GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY – 1ST FEBRUARY 2017

GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)

DATE: 1ST FEBRUARY 2017

WEDNESDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

FIRST READING: Hebrews 12:4-7, 11-15

PSALM: Psalm 103:1-2, 13-14, 17-18

GOSPEL: Mark 6:1-6

THEME: THE TREASURE IN AN EARTHENWARE VESSEL

She told him point blank, “Sorry, I am not interested in you. You cannot even afford a bicycle, how can you take care of me?” She was a beautiful fresh graduate with the hope of marrying a wealthy man. He too was a handsome young graduate but did not have much money; all that he had was a good heart and an unfolding dream. Twelve years after that painful rejection, the lady who had gone in search of a job at a prestigious institution found herself sitting before a panel for an interview, and the head of the panel was the man who did not have a bicycle. She was right, the man still did not have a bicycle but had a private jet and a fleet of cars.

Jesus had gone to his hometown. On the Sabbath, he chose to minister to his own people. His presence and message was received with doubts and mistrust, well packaged in series of questions– “Where did this man get all this? What is the wisdom given to him? What mighty works are wrought by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” (Mk. 6:2-3). In the end, “they took offense at him” (Mk. 6:3). In sum, they rejected him. The narrative ends with the statement, “Jesus could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands upon a few sick people and healed them. He was amazed at their lack of faith” (Mk. 6:5-6).

Hasty judgments and preconceived conclusions can make us reject the very persons who have the fire to light our hopes. God answers every prayer. Unfortunately, we sometimes reject, without realising it, the very persons sent to us by God in response to our prayers.

When we have prayed, we must wait upon God in faith. Faith looks beyond what the physical eyes present and receives with gladness the treasure in an earthenware vessel.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, deliver me from prejudice and faulty judgments. Deepen my faith in you and give me a heart that is capable of receiving your grace. 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).

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