Reflection on Today's Readings, Thursday of 27th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, and the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, October 7th, 2021
Texts: Malachi 3:13-4:2a; Ps. 1: 1-4.6; Luke 11:5-13
One of the manifestations of God's mercy is His patience with us; He often gives us a long rope and goes extra mile with us. God gives us time to repent and come back to Him. He does not treat us according to our sins. This makes it look like God neither take notice of sin nor people keeping His charge. God's patience has become a stumbling block for some people as it is presented in today's first reading. It is said, "You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the good of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts? Henceforth we deem the arrogant blessed; evildoers not only prosper but when they put God to the test they escape.”’ God warns us today that His patience should not be a stumbling block for us. He speaks to us of the day He will act. On the day He will act, we will know the difference between sinners and the righteous. It is said, "Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another; the Lord heeded and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and thought on his name. “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, my special possession on the day when I act, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him."
God's patience is not a stumbling block for us who are in Christ because we believe in resurrection. With resurrection we have hope that living a righteous life will win us our life. The faith in resurrection tells us that death cannot deprive us of the reward for our righteousness; for everyone will rise at the end of time to receive their reward. At judgment day after resurrection the righteous will be distinguished from the wicked. God's patience becomes a stumbling block for us as result of defect in faith, which result in lack of faith in resurrection. This means we have to take our faith in resurrection seriously. He tells us what will happen on the day of judgement thus: "For behold, the day comes, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evil doers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.”
Jesus, in today's gospel reading, asks us to turn to God always and that by our perseverance we win the favour of God. He says, "I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs." When it seems that serving God does not pay, let us persevere and continue to serve Him. Those time that we feel that serving God is vain, it is a tempting time; we need to persevere in keeping His charge. The emphasis today is that we should not backslide but persevere to the end when it shall be clear that God cares for the righteous, those who fear Him.
Today we celebrate our Lady of the Rosary. Traditions hold that Rosary originated from the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is said that in 13th century, she appeared to St. Dominic, the founder of Dominicans, and gave him Rosary. She asked that the prayers, Hail Mary, our Father and Glory be, be prayed instead of psalms. It is prayer that we pray through Mary but focuses on the mysteries of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a devotion that leads us into the mysteries of Christ; it is the summary of the gospel.
Rosary is also biblical; praying Rosary is a reflection on the Scripture. We see the benefits of praying Rosary in today's psalm. It says, "Blessed indeed is the man Who follows not the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the path with sinners, nor abides in the company of scorners, but whose delight is the law of the Lord, and who ponders his law day and night. He is like a tree that is planted beside the flowing, waters, that yields its fruit in due season, and whose leaves shall never fade; and all that he does shall prosper." This means when Rosary is prayed in righteousness, we become ever fruitful, glorious and strength-filled. Hence, Rosary is a blessing to humanity.
Lord our God, thank You for your love and kindness; grant us the spirit of perseverance and may we always enjoy the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Amen
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
Posts
0 Comments