GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 2ND SEPTEMBER 2016
FRIDAY OF THE 22ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
1ST READING: 1Corinthians 4:1-5
PSALM: Psalm 37:3-6, 27-28, 39-40
GOSPEL: Luke 5:33-39
THEME: SURPRISED BY JOY
Our chosen theme today is actually a title of a partial autobiography of C.S. Lewis published in 1955 (The full title is “Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life). The book describes the author’s conversion to Christianity. He describes how he came to discover an unmeasured joy when he finally embraced the Christian faith after a period of earlier reluctance in his life. He was surprised by the joy of being Christian.
The joy of being with Christ was misunderstood by the Pharisees and scribes who, in today’s Gospel text, lamented saying, “The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers; the disciples of the Pharisees also do the same; but yours eat and drink” (Luke 5:33). In the religious worldview of the Pharisees and scribes, performing religious practices was key. They would often do this with a morose look. Hence, they could not see how the followers of Christ would always have a joyful disposition and avoid what they considered as pillars in spirituality.
To better understand the lament of the Pharisees, it will be good to recall that these were outwardly “pious” people. They would normally fast twice a week (Mondays and Thursdays). In addition to the Jewish formal times of prayer – in the morning, afternoon and evening — they were also faithful to their own private prayers, albeit done in public.
In response Jesus said to them, “You cannot make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? The days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days” (Lk 5:34-35). Basically, Jesus was telling them, “there is time for everything”.
The joy of being Christian can be likened to new wine poured into new wineskins. It is so fresh. It is like having a brand new cloth with no old patches. To have Jesus is to have a brand new life, a brand new experience and a brand new relationship with God welling up to eternal life
Prayer: Lord Jesus, the joy of knowing you fills me to the brim. Yes, you make life worth living. May I continously relish your presence as you walk with me into eternity. 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).