Your Battle is of the Lord

Reflection on Today's Readings, 12th Week in Ordinary Time Year II, Tuesday 23rd June, 2020
Texts: 2Kgs. 19: 9b-11,14-21,31-35a,36; Ps. 48: 2-4,10-11; Mtt.7:6,12-14
When we are troubled and encounter challenge, who do we run to? Do not we know that whoever challenges us also challenges our God? Many a time, when we are challenged, we run to man or other gods. No one can fight our battle for us better than God. King Hezekiah, in today's first reading, realized that no one could fight the battle for him better than God and so he ran to him for help. God who never fails those who put their trust in him came to his rescue. God fought the battle for him without his army. The battle of everyone who puts his trust in God is of the Lord. Those who put their trust in God are like mount Zion that cannot be shaken, the Lord surrounds him as mountain surrounds Zion.
Jesus Christ, in the gospel, says, "Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under foot and turn to attack you". Some of us have sold themselves, and their integrity and honour trampled upon by relying on man and other gods for help. Whoever refuses to kneel before God will bow to man and devil. Jesus reminds us that life is for those who are ready to make sacrifice, for the gate is narrow and the way hard. Life is not for those who are fun loving. Life comes to those who are self-disciplined. This is against the belief that life consists in enjoyment. If the gate is narrow, then we need detachment. If the way is hard, then we need strength and grace from God. All we need to gain life is working on ourselves and relationship with God, the source of our strength. To win our battle, we have to stand with God or else we will fall and lose the battle.

Lord our God, may our hope in you never fail. Amen

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke