Doing Good Always

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Saturday of 12th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, June 26th, 2021
Texts: Gen. Gen.18:1-15; Ps. Luke1:46-47.48-50.53-455; Mtt. 8:5-17
Our call as Christians is to be good. The lesson in today's first reading is that there is a blessing in being hospitable. The reading shows Abraham as a man who was always seeking the opportunity to do good. It is said of him thus: _"He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men stood in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the earth, and said, 'My lord, if I have found favour in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, while I fetch a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on'"._ Today's account of the life of Abraham does not say that the three men asked him for help; he only ceased the opportunity to help. Just like Abraham we should always seek to do good, we should always make use of the opportunity to help. In the letter to the Hebrews it is said, " _Continue to love each other like brothers, and remember always to welcome strangers, for by doing this, some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Keep in mind those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; and those who are being badly treated, since you too are in the body"_ (13:1-3). If we continue to do good and giving help we will one day do good to the angel. If we always seek the opportunity to do good, we will one day do good that will turn round our lives for better, good that will lift us high and fulfils our dreams.   Abraham made use of the opportunity to care for strangers and he found his desire fulfilled. It is said, _"The Lord said, 'I will surely return to you in the spring, and Sarah your wife shall have a son'”_  This is a wake-up call for us to come out of our reluctancy to do good. Some have missed the opportunity to have their dream fulfilled because they refused to help or do good. Some people cannot climb higher because they could not give help; they refuse to be helpful.
In today's gospel reading, we are to learn to ask for help when there is need and also not to turn away any one that ask for our help. We should not be   ashamed to seek help, for no one is sufficient in any way. God has made it that we need the help of another person. The centurion begged Jesus for help. It is said, "As Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, begging him and saying, 'Lord, my servant is lying paralysed at home, in terrible distress'". From the life of the centurion, we are to learn that asking for help is not wrong. From Jesus Christ we are to learn that we should not turn away any one who needs our help, the help that is under our power to give.
One thing that we must not leave aside in the gospel reading is the faith of the centurion that Jesus' power is not limited by space and time. He said, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed". This reminds us the power of prayer, it is not limited by space and time.

Lord Jesus, we beg You that you may heal our infirmity of body, mind and soul.  Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke