On whom does our existence depend?

 

Whatever we love above all things is what our existence depend on.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Monday of 15th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, July 17th, 2023
Texts: Exodus 1:8-14.22; Psalm124:1-8; Matthew 10:34.11:1

We need to ask ourselves today this question: On whom does our existence depend?  Our existence should be dependent on God. Whatever we love above all things is what our existence depend on. For some of us it is our sons or daughters. It could also be our husbands or wives. Existence of some people depend on wealth or worldly glory. Hence, Jesus says, "He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me."

We see, in today’s first reading, that the existence of sons of Israel depended on Joseph. The privileges and favour they enjoyed in Egypt were on account of Joseph. The reading is about what happened to them when Egyptians losed the memory of Joseph. We read, "there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, 'Behold, the sons of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them'”.

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob

We learn from the sons of Israel not to let our existence depend on human beings. In the words of the psalm: "Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help.  When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish. Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God" (146:3-5). When the memory of Joseph was gone, the sons of Israel began to suffer. We should depend on God who will always be there for us; for He always is.

Today’s Psalm also emphasis that only God can help us. We read,  "'If the Lord had not been on our side,' Let Israel say— 'If the Lord had not been on our side  When men rose against us, then would they have swallowed us alive when their anger was kindled.'”  Let us, then, depend on God for existence rather than man.

Prayer 

God Almighty Father, we thank You for the gift of life; may we live on You and never displease You by our actions and words. Amen 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke