Twenty-Second Sunday Year A : Reflections- Fr. Michael U.Udoekpo

Twenty-Second Sunday of the Year A: Reflections- Fr. Michael. Udoekpo

Readings: Jer 20:7-9; Ps 63:2-9 Rom 12:1-2 and Matt 16:21-27.

What does God Wants of His Disciples?

Although God deals with us in mysterious ways, today’s bible readings point us, at least to the directions of his divine expectations of us. God wants us to deepen our relationship with Him, discerning His will, by living a holy life that conforms to the Gospel. He wants us at all time and of every age and circumstance to recognize the prophetic role of sufferings, mortification, and self-denial not  always self-consuming. He wants us to appreciate the costly price of being a Christian,  the value of the Cross in the face of contemporary challenges .

St. Paul in the Second Reading, (Rom 12:1-2) reminds his contemporary Christian community of Rome of God’s expectations: right  and ethical conducts, spiritual worship of God in faith and truth, non-conformity to  God's will, worldliness and secularism, "anything goes,"  that has come to plague every culture including our own today.

Even in the time  of Jeremiah, when Judah as a people of God was threatened by the enemy powers of the Babylonians- he had the prophetic task of reminding his contemporary kings, leaders and ordinary people of God’s everlasting love for them, His covenant of faithfulness and the danger of apostasy, unfaithfulness and idols' worship.

Jeremiah paid a high price of being abuse, thrown into prison, with toutures and  terrorism (vv3, 10) and even death- as reflected in his laments “you duped me, O Lord, and I let myself be duped… I was an object of laughter, everyone mocks me.” His prophetic sufferings did not deter his confident trust and faith in God- who “delivers the life of the needy from the hands of the evildoers (vv 10-13).”

Similarly, Peter since last Sunday has been wrestling with the will of God.  He professed Christ as the “Son of the Living God,” (Matt 16:16). He was entrusted with the keys of the Kingdom (Matt 16:18ff). But one more thing in today’s Gospel (Matt 16:21-27) is that Peter must realize the suffering the sacrifices the prices that come with being the bearer of the keys Kingdom of God, a disciple of Christ- denying ourselves, doing his will not our own will!

In the face of modern culture  with modern strife for material things, money, power, abuse of sex, inordinate search for worldly honors, position, comfort, “freedom,” dominance, self-interest, short- cuts to desire goals, insufficient religious dialogue, rush to wars and judgments, each of us must be struggling with the challenges that had faced Jeremiah, Peter and Paul, and of course Our Lord Jesus, Mary and coutless Saints, heroes of faith in the face of persecutions and mockeries.

And may we always be willing in our own  mockery circumstances of dupes, in illness and pains, in rejection and persecution, in loneliness and misunderstanding, in marriages and celibacies, in long days in class rooms and offices, farms, and factories, Seminaries and Colleges to take up our daily crosses and follow Jesus!

Twenty-First Sunday Year A : Reflections- Fr. Michael U.Udoekpo

Twenty-First Sunday of Year A: Reflections- Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

Readings: Isa 22:19-23; Ps 138:1-3, 6, 8; Rom 11:33-36 and Matt 16:13-20

Authority and Faith Rooted in Christ – Jesus

Christ throughout his ministry would reflect on earlier prophetic messages and traditions. With it he teaches us forgiveness, love, serviceable authority, profession of faith and reliance in God, manifested in him.

 In Matthew’s Gospel today, Jesus uses similar terminology of foundational promises and metaphors found in the Prophet Isaiah 22 to remind religious, family and civil leaders, as well as all Christians, what is expected of every true disciple of Christ.

The First Reading draws the contrast between two court officials during the time of Hezekiah: Shebna and Eliakim. Shabna was irresponsible, faithless, abusive, unstable, pompous and selfish (Isa 22:1-18) hence demoted and  disgraced out of office (v 19). He was replaced with Eliakim, a servant of the Lord (v 20), a father to the people (v 21), dependable and solid like a peg. Like Peter in the Gospel, Eliakim is given the symbols of power, the keys of the house of David (v 23). Keys of responsibilities including even forgiveness of ourselves and others.

Forgiveness, because the same inconsistent Peter who even denied Christ during his trials bounces back in faith. Today Peter is able to recognize Jesus, who is “Christ, the Son of the Living God, (Matt 16:16).”   With this recognition Peter and his successors “Popes” are not only symbolically confirmed the “rock” (petra/petros/cephas), upon which Christ’s Church shall be built, but they are entrusted with the symbolic keys of “authority delegations” of the kingdom of God (vv 18-19).

It is a delegation of love, a delegation of selfless service to all. It is a delegation to exercise all the values of the Kingdom of God, guided by the true Wisdom of God, who from him and through him and for him all things are made (Rom 11:33-36).

 Rocks, repeated metaphors in today's readings in rural African families are used for multiple purposes. They are used to crack or produce kernels (from palms) sold for economic livelihood  of many families.  Globally they are used in most cultures for homes, offices’ ,and road’s  constructions with bridges - that support and sustain nations and society. Bridges of unity, ecumenism, inter religious or cultural dialogue. If I may add, some parents have also in certain traditions and culture, named their children “rock”,   =the foundation of their families.

Eliakim was a “Peg” at a time and Peter was a “Rock” name by Christ, for a new mission. Like Peter and Eliakim we are constantly been called to be renewed and transformed servants, pegs and dependable rocks of our communities, families, parishes, institutions and faith traditions. We are invited to put our faith and trust in God relying always upon God’s strength not just on ourselves.

Even though we live in a time of religious and hermeneutical pluralisms when the teachings of the Church, our faith, the Gospel message with Petrine Office, expressed in the Pope, are constantly been challenged, today’s readings invite us to renew our faith not only in Christ, the Son of the Living God,” but in the one Church,  the family of God’s people, entrusted to the successors of Peter.

This is not the time for finger- pointing at various leaders and authorities, but more of moment for personal, reflection on our  various leadership roles,  beginning from our homes, families, schools and factories, public and private places, religious and civil institutions, where we have once found ourselves.

The outcome of our reflections might vary, yet Scriptures remind us to adapt Peter's discipleship- model, once weak but strengthen and renewed again in Christ. He knew who he was! He comes back to professing  faith in Jesus, allowing himself to be nourished and sustained by him, " Christ ,Son of the Living God," and the true source of  genuine authority and leadership characterize of service  with promotion of common good.

Twentieth Sunday of the Year A: Reflection- Fr .Michael U. Udoekpo

Twentieth Sunday of Year A: Reflections – Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

Readings: Isaiah 56:1,6-7; Ps 67:2-3,5-6 and 8; Rom 11: 13-15, 29-32 and Matt 15:21-28

Faith which includes and redeems

The Bible readings of today remind us that faith, inclusiveness, obedience to God, openness, mercy, forgiveness of one another, and social justice are all marks of redeemed Christian community, long foretold by the Prophets

 Deutero – Isaiah in the first reading, reminds the restored post-exilic community of the injustices and disobedience to God’s mandates that had brought Israel to ruin and exile. When God planted Israel as a vineyard, he expected justice but found bloodshed. He expected righteousness but heard a cry? (Isa 5:7).  In every generations God has the same demands of us: justice, acceptance of everybody, “all nations” (Ps 67) to God’s House. It has to be a house of prayer and thanksgiving for all peoples, Jews and Gentiles (Isa 56:7), masters and servants, foreigners and natives.

This invitation to openness is evident in Jesus’ openness to the Canaanite woman. She is a woman of great faith, as presented in today’s Gospel (Matt15:21-28). While Jesus  remains a model of priests and pastors opened to people of all walks of life.

We know Canaanites were traditional enemies of the Jews, but we must be moved by the disarming courage, perseverance and humility of a Canaanite asking favor  and help from a Jewish- Jesus. Besides courage, she is vested with the knowledge of our merciful and universal Jesus. In faith, she crosses the boundaries. She calls Jesus “Son of David” (Matt 12:22). She refuses to be rejected, to be intimidated until she heard, Jesus said, “Let it be done for you as you wish” (Matt 15:29). The mercy she wished  was done for her. Her daughter became healed, instantly due to her faith and persistency in prayer, by a Jesus who loves  beyond boundaries.  In imitating Jesus we are invited to cross bounderies  of division, hatred and embrace unity and peace.

Same point is made by Paul who crossed all bounderies to bring Christ to all. He says, in Roman 11: 30-32; “Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy.”

All of us are called to be merciful missionaries to all we meet on the way,the poor, the rich,   the weak and the strong, men and woman, children and adult after the examples of Christ.  In preaching and ministering the faith, pastors and clergy (clergy to be) are recently invited once again by the  Congregation for the Clergy, to cross bounderies of selfishness and  identify themselves with today's Matthean Christ, and with the missioanry mission of the Church.  Beginning with ourselves to families and communities, we  are encouraged  to bring the values of Christ to people of all cultures of all places,  States and  times (The Missionary Identity of the Priest in the Church, 2011), without discriminations.

For those who suffer injustices, disrepect, rejections, discriminations, long illnesses and effects of narrow-mindedness of any kind, out there, in our complex society of today, may they be inspired by the Bible lessons of  of today , especially by the  shared faith of the boundery -crossing- Canaanite woman and by the inclusive examples of   Christ- Jesus, who is relentlessly in dialogue with  peoploe of all  cultures and  nations. This is the Christian faith, that accepts and redeems all.

