Reflection on Today's Readings, Monday of 22nd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, August 30th, 2021
Texts: 1Thess, 4:13-18; Ps. 96:1.3-5.11-13; Luke 4:16 – 30
In today's first reading, we are taught to see ourselves in Jesus; our destiny has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. In the reading St. Paul reminds us that as Christ died and rose from the dead so also those who died in Him will rise in Him. The lesson here is that we are to look at Christ to know who we are and what we become of us in the future: in Christ our life unfolds and is fulfilled.
The first word in today's first reading gives insight into today's gospel reading. St. Paul says, "We would not have you ignorant, brethren". Jesus would not have us ignorant, so He revealed to us His mission. It is not the will of Jesus Christ that we are ignorant of Him. We have to seek to know Him daily. Let us seek to know Him in His words, works and prayer.
Today He reveals to us His mission because in His mission is our salvation and mission. He says, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” He has come to set us free and to save us.
Jesus also goes further to tell us thus: "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” God’s promises about us are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. We see in Jesus Christ the vision of ourselves and our mission. We can now see that it is in Jesus Christ that our life has meaning and is fulfilled. Therefore, let us always live in Him so as to live a meaningful and fulfilled life.
Today we are also warned to beware of the danger of familiarity; it can hinders our relationship with Jesus Christ. This dangerous familiarity is for those who know Jesus Christ in the flesh. Familiarity with Jesus Christ in the spirit cannot ruin our relationship with Him but rather makes us to pant and hunger for Him the more. The more we know God in the spirit the more we want to know Him. We should stop to know Christ in the flesh; the more we know Him in the flesh the farther we are from Him. Some people we think are close to Jesus are only close to Him in the flesh but far away from Him in the spirit.
The people in today's gospel reading knew Jesus Christ in the flesh; they only saw Him as a man, not as the Son of God. When we talk of man, we talk of limitations and finitude but this is not the case when we talk of God. God is eternal; He has no beginning and end. Some of us relate with Jesus Christ as man, so when things are getting tough and challenging, we turn away from Him. Those who relate with Jesus Christ as God remain steadfast even in the face of death, for they believe death cannot put an end to God's power to save them. There is resurrection after death for them.
Almighty Lord and God, protect us by your power through the course of this day, even as you have enabled us to begin it. Do not let us turn aside to any sin, but let our every thought, word and deed aim at doing what is pleasing in your sight. Amen (Today's Office, Morning Prayer).
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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