Weekday Reflection Thursday
Week 1- Fr .Michael U. Udoekpo
Reading Heb 3:7-14; Ps
95:6-7c, 8-11 and Mark 1:40-45
God and the Desert of Our
lives
Yesterday Jesus the high priest in solidarity
with us cured not only Simon’s mother –in-law, but many others who had flock to
him for healing. Today, in Mark 1:40-45 Jesus willingly extends same healing
mercies to a man who had leprosy, a terrible, skin disease..
It is interesting to note
that even though Christ had warned him against un necessary publicity he did
the contrary publicizing what the Lord had done for him. And many others who
came to him from all walks of life in the deserted places that Jesus decided to
remain.
Unlike Jesus who healed and
practiced virtues in deserted places, the Israelite were disobedient in the
desert and many did not entered God’s rest- the Promised Land. They hardened
their heart ( ps 95) They practice idolatry. The author to the Letter to the
Hebrews warns us against such practices “today” since we have become partners
of Christ (Heb 3:7-14).
There are many forms of
idolatry and disobedience today, which I may called “the desert of our lives.”
Some people worship money, practice tyranny, abuse sex, drugs, power and
alcohol which takes us away from Jesus- the high priest.
Since we are the children
of the kingdom, of the eternal rest, we want to learn from the mistakes of our
forefathers in the desert by encouraging ourselves and allowing God to irrigate
the “deserts” of our lives; the “deserts” of our families, communities and
societies.
Each of us can also be in one way or the other sources of spiritual irrigation, support, nourishment, encouragement for our neighbors, particularly those experiencing, temptation, dryness, hunger, illness, and any form of "desert" in their lives, today!
Each of us can also be in one way or the other sources of spiritual irrigation, support, nourishment, encouragement for our neighbors, particularly those experiencing, temptation, dryness, hunger, illness, and any form of "desert" in their lives, today!