Nineteen Sunday Year A: Reflections- Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

Nineteen Sunday of Year A: Reflections – Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

Readings: 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a; Ps 85: 9-14; Rom 9:1-5 and Matt 14:22-33.

Divine Provision Surpasses our Expectations

Each and every one of us has an expectation or a certain sense of participation in the events of life.  Elijah had one, as well as Paul and Peter in today’s readings. When we gather particularly, as a community to worship God, it is these events that we reexamine in the light of faith, to discern the handiwork of God, his surprising presence in the events and moments of our lives, in order to adjust how we relate with God and with our neighbors.

It must have been very surprising to the fleeing Elijah in the first reading (1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a) that God’s presence, his encounter with him is not found in the usual biblical and spectacular manifestation of divine presence; like storm, wind, earthquake, fire, (Exodus 19:18 and Deut 4:12), but God can be encountered in a gentle whispering sound (1 Kings 19:11-21).

Prior to this God fed the starving Elijah. He strengthen him who was expecting death, and said to him: “go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, because the Lord is about to pass by” Like Elijah, in every situation of our lives, even the hopeless and faithless ones, God expects us to come out of our ego, out of our violence, war, misunderstanding, out of the cave of our expectation and faithlessness and stand before God, in order to experience His divine passing  in our lives; a  passing from  war to peace, vengeance to forgiveness, military actions to dialogue, diplomacy and prayer.

 Similarly, in the Gospel (Matt 14:22-33) Peter and his friends, became afraid because of what they saw. They witnessed an unexpected phenomenon of Christ walking on the sea.  Peter in particular was confused. He requested Jesus invite him to a similar walk on the sea.  Even with Christ’s invitation, being a man of “little faith,” could not make it to Jesus on the sea, except with Christ’s helping hand, (Matt 14:31).  This is what each and every one of needs.

It is these divine helping hands and gentle presence that strengthen Elijah, changed the stormy wind to a gentle breeze of peace. It soothes the uncertainties, and faithlessness of the disciples- symbols of the church and who we are, men and women of little faith, in constant need of God’s grace.  It is this divine grace that sometimes becomes present to us in a mysterious manner that we pray to dispose ourselves to.

Especially in today’s world  where naitons are constantly at war with each other and Christians are increasingly loosing faith in their God or disappointed by some of their civil and ecclesiastical  leaders. May we all seek to realize and dicern God’s constant presence  among us  and cherish His divine provision which often surpasseses our limited human expectation.

Eighteen Sunday of Year A:  Reflections- Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

Readings; Isa 55: 1-3; Ps 145:8-9, 15-18

God: Provider of Life Essentials

From the beginning God has always remained the source and the provider of our essential needs: safety, jobs, peace, good health, shelter, clothing, food and drinks, especially water and spiritual strength for journeys.  He does all these out of his covenant of love with us.  I have personally seen this in my life. He is the provider of all my talents and gifts. And He wants me to share these with my neighbors.

He provided for the descendant of Abraham: Isaac, Jacob and Joseph in good times and in bad times, especially during their slavery in Egypt.  Through the leadership of Moses God walked them through the stiffness of the heart of Pharaoh. With His constant love, Israel conquered the dryness of the wilderness.  He taught us generosity and forgiveness through his provisions of food, manna and water to all in the community of Israel, irrespective of their weaknesses.

  He forgives their sins and restores them from the pains and humiliations of exile and through the prophets (Isa 55:1-3) remind Israel of His everlasting love and care. He guarantees their basic needs on the conditions that God is worshiped and listened to. He wants them to know that he “is near to all who call upon his name… in truth” (Ps 145:17-18).

In the Gospel story, today, in the person of Jesus, the new Moses, the same God  of the Exodus, multiplies five loaves and two fishes today, to the satisfaction of his multitudes (Matt 14:13-21), who were physically hungry.  He would also establish the Holy Eucharist, as a source of constant spiritual nourishment for us (Matt 26:26ff). We shall always have those needs: material, physical, emotional, religious and spiritual.

With the advent of technology ancient desert of the time of Jesus is past history. Today, while food and water productions are on the increase their distributions are on the decrease. Many, not only in the Third World countries but even in the so called advanced and First World countries are starving and lacking.

They still lack not only food, water, shelter, education, health insurances, medical care but peace, security, happiness as well as love.  They also lack the kindness, generosity, selflessness and compassion that we find in Matthew’s Christ today. Many also lack the tolerance, humility, the endurance of St. Paul, the unity and ideal leadership that Christ  the new Moses symbolizes.

For all of us who are victims in one way or the other, the Lord invites us to the knowledge that he will always be there for us. And let none of these difficulties separate us from the teaching and the love of Christ (Rom 8:35, 37-39), the source of our life essentials.