Self-introduction of St. Paul

 

Our mission as Christians is to reveal Jesus.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Monday of 28th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, October 16th, 2023
Texts: Romans 1:1-7; Psalm 98; Luke 11:29-32 

The self-introduction of St. Paul, in today’s first reading, is very instructive. He introduces himself in relation to Jesus Christ and his mission. He reminds us that he is a servant of  Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our  Lord, through whom he received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith. The introduction shows that he did not see himself outside Christ. He shows that his life has no meaning without Christ; his life is bound to Christ.  

St. Paul brings home to us the challenge: How do we introduce ourselves? Do we see ourselves in Christ? Being Christians we are all servants of Jesus Christ, in Him we live, move and have our being. Whatever we do should be to advance the gospel; we are to permeate the world with the spirit of Christ. We are to call the world to obedience of faith. St. Peter says, “Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ” (1Pet. 4:11). 

Can I introduce Jesus Christ?

St. Paul did not just have good introduction of himself but also that of Jesus Christ. His introduction for Jesus is very insightful. He says, “His Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and designated Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead,  Jesus Christ our  Lord”. This question is this: “Can I introduce Jesus Christ?“ Our mission as Christians is to reveal Jesus to the world. We cannot reveal the person we do not know. 

It is when we do not know Jesus Christ that we seek a sign. If we do not know Jesus Christ, we will be fake. Jesus speaks about us thus: “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign”. What we need to save ourselves of the predicament is repentance. In words of Jesus: “no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the men of Nineveh, so will the Son of man be to this generation.”  

Jonah was a sign of repentance for his generation. Jesus puts it thus: The men of Nineveh will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.” 

Prayer  

God our Father, give us the Spirit of knowledge and understanding that we may know Jesus Christian; knowing our Lord Jesus Christ makes us genuine and true to You, to ourselves and others. Amen  

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke