Reflection Friday, Week 1-
Fr. Michael U Udoekpo
Readings: Heb 4:1-5,11; Ps 78:3 and 4bc,6c-7,8 and Mark
2:1-12
The unfading promises of God
Think of how many promises
each of us have broken in our lives. Or think of how many times we feel our
neighbors have not kept to their promises or have not fulfilled their
obligations towards us, towards, the society, towards the community or in case
of the politicians, towards those who elected them into the public office!
God’s obligations, promises
towards us, towards humanity are different. He promised Abraham and his
descendants (Gen 15, 17) multiple blessings including rest. God keeps his
promises.
As the preacher in the
Letter to the Hebrews would put it “while the promise of entering his rest
remains…. They were not united in faith…for those who believed will enter into
the rest.” God’s covenant and promises
renewed to David and through the mouths of the Prophets live on.
This promise of Rest,
Eternal life is meant for believers, those who practice the faith, those who
endeavor to remember the covenant, the blessings and are motivated by the works of the
Lord. His works are different. Human beings sins, God does not. Human beings break
promises, God does not. Human beings swore to God and other higher “beings” but
God does not, he swore to “himself”- as there is non higher than Him. The works
of God are different. He works generously, but in mysterious way.
These works no doubt are continued today
in the preaching and healing ministries of Jesus. He cures the fever of Simon
Peter’s mother in-law. He heals the leaper and the possessed. Today, he
forgives sins and healed the paralytic and said to him, “Rise pick up your mat
and walk" (Mark 2:1-12).
Today we can say we are called to help those we meet broken down on the road of their journeys. We are called to encourage the orphan, the widow, the poor , the needy. We can support those affected by recent natural tragedies, the hurricane, war, terrorism, death and flood. We are fellow travelers.
Today we can say we are called to help those we meet broken down on the road of their journeys. We are called to encourage the orphan, the widow, the poor , the needy. We can support those affected by recent natural tragedies, the hurricane, war, terrorism, death and flood. We are fellow travelers.
As we travel today, or go about walking,
doing our duties, let us not forget the unfading promises of God, his love, his
healing mercies, his kindness, his forgiveness and his promise of rest(eternal
life).
