contrary to our will is because sin has found a voice within us; it has mingled with us, lying hidden within, but ready to prop up its head and demand expression at the moment of action. So, sin and evil, with their voice of temptation, constitute their own law but lay it closely hidden to the human conscience. “For I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin which dwells in my members.”

How can a man with such constant internal war rely on his good deeds for justification? It is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that grants him victory in the face of alluring evil, since his good will stands helpless at the moment of action. But the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is active, and when mingled with the human will, brings about our will and desire to reality. This is how the battle is won!

St John Paul II, pray for us. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Friday October 22nd, 2021.

www.soundofsilence.ng

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THE FIRE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Meditation for Thursday the 29^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year B

(Rm 6:19-23; Lk 12:49-53)

Some people might mistakenly think that if justification is by faith alone, then we have no responsibility thereof, or that we can live recklessly and still lay claim to righteousness since it is by faith. May be that is why some modern-day Christians care less about holiness and righteousness but they often worship God only for their personal benefits, while demanding God to prove Himself to them through miracles. But St Paul quickly warns that those who are justified by faith do not yield any part of their bodies or their lives to sin. The righteousness of faith sets us free, while sin tries to enslave us. The righteousness of faith brings sanctification, so it cannot dwell with sin and iniquity. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Jesus declares: “I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled!” Living out the righteousness of Jesus in faith shines out as light that opposes the darkness of this world; the freedom enjoyed by those living under grace evokes jealousy from those under the yoke of sin. As the experiences vary so will people begin to oppose each other. Each person within him, from his household and society will experience a constraint. But at the end, the love of God will triumph. No transformation can come without friction or opposition. Jesus has cast fire than cannot be quenched! His love and righteousness illumine, and at the same time, burns away sin and iniquity. That is why we must not allow sin to reign in our hearts and bodies; “So now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification.”

St Hilarion the Great, pray for us. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Thursday October 21st, 2021.

www.soundofsilence.ng

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF FAITH
Meditation for Saturday the 28th Week in Ordinary Time, Year B
(Rm 4:13, 16-18; Lk 12:8-12)
We are justified by faith! St Paul draws further example from Abraham. This time he proves his point with God’s promise to Abraham and his descendants. The promise that they should inherit the world did not come through the law but through “The righteousness of faith.” “That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants; not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham.” In this way, Abraham became the father of many nations, either Jews or Gentiles, who came to believe. He continued to believe in God and trust that He would fulfil His promise, even when it seemed there was no hope. “In hope he believed against hope…”

The righteousness of faith is a light to the world. Whoever allows this light to shine before men will be acknowledged before the angels in heaven. This is the testimony we bear to the world that glories in self-righteousness. The test of faith comes often because the world opposes the righteousness of faith in Christ Jesus through the working of the Holy Spirit. “For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” So, we are justified by faith; not by our efforts for that would be self-righteousness. The Holy Spirit is the advocate; He leads us forward and bestows graciousness to our efforts to the glory of God.  Amen.

St Gérard Majella, pray for us. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Saturday October 16th, 2021.
www.soundofsilence.ng
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ABRAHAM

Meditation for Friday of the 28^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year B

(Rm 4:1-8; Lk 12:1-7)

St Paul takes his discussion on justification by faith further by citing the example of Abraham. “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” If he was justified by his good deeds, he would have something to boast about. And justification would be his due right since he worked for it. But by his faith Abraham trusted God, and his faith was reckoned as righteousness. Because he believed in His heart, and trusted in God by his actions, his faith became the REASON for his actions, and his actions became an expression of his faith. This kind of faith brings to us unmerited blessings; Abraham’s blessings.

Faith without the underlying trust in God is hypocrisy. By trust we incline towards God in our actions. Jesus warns, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” The hypocrite has faith in God, but his actions do not express it. Jesus says nothing is hidden from God; “Nothing covered up that will not be revealed.” He who justifies us will reveal even the secret thoughts and whisper.

That is why, as God’s faithful children, we should not fear those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do, or fear losing Good name before people like the hypocrites. “But I will warn you whom to fear: fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!” So, let our faith be true and strong like that of our father Abraham, for God cares for His children, and He will justify us at the end. “Why, even the hairs of your head are numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Amen.

St Teresa of Avila, pray for us. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Friday October 15^th, 2021.

www.soundofsilence.ng

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH

Meditation for Thursday of the 28^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year B

(Rm 3:21-30; Lk 11:47-54)

Today we journey with St Paul as he teaches about justification. He says that the law and the prophets bear witness to God’s righteousness. It was taught that one was made righteous or justified by keeping the law. The Jews broke the law, while the Gentiles worshipped many gods. “There is no distinction; since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” That means justification comes as a free gift of grace, through redemption in Jesus Christ. There is no room for boasting, judging or condemning others, for no one can claim to be righteous by his efforts.

Since God has pleased to reveal his righteousness through Jesus Christ crucified, we can come under the shadow of Jesus’ righteousness by having faith in Him. This faith is made available to both Jews and Gentiles. And since Jesus is the fulfilment of the law and the prophets, faith in Him includes holding fast the law as practical and determinate steps to walking with Jesus, in whom is our justification. Now, God justifies he who has faith in Jesus Christ because the life of Jesus becomes the new rule of life, and even the guide to interpret the law and the prophets. Since Christ died for us while we were sinners, the grace of his justification is given outside of the law. “Since God is one; and He will justify the circumcised on the ground of their faith and the uncircumcised through their faith.”

The hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees makes them share in the guilt of their fathers who killed the prophets. For that was the principle that led to such persecutions. They claimed faith in God but rejected the messengers of God who condemned their evil ways. “So you are witnesses and consent to the deeds of your fathers; for they killed them and you built their tombs.” Therefore, faith in Jesus Christ that does not reflect in one’s life or good works becomes another form of crucifixion; such faith is empty and cannot bring justification.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Thursday October 14^th, 2021.

www.soundofsilence.ng

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

DO NOT JUDGE OTHERS

Meditation for Wednesday of the 28^th Week in Ordinary Time

(Rm 2:1-11; Lk 11:42-46)

It is often the case that those who readily judge and condemn others are more like to do the same things they condemn. St Paul picks a case against those who judge others, emphasizing that the judgement of God will come upon those who do such things. According to him, we should not take God for granted by presuming upon the riches of His kindness, forbearance and patience for ourselves while at the same time condemning others. Whoever does this is storing up wrath of God upon himself. Since God is kind and patient, we have no excuse to judge others, “For in passing judgment upon him you condemn yourself.” On the other hand, those who show patience in good works shall receive glory, honor, peace and eternal life, “The Jew first and also the Greek.”

Focusing on the failings of others is a lot of distractions and unnecessary burden. It makes one a hypocrite. That is why Jesus condemned the Pharisees who focus on external religious shows but neglect justice and love. “Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and salutations in the market places.” The Pharisees and the Jews who received this good news of God’s salvation first ought to lead by example, and also to those who have received this message of grace; they are expected to manifest the kindness and patience of God to others. That is why we must not allow external practices distract us from the person of Jesus Christ, whom we are called to imitate and follow. Once we divert from the right spiritual road to take, we shall be wallowing the wrong path of impatience, judging others and over conscious of what others are saying about us.

St Edward, pray for us. Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.

Wednesday October 13^th, 2021.

www.soundofsilence.ng

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com