The Striving With God And With Man

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Tuesday of 14th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, July 6th, 2021
Texts: Gen. 32:23-32; Ps. 17:1-2.6-7.8.15;  Mtt. 9:32-38
Whenever I read today's first reading What often strikes my mind is the word, "you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” I often ask myself this question: 'How can man strive with God and prevail?' It is sure that to prevail, here, cannot mean to defeat God. God cannot be defeated. A man can prevail over God when he gives it what it takes to be holy and pleasing to God. Man prevails in his striving with God when he goes against all odds to be faithful to God. We prevail when we do not give in to temptation, when we succeed in doing the will of God. Man prevails in his striving with God when he succeeds in winning favour and graces from God. Jacob prevailed in his striving with God and man because he had found favour before man and God. Jacob left home with nothing but returning now with wives, servants and riches. The reading says, _"Jacob arose at night and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and like wise everything that he had"._ He had found favour before man and God and so he is blessed.
Today's gospel reading shows in Jesus Christ what it means to strive with God and man and prevail. Jesus Christ did not allow the opinion of the people to stop Him doing the will of His Father. It is said, _"But the Pharisees said, 'He casts out demons by the prince of demons.' And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity."_  This means to prevail in our striving with God and man we are to persevere in doing good; we are not to get tired of doing God. What should matter most to us is the will of God, His commands, the works He has entrusted to us.
Jesus Christ  ask us to pray that may the works of God continue. He says,  _"The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest,”_ This word of Jesus was born out of desire to see that the works of God continue. Let us always pray that may God send labourers to His harvest.

Lord our God, we thank You for all You have been to us, grant that we may find favour before God and man. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke