Reflection on Today's Readings, Saturday of 27th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, October 9th, 2021
Texts: Joel 3: 12-21; Ps. 97: 1-2.5-6.11 - 12; Luke 11:27-28
Today we are called to self examination. We need to examine ourselves both as a people as well as individual. The call in today's first reading to appear before God for judgment is a call to open up and examine ourselves to see if we could stand before Him with confidence and conscience free of guilt. This brings to mind the words of the psalm: "If you, O Lord, should mark our iniquities, Lord, who could stand? (130:3). The call to appear before the throne of judgment is a challenge, a reminder of how sinful and evil we have become. Such call creates the awareness of sin, its gravity and magnitude. Prophet Joel says, "Thus says the Lord: Let the nations bestir themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the nations round about. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the wine press is full. The vats overflow, for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision!" Let us examine ourselves and see if we can boldly approach the God's throne of judgment. Can we see how vile we are in thought, in words and in action! Can we see how many our sins are! What do I deserve at this moment: condemnation or commendation? Whenever we do a true self-examination, we appear before the God's throne of judgment. Let us do this often and we will live a better life.
Prophet Joel reminds us that sin brings darkness upon life. He says, "The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining." Sin deprives us of God's favour and grace. When we sin we lose God's good pleasure. We are also made to know that sin has consequence beyond individual; for it is said, "And the Lord roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shake." When God acts, the earth and the heaven feel it.
Man's sin may affect the creation, the righteous find refuge in God. Hence, prophet Joel says, "But the Lord is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel." God shields His people to manifests His ownership of them. Hence, it is said, "So you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who dwell in Zion, my holy mountain." The day of judgment is the day that God will sift the world of evil people. This is clear in the following word: "And Jerusalem shall be holy and strangers shall never again pass through it. And in that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the stream beds of Judah shall flow with water; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord and water the valley of Shittim." When God has sifted the world of evil people, peace will reign, justice will manifest, righteousness will flow, and the creation will bear good fruits. The evil people will be paid in their own coins for the injustice done to the righteous. Prophet Joel puts it thus: "Egypt shall become a desolation and Edom a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the people of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land."
Jesus, in today's gospel reading, tells us that we are blessed by keeping the words of God. He says, Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” Keeping the words of God was what won Mary the favour of being the Mother of God. This is clear when she said to angel Gabriel thus: "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Mary was blessed because she kept the words of God. Let us heed today the call to be obedient to God's words, that we might be blessed and enjoy the favour of God.
Lord God, keep us holy by Your grace that we may be found blameless on judgment day; inflame our hearts with the love of Your words and strengthen our will to keep them. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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