GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 10TH FEBRUARY 2017
FRIDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
MEMORIAL OF SAINT SCHOLASTICA, VIRGIN
FIRST READING: Genesis 3:1-8
PSALM: Psalm 32:1-2, 5-7
GOSPEL: Mark 7:31-37
THEME: A DANCE WITH SIN
The legendary Afro-rock band, “Osibisa”, in 1973 released a hit album, “Happy Children” with the hit song, “Fire”. The first line of that song reads, “When you were a baby your mama told you not to play with fire…Fire will burn you.”
The light of fire is attractive but raw exposure to its heat leaves behind burns and scars. Sin too is attractive but has terrible consequences for those who play with it. Like a baby, we may not fully understand why the Lord forbids us to indulge in sin but a simple response of obedience can save our day and life.
In our First Reading, we have an account of the fall of Eve and Adam. If you critically look at the first statement of Eve, you would observe that she was a good woman with no intention of disobeying God. In response to the question of the serpent, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden’?” (Gen. 3:1), the woman answered, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” (Gen. 3:2-3). Clearly, the Word of God was in her mind and heart. However, her choice to entertain the serpent and to engage in a continuous conversation with evil ended up in a waterloo; she slipped on that slippery path and found herself sprawling in the quagmire of sin. Moreover, she did not go down alone; she went with the man. One sin caused another to sin.
There are many good people who end up sinning not because they intend to sin but because they walk in the shadow of sin for far too long. Sin is a force that can easily overpower any human being. A little dance with sin has caused great men and women to fall from great heights. The embrace of sin may appear warm for a moment but once its arms fully encircle you, you become its slave.
From the account of the fall of Eve and Adam, we can conclude that the best way to avoid sin is ‘thou shall not play with it’. Perhaps, it is easier said than done and this is where prayer is vital. “Deliver us from evil” is an important part of the Lord’s prayer. Prayer strengthens us in the fight against sin.
Are you faced with a temptation? There is no need to converse with it. Just RUN away! And do not forget to PRAY as you run.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I have been knocked off my feet by the force of darkness on many occasions but now, strengthened by your love, I rise up again and resolve to walk in your light and not the shadow of sin. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).