No Direction Without Instructions

Life will have no direction without instructions.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Thursday of 4th Week in Ordinary Time II, February 1st, 2024
Texts: 1 Kings 2:1-4.10-12; Canticle 1 Chronicles 29:10-12; Mark 6:7-13 

Life will have no direction without instructions. That is the truth today’s readings communicates to us. Instruction provides direction for our life. It gives meaning to life. Instruction is the coding of life. In today’s first reading, David gave instructions to Solomon on how to be strong and a man. In the words of David: “Be strong, and show yourself a man”. This is also the case for a woman.  

How should Solomon be strong and a man? He says, “and keep the charge of the  Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses” This means a true man is the one who takes charge of the Lord God, walks in His ways, keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances and His testimonies. We cannot be strong and a man without good relationship with God.  

There are blessings for being a man or a woman

David also told Solomon the blessings of being strong and a man. They are success and fulfilment of God’s promise. This is clear when David said to Solomon, “that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; that the  Lord may establish his word which he spoke concerning me”. It is good to know that there are blessings for being a man or walking in the Lord God. 

Jesus Christ also gave instructions to His disciples as He sent them out. This tells us that instructions are important for success of our mission in life. Dream, aspiration, desire, etc. are fulfilled by following a set of rules. Those rules are instructions, which are about dos and don’ts. 

The response to rejection is not feeling shame 

Jesus said to the disciples , “take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.” He adds, "Where you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. And if any place will not receive you and they refuse to hear you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet for a testimony against them."  

Disciples are to hope in God for shelter and food, which He provides through His people. The response to rejection is not feeling shame or fight but giving a reminder that they have heard the gospel. 

Prayer 

Lord our God, we thank You for all the instructions you have given us as sign of Your love; help to keep them that we may fulfil Your will for us. Amen  

HAPPY THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, 2024. LET US WALK WITH THE LORD IN THIS MONTH OF FEBRUARY. IN THE NEW MONTH, GOD SHALL MAKE US PROPER WHEREVER WE TURN; THE FAVOUR OF THE LORD SHALL BE UPON US. AMEN  

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke