Ungodly Men Reasoned Unsoundly

 

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21). 

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Friday of 4th Week of Lent B, March 15th, 2024
Texts: Wisdom 2:1.12-22; Psalm 34:16,18-21,23; John 7:1-2.10.25-30 

Today’s first reading opens with the word, “Ungodly men reasoned unsoundly”. Why do they reason unsoundly? It is because they reason about evil. The wise continues, “saying to themselves, ‘Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against our training.” There is nothing reasonable about evil. They are against those who want them to be good. 

Yes, it is painful to be shown to be doing evil, but is that not a reason to do good? Does that not tell us that evil is not for us? If evil is for us we will not feel bad when we are confronted with our evil doings. It is ungodly to turn against whoever makes us realise our evil doings. Do we not fight those who confront us with our lies? How do we feel about those who confront us with our unjust dealings? Ungodly man feels they are evil. He feels they are enemies of progress. 

The reasonable thing to do is to be good like them

We also learn from the reading that it is unreasonable to hate those who are good. The ungodly hate those who good because they remind them that they are evil. We read, “He professes to have knowledge of God, and calls himself a child of the  Lord. He became to us a reproof of our thoughts; the very sight of him is a burden to us, because his manner of life is unlike that of others, and his ways are strange.” The reasonable thing to do is to be good like them, not to hate them. 

We become unreasonable when our hearts are set on evil. Evil hides from man the plans of God. The wise says, “Thus they reasoned, but they were led astray, for their wickedness blinded them, and they did not know the secret purposes of God, nor hope for the wages of holiness, nor discern the prize for blameless souls.” St. Paul says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21).  

 Be transformed by the renewing of your minds

Let us give up evil to be right in our thinking and know the will of God. St. Paul says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2). 

Prayer 

O God, who have prepared fitting helps for us in our weakness, grant, we pray, that we may receive their healing effects with joy and reflect them in a holy way of life. Amen (Collect) 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke