COLLECT: “O GOD, WHO DELIGHT IN INNOCENCE AND RESTORE IT, DIRECT THE HEARERS OF YOUR SERVANTS TO YOURSELF, THAT, CAUGHT UP IN THE FIRE OF YOUR SPIRIT, WE MAY BE FOUND STEADFAST IN FAITH AND EFFECTIVE IN WORKS. 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”.
Jer 17:5-10; Ps 1:1-4,6 and Lk 16:19-31.
There is a Dagaare adage that goes: “Nan-gbanga de nye, dunkuni biereng” (Lit. “The shin should feel it, does it pain the knee”). The moral lesson is; one should never rejoice or celebrate over another person’s misfortunes or sufferings. The tables can turn. Also, no condition is permanent. A biblical expression that further explains the above is ‘The amount you give will be the amount given to you, full measure and press over’ (Cf. Lk 6:36-38).
Today’s scriptures contain a lot of lessons for us, especially during this spirit-filled Season of Lent. In the Gospel, which is about “A Rich Man” and “Poor Man Lazarus”, Jesus tells the pitiful story of the neglected beggar, Lazarus, who dies outside the rich man’s house. Dying himself, the rich man expects special consideration. He is reminded that he should have followed God’s Commandments in life. Both today’s Gospel and the first reading teach a lesson that ‘reward will be given according to the merit of a person’s deeds’. Or simply put, ‘what you give out will be given to you in turn’.
A type of mortal sin some of us sometimes commit in our lives is “wicked” or “deliberate” Omission or Neglect to do what is right. I dare to say that genuine sins of omission or neglect could be categorised among venial sins because they are committed not deliberately. Humanly speaking, apart from the fact that the Rich man in the Gospel committed a “wicked” or “deliberate” sin of omission, he did nothing practically or actively wrong to have deserved this treatment in hell. He did not chase Lazarus away from his house, he did not prevent Lazarus from picking the scraps of food that fell from his table, he did not cane Lazarus, and so on. Yet he had to undergo this torment in hell.
One thing we should take note of is that, it is not enough to avoid wrong deeds or to avoid committing sin. We must also make an effort to do something positive in our lives. If I tell people that I have been trying to keep the Commandments and I do not commit any sins, but have never done any good thing for God through fellow human beings, especially the poor and the needy, the so-called good life I am living is useless (Also Cf. Mt 19:16-22). We must bear good fruits for God’s Kingdom both in the here and in the hereafter. Jeremiah refers to the one who does this as a blessed man, who is “like a tree planted beside the waters… In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit….” (Jer 17:5ff). Indeed, a tree is known by the fruits it bears. A tree that does not bear fruit will be cut down and be thrown into the fire to be burnt (Cf. Lk 13:6-9).
“To be forewarned is to be forearmed.” . Every day, we hear the Word of God telling us what to do as people who are not only saying ‘Lord, Lord’, but as people who do the Will of God. We have also been hearing good homilies and sermons preached to us by our Pastors. Therefore, if we fail to heed God’s word to allow it to bear fruit in our lives, God himself, his prophets or the saints will never come back to tell us anything. Let us do something with our lives and property while we are still alive, especially during this special season given to us. Be more intent on works of charity/almsgiving. I WISH TO EXPRESS MY PROFOUND GRATITUDE TO ALL WHO HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING THIS WORK OF EVANGELIZATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA, BOTH ON THIS PLATFORM AND ON THE RADIO STATION IN NADOWLI ‘TUMPAANI FM’. THIS IS ONE ASPECT OF WORKS OF CHARITY. GOD BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY. Stay blessed and be assured of my constant prayerful support.
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: “MAY THIS SACRIFICE, O GOD, REMAIN ACTIVE IN ITS EFFECTS AND WORK EVER MORE STRONGLY WITHIN US. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.
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