13th Sunday year B....DOCTRINE AND FAITH

(Wisdom 1,13-15; 2,23-24; 2 Cor 8,7.9.13-15; Mark 5,21-43, 13^th Sunday year B)

    Divine intervention in human conditions aimed at alleviating man’s suffering and eradication of his anguish and pain, are all consistent with God’s attribute as a loving father. In today’s first reading, the book of wisdom, tells us that God takes no pleasure in the extinction of the living.  On the contrary, His desire is that man may have life in its fullest.  Death, pain, deprivation and all that go contrary to the sustenance of life are not God’s original plan for man. Rather, all these came to be on account of that disruption of harmonious relationship with God brought about by man’s rebellion.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church explicitly refers to suffering as a consequence of original sin. (cf. CCC 1521)

            However, Jesus came to restore the disrupted harmony. He came to bring healing to wounded humanity, cure those thorn apart by all sorts of ailments, heal the broken hearted and deal a final blow to death.  In his earthly ministry, he exemplified the healing and restorative dimension of his entire salvific project.  The cure of the woman plagued by haemorrhage and the raising of Jairus’ daughter which we read in the Gospel narrative today are just few of the many incidents in the Scripture where the son of God, moved with compassion, set out to make a difference in the pitiable condition of man.

            It must be understood, however, that the life and ministry of Christ and his entire project of man’s salvation goes beyond alleviation of corporeal suffering and poor human condition.  Jesus was neither a social reformer nor a human activist.  The healing and deliverances he performed are all to be understood from a wider perspective of his work of salvation which aimed at restoring man’s eternal harmony with God.  That explains why, even without glamourizing suffering, he took to it as a necessary means of redeeming mankind, and transformed its meaning from being a deprivation to becoming an instrument of salvation.

            Naturally, man yearns for healing and alleviation of his unpalatable living and social conditions.  Many crave for the sort of instant healing and restoration of mortal life as we see in the Gospel today.  All around us, we still see suffering and unenviable human conditions.  In the face of all that, God remains a loving father who feels our pains and intervenes to save us.  We only need to understand that in the whole scheme of divine will which surpasses our understanding, just as God permitted his only son to taste the ignominy of the cross so as to save the world, he often allows unenviable experiences to be our lot that his will may be realized.  Therefore, while we cannot stop asking God to make our conditions better, may we also close our eyes and senses to the realization that God in his infinite wisdom may choose to allow some of these conditions to come our way as our own share of the cross of Christ. HappySunday! +John I. Okoye

12th Sunday of Year B....DOCTRINE AND FAITH

(Job 3:1.8-11; 2 Cor. 5:14-17; Mark 4:35-41, 12^th Sunday of Year B)

 

The major lessons we must draw from today’s readings, are that we should live in constant awareness of the overwhelming presence of God and having the conviction that he has the power to intervene in the events of our life. The tendency to fall into the grip of anxiety when we meet the odds of life is quite natural.  However, a Christian who has the unshaken conviction that God is ever present, no matter what happens, and that his power to save is certain, goes through life with a unique serenity and composure.  He is not put off by difficulties.  Unpalatable experiences in life challenge him to cling more to his faith instead of robbing him of them.  

 

The experience of the disciples in today’s gospel presents us with a veritable example of the great difference God’s intervention can make in our lives.  Frightened by the strong waves that tossed their boat about and overwhelmed by anxiety in the face of such a huge threat to their lives, the disciples were thrown into great panic.  There in the boat with them was Jesus.  Fear and anxiety blinded them from seeing him as a saviour whose presence made all the difference.  They woke him up, not because of the faith that he would intervene and save them, but rather, that he should feel concerned about the situation and be part of the panic.  However, Jesus got up and intervened.  The disciples’ lack of faith, for which he chided them later, did not stop him from saving them.  Love supplied where faith was lacking!

 

It is indeed very consoling to know that no matter how gloomy situations around us may appear and no matter the level of hopelessness we may have to contend with, Jesus can always intervene and make a difference.  His love, as St. Paul says in today’s second reading, overwhelms us.  He may appear to be asleep when things go the wrong way; his seeming silence may compel us to ask like the disciples: “Master do you not care?”  However, his presence in the boats of our lives assures us that the waves will not blow us to destruction.  In spite of the shallowness of our faith or even outright lack of it, God always surrounds his people with divine intervention that restores peace in the midst of the strong waves and threatening turbulence of life. Let us therefore, ask God for the grace to always see in every situation of life His Divine Presence. Happy Sunday  

+John I. Okoye

11th Sunday, Year B....DOCTRINE AND FAITH

DOCTRINE AND FAITH
(Ezekiel 17, 22-24; 2 Cor 5, 6-10; Mark  4,26-34: 11th Sunday, Year B)

 
Paul, in the second reading of today, teaches us that the Christian life is like a journey or pilgrimage towards our heavenly home; for as long as we live in this world we are in exile away from the Lord. The journey back to the Lord is to be done in faith. It is illumined and sustained by the light and force of faith, and the sole expectation is to have the vision of God. The Christian, following the example of Paul, desires to make his home with God, to be with Christ (Philippians 1,23) and he is always full of confidence to arrive at his goal. The confidence and hope are, however, based on the goodness, faithfulness and promise of God as well as on the power of his grace. It is not, however, based on our capability and certainly not on our merits. 

