GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 22ND OCTOBER 2016
SATURDAY OF THE 29TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
1ST READING: Ephesians 4:7-16
PSALM: Psalm 122:1-5
GOSPEL: Luke 13:1-9
THEME: REPENT
“What a shock?” “Gone too soon!” are examples of striking captions we often find on some obituaries. Personally, I recall with trepidation the sudden death of a friend, a good man by all standards, who got drowned at sea. I also recall a car accident that resulted in the sudden death of a young and committed man of God (a personal friend) who was on his way to preach the Gospel at a programme. Such shocking deaths are efficacious reminders to each one of us that time is not on our side and that the best time to repent is now!
In our Gospel text for today, some people related to Jesus the sudden death of some Galileans at the hands of Pilate. In responding to this piece of information, Jesus made it clear that those who had died were not greater sinners than all other Galileans. Rather their death was a clarion call to repentance. He also made reference to another disaster – the collapse of the tower of Siloam resulting in the deaths of eighteen people as another call to repentance. He concluded with the parable of the barren fig tree reiterating the urgency of bearing fruits of repentance.
Atheists would want us to believe that God does not exist. They would argue that where was God when these Galileans had their blood mingled with their sacrifices by Pilate? Where was God when the tower of Siloam fell? Where was God when many Africans were captured and sent to America and the Caribbean as slaves? Where was God when the World Trade Center was brought down by terrorists and the lives of many destroyed? Where was God when…Where was God when…?
It is true that the history of humanity is dotted with many dark spots. However, there is a saying that “it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” It took people of faith in Jesus to bring the slave trade to an end. It took people of faith in Jesus to bring relief and support to the victims of the World Trade Center. It takes people of faith to transform this world. True repentance shows forth in good works of faith.
When we repent and place our faith in Jesus we light a candle of faith that wards off the darkness of this world.
Prayer: “Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of your dearly Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world. For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.” 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).