The Power of Righteousness

Reflection on Today's Readings, Ten Week in Ordinary Time Year II, Monday 8th June, 2020

Texts: 1Kings 17:1-6; Ps. 121:2-5,1-8; Matt. 5:1-12

• In today's first reading, Elijah said, "As the Lord the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word". The prophetic formula, such as 'thus says the Lord', 'says the Lord', etc, that often precede or conclude prophetic utterances are absent in the utterance. The absence of such formula seems to attribute the cause of the event to Elijah. It portrays him as a godly man, a man favour with divine authority to bring about event at will. St. James later comments on this thus: "The prayer of a righteous man has a powerful effect. Elijah was the same kind of person as we are. He prayed earnestly that there would be no rain and no rain fell on the land for three and half years.  Once again he prayed and the sky poured down its rain and the earth produced its crops" (James 5:16-18). What this means is that an upright man enjoys a kind of favour from God, which makes him Like God in words and in actions.

Jesus Christ, in the gospel, therefore, tells us what makes a man upright: he is poor in spirit, his hope is in God, he is meek and thirsty for righteousness, he is merciful and pure in heart, he is a peacemaker and ready to be persecuted for righteousness' sake.

 Some people's prayers are ineffective and unanswered today because of their ways of life. We are to examine our lives to see whether they exemplify the values outlined by Jesus Christ in today's gospel. If they are not, let us change and embrace the life Christ offers us. St. James will advise us to go for confession (5:16). If they exemplify the values, perhaps, it is not yet time or God is having a better plan.

Another message from the first reading that should not go unattended to is that God takes care of his own. As God provided for Elijah, he shall provide for each and everyone of us who does his will.

Lord Jesus, give us your help that our lives might exemplify the values of your kingdom. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke