August 04, 2024. 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Readings: Ex. 16:2-4, 12-15; Eph. 4:17, 20-24; Jn. 6:24-35 

Seek first the kingdom of God and his Righteousness

 

After Jesus fed the multitude last week, they returned in search of him so that he might give them more food. To them, Jesus said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” I can imagine how Jesus felt knowing that most of the people who flocked to him did so for selfish reasons and not because of their love for him.

Many relationships are not built on genuine love and for the right reason but on selfish motives. These relationships are based on mere fantasy, greed, and selfishness. Some people love us not for who we are but for what we can do for them. Hence, Tina Turner asked: “What has love got to do with it?” What’s love but a secondhand emotion? Jesus confronted the people who went to him for the wrong reason and encouraged them to purify their intentions. Let us be inspired by this and strive for genuine love and faith in our relationships and spiritual pursuits. What about us? Why do we go to Church? Why do we pray? What if your prayers are unanswered as and when you expect, would you still pray? Would you still attend Church when and if things do not go your way? Suppose we burn down heaven and quench the fires of hell with water; would you still need God?

In the first reading, the Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron, “Would that we had died at the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread! But you had to lead us into this desert to make the whole community die of famine!” Despite all the Lord had done for them, they were never satisfied. They complained and whined about everything and never gave thanks for the benefits received. They wanted to return to Egypt, in slavery and bondage, so long as they had food to eat. They would willingly sacrifice their freedom at the dinner table rather than work to free themselves from the shackles of the oppressors. “What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? What could one give in exchange for his life?” (Mk. 8:36-37).  According to St Paul: “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.” (Phil. 3:19). They did not trust the process but were distracted by their needs and wants. Their interest was in feeding their bodies with no consideration of their souls. Most of the time, we are like the Israelites; we complain when things do not go our way. We are disappointed because our needs are not met. We feel entitled to something or position others have, so we feel jealous of their success and fortune. We do not see the bigger picture and fail to trust that God has better plans for us. He wants what is best for us. We must be patient and trust in His plan! Hence, the second reading warns us to “no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. Put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires.”

God provided food for them to show them who was in charge; He gave them bread from heaven and quail for meat. He planned to lead them to the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey, but they did not get it. And so, it is with us. We complain all the time and fail to give thanks for the blessings we received. We are always dissatisfied with what we have, so we continue accumulating more and more, filling every space in the house with clothes, shoes, and stuff. We hope that material things will fill the void in our hearts. We continue to work for the food that perishes instead of the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give us. Jeremiah the prophet describes us thus, “For my people have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns that can hold no water.” (2:13). Let us take a moment to reflect on our own lives and see if we are truly living in accordance with God's plan and provision.

St. Augustine reminds us that only God can fill our hearts. He prayed, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Nothing and no one can make us happy or fill the yearning of our hearts. If we follow Christ for the wrong reason, we will be disappointed when we don’t instantly receive what we desire: good health, financial blessings, the fruit of the womb, promotion, good job, cars, and all other material things. We must “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to us.” (Mt. 6:33). Material things can never satisfy us no matter how much we accumulate them. Hence, Christ warns, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” (Lk. 12:15). The Psalmist says it better, “In his riches, man lacks wisdom, he is like the beasts that are destroyed.” (Ps. 49). We must love God for God and worship God because he is our creator, not because we want things from him.

Indeed, this is doing God’s work, believing in the one he has sent – Jesus Christ our Lord. He is the bread of life, and whoever goes to him will never hunger; whoever believes in him will never thirst. “For in him dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily, and you share in this fullness in him, who is the head of every principality and power.” (Col. 2:9). To him be glory, honor, wisdom, and power forever and ever. Amen.

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

July 28th, 2024. 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Readings: 2 Kings 4:42-44; Eph. 4:1-6; Jn. 6:1-15 

Give them Something to Eat 

In the Translator’s Preface to the Book ‘Child of the Dark’ by Carolina Maria De Jesus, David St. Clair wrote: “Carolina is not really the main personage in her diary. It is a bigger character – Hunger. From the first to the last page, he appears with an unnerving consistency. The other characters are consequences of this Hunger: alcoholism, prostitution, violence, and murder.” A common adage states, “A hungry man is an angry man.” Therefore, it would be correct to say that a hungry person cannot hear the word of God. Preaching the gospel and feeding the poor must always go hand in hand.  To this point, St. James admonished, “If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?” (James 2:14-17). Regardless of our position, we must eat and feed those who depend on us. Without food, we have no strength to work; without strength, we cannot be productive.

