GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 19TH NOVEMBER 2016
SATURDAY OF THE 33RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
1ST READING: Revelation 11: 4-12
PSALM: Psalm 144:1,2,9-10
GOSPEL: Luke 20:27-40
THEME: THE LIVING GOD
In Akan thought, there is a well-known proverb which says, “Obi nkyere abofra Nyame” which literally means, “No one teaches God to a child”. The God-experience is available to all, even to children. In any true encounter with God, one arrives at the inescapable conclusion that we serve a living God.
The language of the Book of Revelation is obviously coded and decoding it can be a daunting task. The reference to “two witnesses” in the text of the First Reading opens the door to scholarly debates on who the “two” might be. Probably, the reference is inspired by Deuteronomy 19:15, where we read, “A single witness shall not suffice to convict a person of any crime or wrongdoing in connection with any offense that may be committed. Only on the evidence of two or three witnesses shall a charge be sustained.” However, the issue of who or what exactly these “two witnesses” refer to is not easily resolved. Some are of the view that they represent Peter and Paul. Others opine that the expression is a symbolic reference to Moses and Elijah or the Law and Prophets. There are others too who are of the view that the expression refers to the universal Church, with particular focus on Christian martyrs.
Of particular interest in this reflection is the point that after these two witnesses had been killed, “…the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and those who saw them were terrified. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here!’ And they went up to heaven in a cloud while their enemies watched them” (Rev 11:11-12). By breathing life into them, we are offered the image of God who has life in himself and gives life.
The description of a living God gains further support from the Gospel text where Jesus in responding to the question of resurrection posed by the Sadducees said, “Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive” (Lk. 20:38).
The image one has of God impacts on one’s way of life. Faith in a living God gives hope even in the face of hopeless situations. If God is able to give life to the dead, then certainly he is capable of bringing life to every dead situation one may find him/herself in.
Have you been knocked down by trials and challenges? Courage, the life that God offers you can raise you up again. Even if you are killed, God is able to give life to your mortal body and lead you to eternal life. This is the basis of the confidence of a Christian – we serve a living God.
Prayer: Eternal Father, you are a living God and I am your living child. You never allow my enemies to gloat over me, for in their sight you continually give me life. May I forever remain in you and you in me. Grant this through Christ our Lord. 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).