Monday of the 12th week of the ordinary time of the year C

Theme: Obedience to God

In today’s 1st reading, we see the repercussion of the disobedience of the Israelites; they were defeated in war and taken into captivity. They deviated from the ways of God and their covenant with him; they chose a part that was not pleasing to God. They refused to listen to all the prophets sent to them by God that they should retrace their steps and return back to God. My brothers and sisters in Christ, in the same way God is calling us to retrace our steps and return back to him. What are you doing about the aspect of your life that you are not proud of, and you know is not pleasing to God? Now is the time for us to make the necessary effort to change our ways, and allow the grace of God to supply whatever is left for the change that we seek. No matter what the situation is at the moment in our life, it may have overwhelmed us; but we are privileged because it can never overwhelm the God we serve. Kindly take it to God in prayer, while we also do what is humanly possible to bring about the change that we truly seek. My brothers and sisters in Christ, we must endeavour to live our life in such a way that is good and acceptable to God at all times. This is very important to us as children of God, because we will not be able to stand the wrought of God when it comes upon us. May that not be our portion through Christ our Lord, Amen. Our lives will attract the blessings of God to us and not the wrought of God.

In our gospel reading of today, Jesus admonishes us against been judgemental about the happenings in the life of other people. What this simply means dearly beloved in Christ, is that we have to be very slow in judging other people; forgetting that the change we seek in the life of other people is also needed in our own life in one way or the other. The emphasis today is that we should all look inward and do the needful in our lives. It is when we have done what is necessary in our own life, that we will truly have the moral justification to point finger at the other. Is there any one among you who is without a fault or sin? This is something for all of us to reflect on, as we go about our activities in the course of this day. May almighty God bless you as you do this in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Peace be with you.

Monday of the 12th week of the ordinary time, by Fr. Jude Ifeanyi Ifezime, C.S.Sp