Reflection on Today's Readings, Monday of 5th Week in Ordinary Time, Year II, February 7th, 2022
Texts: 1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13; Psalm 132:6-7.5- 10; Mark 6:53-56
Today's first reading speaks to us and challenges us. Today we are told of the fulfilment of the dream of David by Solomon, his son. We can see in Solomon what we can call a true son. Beginning from our nation, can we be referred to as the true sons of our fathers who fought for the independence we are enjoying now? Have we not killed their dream? Are we where they thought we should have been by now? I doubt if they will be proud of us. I doubt if they will call us their true sons. Many companies and factories they left behind are now in ruin. Around me, I could count number of factories that were functioning when I was little child but now shadow of what they were then. Where I am serving presently a moribund company was dismantled to pay the debt the company owed. Blocks were removed and sold. My heart was bleeding while they were dismantling the company. We now stare at empty space, a vast land that once housed a vibrant company. We now say, "Once upon a time, a company was here that made the economy of this community viable." Ours is not whether we fulfil the dream of our fathers or not; the question is: Why did we destroy their legacy? The reality that dawns on us now is that it is easy to destroy but hard to build. For so many years, how many of these factories we have been able to revive. Judging from what I can see around me, the answer is no one. Have we built new ones? The answer is No. Is it impossible to revive them or build new ones? I leave the answer to you. What I can see now is that it looks as if we can only destroy but unable to build. We have gone far away from the dream of our fathers. Our fathers have left behind weak sons.
We are not to go into despair; when there is life, there is still hope. If we cannot fulfil the dream of our fathers, we can still dream a better dream of our own. Let us dream anew and work towards fulfilling the dream. As we dream and work to fulfil it, let us not be like our fathers who left behind weak children. Let us work on our children. Let us instill in our children virtues. Let us invest in education of our children. Let us invest in human development. Let us give up corruption and bribery. Let us stop sabotaging education by examination malpractices. In our days, a person who cannot read and write can graduate from our schools. Let us embrace integrity and patriotism.
Our generation is sick, socially, politically, morally, psychologically, spiritually and religious wise. We all need healing. Let us go to Jesus Christ for healing. He is the only one that can heal us. He is a healer. Today's gospel reading reminds us of His power to heal: "And when they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognised him, and ran about the whole neighbourhood and began to bring sick people on their pallets to any place where they heard he was. And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or country, they laid the sick in the market places, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched it were made well." Jesus Christ is also an example of true Son of His Father; He went about saving souls for His Father. We are also called to be true sons and daughters of our Father in heaven.
God our Father, make us true children of Yours, living according to Your will; look with mercy on us and heal us of our sickness. Amen.
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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