    In the gospel reading of today, Jesus narrates two parables to illustrate what the kingdom of God is like. We come into contact with the Kingdom of God through the graces of our Baptism; we are reborn in water and Spirit in order to enter the kingdom of God (John 3,3). God started reigning in us from the day of our baptism, the day we became his property. Grace (the kingdom of God in us) is like a seed; it strives by power, naturally intrinsic to it, to grow and develop itself in a person, transforming the whole life of the Christian to the point that the Christian can affirm with Paul: I no longer live but Christ lives in me (Gal 2,20).
    From the point of view of human consideration devoid of the spiritual illumination that comes from faith, grace (divine life, the reign of God in us) does not worth much; it is reality one can do without. But in fact, grace is a great realty that cannot be overlooked, especially when we reflect on the divinization of the soul, though, the infused virtues, the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the indwelling of the Most Blessed Trinity. 

    Even though the divine seed of grace has, in itself, wonderful capacity to transform the soul and life of the Christian, our cooperation as Christians is required for the growth, development and production of the fruits of divine grace in us. It is necessary that we take up the duty to always do what pleases God. The thought of Paul that one day we should give account of our stewardship should also propel us to do what pleases God. Appearing before God’s judgment could be salutary; we are not to neglect it or consider it irrelevant. But the motive of love should be the propelling force to do what pleases God or be intent on what would please Him. This is because we are certain that God loves us and we would want to reciprocate. He who loves does not desire anything else than to be absolutely pleasing to the one loved, and desires nothing but to be of the same mind and thought with his beloved. When we love, some sacrifices are not only possible, but, they become sources of joy. May we in the Eucharistic celebration of today beg that the seed of faith, of grace planted in us at our Baptism may mature and bear fruits of salvation for ourselves and for other people! Happy Sunday! +John I. Okoye

Solemnity of Corpus Christi: Year B)

DOCTRINE AND FAITH

(Exodus 24,3-8; Hebrews 9,11-15; Mark 14,12-16.22-26: Solemnity of Corpus Christi: Year B)

          

The Church invites us today to celebrate the solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, that is to say, the mystery of the Eucharist in which our Lord Jesus Christ, true God and true man is truly, really and substantially present. The three biblical readings of this solemnity point to the central theme of Eucharist as sacrifice. The Eucharist is the sacrament that renders the sacrifice of Christ at Calvary, the sacrifice of the New Covenant and the new pact of friendship between God and man that is ratified in the blood of Christ, perennially actual. 

          The first reading from Exodus narrates how God, through Moses, made the people know about his Laws and Commandments. The people took it upon themselves to observe them: We shall observe all the commandments which the Lord gives us.  The pact was ratified by the blood of sacrificed animals, half of which Moses poured on the altar and then sprinkled the rest on the people. The second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews declares the end of the Old Law whose function was to prepare for the coming of Christ and salvation through faith in Him. The unique, perfect and infinite valor of the sacrifice of Christ replaced all the sacrifices of animals of the Old Law. The entire blood of animals sacrificed, according to the Old Law, was substituted with the unique, immaculate and innocent blood of the victim of the perennial sacrifice, Jesus Christ. There is no more provisional Covenant or one for Israel alone; but a definitive Covenant, an eternal redemption, for all people. What is more, it is no longer an external purification ritual, but the purification of our consciences from dead works in order to serve the Living God. This is why Jesus at the institution of the Eucharist pronounced these words: this is my blood, the blood of the New Covenant, poured out for all. The Eucharist, the unique and perfect sacrifice of Christ, is sacramentally present under the signs of bread and wine to the praise of God the Father, for the expiation of sins and the imparting of graces to all people.

 

          The Eucharist, however, is not only sacrifice but is at the same time, a banquet, a meal to which all are invited. Christ established it in the context of the paschal meal - the Last Supper - with elements that are typical of banquet, bread, wine over which he said: Take, this is my body... then he took the chalice and gave thanks, and gave it to them and all drank. The celebration of the Eucharist (The Holy Mass) is simultaneously and inseparably sacrifice, and banquet. It is a sacrifice in which the sacrifice of the cross is perpetuated, the memorial of the death and resurrection of the Lord who said: Do this in memory of me (Luke 22,19). It is a banquet in which through communion of the Body and Blood of Christ, the people of God participate in the benefits of the paschal sacrifices. All Christians are invited to participate in the Eucharist as Vatican Council enjoins: Participating at the Eucharistic sacrifice, source and summit of the Christian life, the faithful offer to God the Divine Victim (Jesus); receiving the Body and Blood of Christ in the assembly (the faithful) manifest concretely the unity of the people of God, which is marvelously shown and expressed through this majestic sacrament. The participation in the Eucharistic liturgy should be active, pious, attentive and void of external and internal distractions. 

          As the Mass is the actualization of the sacrifice of Christ, it behoves us who participate in it to make ourselves sacrifices that are pleasing to God the Father by leading saintly lives and by uniting our individual sufferings and sacrifices of our daily lives to that of Christ, and taking on the style of life that reflects that of Christ and which finds concrete expression in the immolation of, and donation of ourselves for the love of others. Do this in memory of me means also. Do for your brothers and sisters what I have done for you. Looking at the Eucharist as a banquet, where the members of the family of God are gathered and all are nourished with the same bread and wine, Christ himself, the celebration of the same Eucharist enjoins us to live in brotherly and sisterly love, in harmony, heart to heart acceptance of one another, and sharing one’s goods (spiritual or material) with those who are in need of them. How can we take part in the banquet of love and at the same time nurse sentiments of rancor towards any one or live in disharmony or remain insensitive to the needs of the other? Let us therefore, pray in this Eucharistic celebration that the good Lord may offer us the graces to make the Eucharistic be really the center of our Christian life and express it concretely in the exigencies of our daily societal lives. Happy Celebration of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi! Happy Sunday! +John I. Okoye