“WALK DAILY WITH JESUS”, 20/11/25, (Thursday, 33rd Week in Ordinary Time of Year C).

(REMEMBER TO PRAY IN THIS MONTH OF NOVEMBER FOR YOUR RELATIVES, LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE DIED).

COLLECT: “GRANT US, WE PRAY, O LORD OUR GOD, THE CONSTANT GLADNESS OF BEING DEVOTED TO YOU, FOR IT IS FULL AND LASTING HAPPINESS TO SERVE WITH CONSTANCY THE AUTHOR OF ALL THAT IS GOOD. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.

1Mac 2:15-29; Ps 49:1-2,5-6,8,15 and Lk 19:41-44.

There is a very popular (sometimes daily) expression that “Too much of everything is bad”/ “Too much of everything is not good”. There is another wise saying that “When you overstretch an elastic object beyond limits, it will eventually break or give way”. We cannot overemphasise this, but it is true that when we overdo things, even if the thing is good, the results are very often bad. It will be worse if what we are doing is not a good thing.

Therefore, too much sinful behaviour, inhuman actions, wickedness and what have you are not only bad, but worse. When what we are fond of doing becomes worse, whether we expect it or not, a more terrible ‘kick back’ or reaction will be the result.

For some days now, we have been reflecting on the Book of Maccabees, where we read and learn about the sinful behaviour, inhuman actions and wickedness of King Antiochus Epiphanes, which he waged on the Jews. In this portion of the First Book of Maccabees, a remnant of the Jews who looked for justice and wanted to be faithful to the Law reacted against Antiochus’ sinful, inhuman and wicked actions waged against them.

Fed up as they were, Mattathias led his family, joined by other faithful Jews, to sacrifice fear on the altar of justice and maintenance of the Law of Moses to fight for the Jews. Though it was not easy, eventually Antiochus’ army faced stiff resistance from the Jews, and they were later defeated.

The great and good lesson is that, if people are fed up with our policies, actions and deeds, and sometimes there is a public outcry to change or stop these policies, actions and deeds, especially sinful, inhuman and wicked actions, it is an enough sign or indication for us to stop that or withdraw from that.

Very often some people are not able to withdraw or stop from their wicked actions that meet public outcries simply because they are incorrigible, arrogant and proud. But there is a proverb among the Dagaaba that “Vi ngmaa seg la vi wogi” (lit. “Short/little shame is better than a prolonged/tall shame”). Is it not better to stop or withdraw honourably from my bad, sinful, inhuman and wicked actions or change my bad policy, than to be shamefully forced to stop or withdraw with other repercussions?

Sinful and incorrigible Jews would later get their share of shame and disgrace as predicted by Jesus when he wept over the sight of the city of Jerusalem and how it would later be destroyed. God was fed up with their sinful behaviour and inhuman actions, and therefore, God sent prophet after prophet to warn them, but they did not listen. Eventually God sent His only Begotten Son, Jesus to help them change or convert, but they still did not listen. It hurt Jesus and he had to weep over their impending destruction (Cf. Lk 19:41-44).

It sometimes hurts and pains when a deaf ear is turned to people who foresee the serious repercussions of others’ wrong deeds and actions and try to help them get out of that. Let us pray especially today for victims of war the world over.

We also pray for people in areas that are going through a religious crisis. We pray for the perpetrators to know that there is an end and a limit to everything, for “too much of everything is bad”. We pray for leaders who impose bad policies, wicked actions and deeds on their followers, to learn lessons from today’s scriptures and recant. In any case, goodwill will always triumph over evil. Stay blessed.

WE MEDITATE TODAY, THURSDAY, ON THE MYSTERIES OF LIGHT: ‘THE BAPTISM OF JESUS, THE WEDDING AT CANA, THE PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM, THE TRANSFIGURATION, AND THE INSTITUTION OF THE EUCHARIST’. (WE PRAY FOR OPENNESS TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, PRAY TO JESUS THROUGH MARY, FOR REPENTANCE AND TRUST IN GOD, THE DESIRE FOR HOLINESS, AND WE PRAY FOR THE SPIRIT OF ADORATION)

“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen”.

PRAYER: “WE HAVE PARTAKEN OF THE GIFTS OF THIS SACRED MYSTERY, HUMBLY IMPLORING, O LORD, THAT WHAT YOUR SON COMMANDED US TO DO IN MEMORY OF HIM MAY BRING US GROWTH IN CHARITY. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.

Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com.