 

Today’s first and gospel readings address Hunger. Elisha fed 100 people with 20 barley loaves. His servant did not understand how that could be possible. But Elisha relied on and trusted in God and his word; thus, a miracle became possible. We must give what we have to God, trusting that he can work a miracle with it to his greater glory. What we have is a gift from God; he will accept what we give him to better the lives of others. Christ fed five thousand in the gospel with five loaves of bread and two fish. Christ used the contribution of the young man who was willing to give what he had to him so that he could use it to feed others. We see in this the foretaste of the heavenly banquet that describes God’s care for humanity.

 

While the readings depict physical nourishment, we should interpret this as more than just providing food for our bodies. God can use others to nourish his people. He assures us that those who show charity will be rewarded with eternal life, saying, “Come, you whom my Father blesses. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” (Mt. 25:34-36). The readings actually refer to our spiritual Hunger that only God can satisfy. Only God can fulfill our souls’ desires and quench our thirst. ‘Eat my flesh and drink my blood, and you will live forever.’ Many wealthy individuals have abundant material possessions in this world and yet are not content. There seems to be a void in their hearts that only God can fill. They must seek God, who can ensure their happiness. As the Psalmist says, “The hand of the Lord feeds us, and he answers all our needs. The eyes of all look hopefully to you, and you give them their food in due season; you open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” (Ps. 145).

 

The fulfillment of our material needs is temporary. As Jesus tells the Samaritan woman, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (Jn. 4:13-14). This is not a one-time occurrence but a journey we embark on. This is what the bread of life offers us - everlasting fulfillment of our needs. And so, like the Samaritan woman, we implore Christ, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” (Jn. 4:15). The food that Christ gives will strengthen us on our pilgrim journey here on earth. It is not a meal but spiritual food – His Body and Blood. This is what we celebrate at Mass every day. Christ reminds us, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” (Jn. 6:51). It does not matter the number of hungry people, the food prepared by Christ, after giving thanks, will be enough for everyone and there will be leftovers.

 

Just as Christ broke the bread of his body and shared it among many, may we, too, become the bread that is broken to feed others. Let us pray that we may live “With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.” (Eph. 4:1-6). And when we receive Christ in the Eucharist, may we recognize that it is his Body, Blood, and Divinity that we receive for our salvation and redemption of the world. Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.

July 21, 2024; 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Readings: Jer. 23:1-6; Eph. 2:13-18; Mk 6:30-34 

Christ on Vacation?

In today’s gospel, the apostles returned from their mission last week. They are all excited and want to tell Jesus about their accomplishments. But Christ was more interested in their welfare and told them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” The apostles were happy to have Jesus all to themselves. I can imagine their sadness and disappointment when they got to their planned vacation destination and saw so many uninvited guests. Once again, they discovered that the disciple must take care of his flock before his own.

 

We see Jesus as a restless prophet who always put the needs, comfort, and well-being of others over and above his own. He is like a mother who thinks of herself last but her children first. Christ quickly took charge of the situation and began to teach the people because they were like sheep without a shepherd. He was anointed and sent “To bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” (Lk. 4:18-19). Our mission is to be available to others in our family, church, city, and workplace. In so doing, however, we must not forget self-care and rest. Christ went on a vacation with his apostles in today’s gospel.

 

The 36th chapter of my book ‘Life’s Lessons’ discussed at length ‘Burnout.’ It can be defined as “A state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress.” It occurs when we feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands. It can cause depression as a direct result of our involvement or overinvolvement with caregiving. It is an experience marked by the progressive loss of idealism, energy, and purpose. It is an ongoing process of energy depletion, increased fatigue, and a general debilitation of one’s functioning. Burnout is commonly felt among doctors, social workers, nurses, counselors, therapists, priests, and teachers. Caregivers cannot afford not to take care of themselves. Henri Nouwen called them wounded healers who must heal their wounds first if they are to heal the wounds of others. Hence, Christ called his apostles to come to a lonely place and rest for a while. He tried to prevent them from being burned out.

