Resurrection: Liberty to the Captives

 Reflection on Today's Reading, Friday, 24th Week in Ordinary Time Year II, September 18th, 2020

Texts: 1Cor. 15:12-20; Ps. 17:1.6-7.15; Luke 8:1-3

Today's gospel reading says, "Jesus went on through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God". We may ask: what is this good news? The good news is about relief to the suffering, liberty to the captives, sight to the blind, freedom to the oppressed, and the proclamation of the year of the Lord's favour (Luke 4:18-19). The women, in the gospel, were afflicted and  captives and Jesus brought them relief and liberty. Hence, the gospel refers to them thus: "Some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities". The captives are not only about the living but also the dead. The liberty to the dead is brought about through resurrection. Yesterday, St. Paul reminded us that the good news is also about the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The good news of the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ is what informs our faith and gives us hope of eternal life. The hope of resurrection becomes a motivating factor for our new lives in Christ. In the words of St. Peter: "Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into a heritage that can be spoilt or soiled and never fade away" (1Pet. 1:3-4). Our participation in the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ begins from here with our baptism. 

Baptism is a participation in the death and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:3-4); it is being saved from sins and living a holy life. The life of resurrection reaches its completion when we finally die to live for ever. 

The life of resurrection is a journey; we live it now and at the same time look forward to its reality in heaven. Hence, St. Paul says, "If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied." 

St. Paul, in the first reading, tries to underscore the point that since the gospel, which our faith is built upon, is about the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, if there is no resurrection, the gospel becomes false and our faith vain. The gospel will not only becomes false but also a lie against God that he raised Jesus from dead. It also means there will be no resurrection of the dead, and so no hope for us. However, he affirms that Jesus actually died and rose from the dead and so the gospel is true, our faith founded and our hope genuine.

God our Father, may our faith in the resurrection of your Son be firm and make its power at work in our lives. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke