GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 6TH FEBRUARY 2017
MONDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
MEMORIAL OF SAINTS PAUL MIKI AND HIS COMPANIONS
FIRST READING: Genesis 1:1-19
PSALM: Psalm 104: 1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 24,35
GOSPEL: Mark 6:53-56
THEME: LET THERE BE LIGHT
Winston S. Churchill writes, “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” There are people who only see problems but not the solution, while others see the solution in every problem. We can choose to languish in the dark because everything is dark or light a candle and declare, ‘let there be light’.
We have in our First Reading, the first direct speech of God per the arrangement of the Books of the Bible. The context that gave rise to those words is key to understanding the words themselves. In Genesis 1:2, we read, “The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep…”. This verse affords us a glimpse into a state of confusion that characterised the earth. In sum everything was chaotic. It was in the face of this hotchpotch situation that God spoke.
The words “let there be light” are introduced into the narrative and the author adds, “and there was light” (Gen. 1:3). We may argue, that is God and we are human beings. However, some few verses ahead we read that God created us in his image and likeness (Gen 1:27). In other words, we have in our genes what it takes to ‘replicate’ what God does, namely, to chase darkness away and bring order where there is disorder.
A challenge or problem, depending on how you look at it, offers us the opportunity to make things happen. Perhaps, you look around you and nothing seems to work. Darkness appears to be on the face of your relationship, job, health…(name it). The temptation to throw up one’s hands in despair and resign to failure may be strong. However, you can choose a different path. You can choose to rise up and declare, “let there be light.” These are no magic words but a declaration of intent to fix the problem.
We are children of the One wo changed chaos into cosmos and we have what it takes to bring a wholesome change to every situation we find ourselves in.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, your grace in me is enough to make me rise above every trial. In you and with you, I can do all things. 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).