 

How do you know that you are burned-out? Let’s go through some checklists together. Have you been working hard at a job you hate? Have you been at the same job for too long and seem to have no more challenges? Do you feel unfulfilled? Have you encountered much trouble and stress concentrating on executing a task or writing a simple report? Are you often bored and want to be left alone? Do you need more motivation? Are you constantly complaining, whining, and nagging about anything and everything and about anybody and everybody? Are you short-tempered, tired, and always having a headache? Have you lost interest in your spouse, children, and social life in general? If you answer yes to these questions, you may exhibit burnout signs and symptoms. Being aware of these signs is the first step in preventing burnout.

 

Once you have these symptoms, you will become irritated and irritable and begin to behave like the world is on your shoulder. This is when you strike at anyone who may dare to cross your path. This is because you feel overworked, unappreciated, isolated, or lack focus and objective. You may lack support from coworkers to the point that you feel all alone. You think this way because you need to remember self-care, like your annual physical, or you need to eat a balanced diet. You may not be sleeping well or exercising regularly, or you must remember to pray, think, and reflect. Maybe you have not taken a day off or gone on a vacation for a long while, or you may have stopped doing the things that give you joy. Maybe you are too busy worrying about life till life has passed you by. Or you are busy pleasing everyone to the point of displeasing yourself. The solution is to come away and rest for a while.

 

Today, we must follow the advice Christ gave to his apostles. Take time out and rest for a while! Going on a retreat will give you time to pray and meditate. Take a walk and admire your environment. Enjoy the songs of nature as you listen to the birds chirping away on the tree. Read a good book every now and then. Do things that will relax your mind. Don’t forget to laugh; it is a powerful remedy and a good medicine for the soul. Always eat properly, rest well, and exercise often. Manage your time well, and don’t be overburdened by trivial things. Avoid hateful and annoying people, they are vexation to the soul. Put a vacation into your schedule and remember to leave your job behind when you pack your bag. Your job and heavy schedule will certainly wait for you when you return; they don’t need to accompany you. Enjoy the company of good friends. Love your family and spend time with your children; appreciate your spouse if you have one; if you don’t fall in love with yourself, no one will fall in love with you. Be at peace with your brothers and sisters and see your coworkers, not as enemies, but as colleagues. Seek spiritual guidance and perspective in your life. I believe that was what Christ wanted for his apostles and that certainly is my wish for you this summer. Be good and let goodness be! Stay blessed.

Fr. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.

July 14, 2024; 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

                                 Readings: Amos 7:12-15; Eph. 1:3-14; Mk 6:7-13 

Exploitation of the Poor incurs God’s Wrath

Last Sunday, we reflected on life’s unpleasant realities. This is a thorn in the flesh, according to St. Paul: “That I, Paul, might not become too elated, because of the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated.” (2 Cor. 12:9). We also saw this thorn in the rejection of Christ by his people: “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! and they took offense at him.” (Mk. 6:2-6). Today, we are to examine our responsiveness to the message preached to us. The preacher – the apostle – or missionary is sent to preach. “How can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent?” (Rom. 10:14-16).

A true preacher receives his authority or mandate to preach from the one who sent him. The preacher’s message is not his own, therefore, his lifestyle must reflect his message. In the first reading, Amos was sent by God from the South to preach repentance in Bethel in the North. He warned the people about their lifestyle and reprimanded the rich for their treatment of the poor. He told them that since they took no notice of the poor except to exploit and use them to advance their selfish interests, and because of social injustice and religious arrogance, the Lord would punish them using a total military disaster. His message was direct and uncompromising. Because of this, Amos was rejected and told to return to the South. But Amos insisted that he was “a shepherd and a dresser of sycamore. The Lord took me from following the flock, and said to me, Go, prophesy to my people Israel.” (Amos 7:15). He told Amaziah that his mandate to preach came from God.

The call to preach must come from God. Christ reminded his apostles, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you, And I appointed you to go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide.” (Jn. 15:16). Christ called the apostles “To be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.” (Mk. 3:14-15). The apostles shared in Christ’s life, lived with him, and learnt from him as he prepared them for the mission. Living with Christ enlightened and enabled them to know the difference between right and wrong, between what is essential and what is not, between a life of grace and a life of sin. To understand the purpose for which we are called, we need real enlightenment, not the product of human thinking but that given to us freely from above. Therefore, St. Paul prays in the second reading, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power in us who believe.” (Eph. 1:17-19).

That the apostles lived with Christ was their strength. It allowed them to choose the simplicity of life after their Master. In sending them on a mission, Christ warned them about their lifestyle. “Learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt. 11:29). The instruction was simple and direct. They were to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick – no food, sack, or money. They were to wear sandals but not a second tunic. They were to stay where they were welcome and move on if rejected. Their message was simple: “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” According to Matthew, they were to “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, and drive out demons.” (Mt. 10:8). They were to help those who were hurting and preach good news to the people.

The message of Christ is in direct contrast to today’s prosperity preachers. By their dress and lifestyle, you shall know them. The Lord requires us to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with Him. (Micah 6:9). Unfortunately, we are encumbered by material things that stand in the way of preaching the gospel. Peter told the cripple beggar, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise and walk.” (Acts 3:6) Now we have silver and gold, therefore we cannot make the lame walk. We find it difficult to live a life of grace detached from material things. These are hindrances to preaching the gospel and bringing people to faith. We must trust God, who will supply all our needs. Christ cautions, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt. 6:33). Let us go and do likewise! Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

July 7, 2024. 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Readings: Ezekiel 2:2-5; 2 Cor. 12:7-10; Mk 6:1-6. 

Life’s Unpleasant Realities

We often think that our challenges are unique and that we are alone in our struggles. However, it’s important to remember that life’s challenges are universal. We may even believe that God is punishing us with sickness, loss, or deprivation. Sometimes, we may feel that others are more blessed, prosperous, or better endowed than us, leading to jealousy or envy. These feelings, though very human, may be far from the truth. Just as all lizards lie on their bellies, no one knows which among them has a stomachache. Or, as Shakespeare would say in Macbeth, “There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face.”

 

Today’s readings remind us of life’s harsh realities. Ezekiel felt unworthy when sent to preach to rebellious people. “I am sending you to the Israelites, rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have revolted against me to this very day. Hard of face and obstinate of heart are they who I am sending you.” (Ez. 2:3-5). Preaching to rebellious people is unpleasant but terrible when the messenger feels unworthy. For the prophet, the thorn in his flesh is the burden of preaching to rebellious people. But the grace of God made it possible for Ezekiel. “The Spirit entered into me.” We must rely on help from above if we are to deal with the problems of life. Hence, we pray with the Psalmist, “Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.”

 

In the second reading, Paul, a successful preacher, is blessed from above. He “Was caught up into Paradise and heard ineffable things, which no one may utter.” (2 Cor. 12:4). But he had life’s unpleasant realities too. “That I, Paul, might not become too elated because of the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9).

 

Paul’s weakness humbled him. We do not know what Paul suffered from, but it made him as human as us. Paul discovered that his pains did not change how God felt about him. He was loved despite his brokenness, weakness, shortcomings, and limitations. Our weaknesses remind us how much God loves us; we are thorns in God’s flesh. “God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them.” (Gen.1:27).

Like Paul and Ezekiel, other prophets also had their share of thorns. Isaiah was unworthy, “Woe is me; I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips.” He was cleansed: “Now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, your sin purged.” (Is. 6: 5-8). Jeremiah was too young, “Ah, Lord God!” I said, “I know not how to speak; I am too young. Say not, “I am too young.” (Jer. 1:6-7). Moses was a reluctant prophet. He had many excuses, but God insisted he was right for the job. He told God he was not a good speaker, “If you please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past, nor recently, nor now that you have spoken to your servant; but I am slow of speech and tongue.” God reminded Moses who he was, “Who gives one man speech and makes another deaf and dumb? (Ex. 3:4-4: 17). Christ was willing, but his people rejected him, as we read in today’s Gospel. “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! And they took offense at him.”

 

We all have our share of thorns. We cause some while others are brought on us by people. How do you handle your thorns? The truth, as R.E.M sings: “When your day is night alone, if you feel like letting go (hold on) if you think you’ve had too much of this life, well hang on, ’cause everybody hurts, sometimes, everybody cries, sometimes.” You are not alone! Many times, we are burdened by our thorns. Be it rejection, sickness, death, broken heart, drugs, lack of money, bad marriage, debt burden, fear, sexual orientation. Like Jesus, we may be rejected by our parents, children, brothers, sisters, spouses, co-workers, friends, peers, and even church members. They may not get past their knowledge of you to know the new you.

Remember, God is not punishing you. The challenges you face are not a sign of God’s wrath but an opportunity to show strength and faith. Don’t give up; trust in God and persevere. Even if the challenge persists, remember Paul’s words: “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9). God never turns anyone away. Even when others reject you, God is there for you because “All things work together for the good of those who love God.” (Romans 8:28). Be thankful, be blessed, be courageous, and above all, be happy!

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP