Thursday 31^st July – Memorial of St Ignatius of Loyola, Priest

Reflection: Jeremiah 18: 1-6

IN THE POTTER’S HAND

Many of us have no difficulty believing that we were created by God. However, we often find ourselves disbelieving that God has great and beautiful plans for our lives and seeks us to allow Him fulfill His purpose in us. We often want to be in charge and make all our plans and decisions on our own. This often results in a lack of trust in God and sometimes it even leads to rebellion.

Today’s reading reminds us that the God who created us is always in the act of moulding us into whom He wants us to be. Just as the potter moulds his clay into any object he desires so does God seek to mould us into what He desires. Are we prepared to surrender to Him and allow Him to bring out the beauty He has created in you and I?

Dear friends, the Bible reassures us that God has plans of good for us. “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). Let us surrender ourselves to God and seek His will in prayer. Only then can we fulfill our purpose on this earth and live in true happiness and peace. “Yes, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in mine, House of Israel” Jeremiah 18: 6

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, I submit myself to you. Please take me and mould me into that beautiful vessel you have created me to be. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 59 Why did God make man?

God made everything for man. Man, however, who is “the only creature on earth that God has willed for its own sake”, was created in order to be blessed. This happens when he knows, loves, and serves God and lives in gratitude toward his Creator.

HIDE A TREASURE: “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” Jeremiah 29:11 RSV-CE

Readings for today: Jeremiah 18: 1-6; Psalm 145: 2-6; Matthew 13: 47-53

Wednesday 30^th July – Wednesday of week 17 of the year

Reflection: Matthew 13: 44 -46

FINDING A TREASURE

The dictionary defines a “treasure” as something that is highly valued by its owner. Today, Christ likens the Kingdom of Heaven to a treasure found in a field and to pearls of very high value. Let us look closely at these parables and see what message our Lord is passing across us.

First, in both parables, there is some effort on the part of the person who finds the treasure. The first parable shows that the treasure is hidden in a field. Hence the man who found it must have put in lots of effort before discovering where the treasure was hidden. The same goes for the second as the merchant is described as looking for fine pearls. Hence he didn’t simply stumble upon the pearls of great value. He was in fact looking for them.

Secondly, in both parables, the persons who find the treasure and the pearl have to sell all they have in other to buy the valuable treasures they have found. Hence the treasure and the pearls are much more valuable to them than everything they have. The kingdom of Heaven is really a treasure. It’s the reason for our creation.

The grace of becoming God’s children which we receive at baptism is a free gift. However, we still have our role to play if the gift of our faith is to truly become a treasure for us. If we do not sincerely seek to grow in our relationship with God; the grace of our divine sonship would mean nothing to us and we can easily become carried away by this world. As we increase our knowledge about God through His word, we come to treasure His kingdom above all things and only then can we truly give up our all in this world for the sake of our eternal happiness. Have you found the greatest treasure of all? What are you doing in order to obtain it?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please help me to recognize the great treasure of your kingdom and strengthen me to live out the fullness of my faith so as to obtain the gift of eternal life you have promised to all who seek you. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 546 – The proclamation of the kingdom of God

…Through His parables, Jesus invites people to the feast of he kingdom, but he also asks for a radical choice: to gain the kingdom, one must give everything. Words are not enough, deeds are required. The parables are like mirrors for man: will he be hard soil or good earth for the word? What use has he made of the talents he has received?…

HIDE A TREASURE: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.” 1 Corinthians 9:24 RSV-CE

Readings for today: Jeremiah 15: 10, 16-21; Psalm 59: 2-5, 10-11, 17-18; Matthew 13: 44-46

Tuesday 29^th July – Memorial of St Martha

Reflection: Jeremiah 14: 17-22

OH LORD! YOU ARE OUR HOPE

A careful look at the first reading makes me wonder if the writer is familiar with our dear country, Nigeria. The exact problems lamented in the reading – killings, poverty, sickness and exploitation of the land by those in authority are the very problems that plague our land. Like the Israelites, we keep hoping for peace, for an end to corruption but all hope seems dashed. What must we do?

The Israelites recognized the source of their problems – they had abandoned God and had their fill of wickedness. Hence the only solution was to turn to God with a plea for mercy. Dear friend, you and I must also realize the root of our problems in Nigeria – selfishness and godlessness (despite the seemingly large number of religious people) has eaten deep into our nation and all we have to reap are the evils we see each day ranging from corruption to terrorism.

You and I have a role to play. If we are truly sincere in our relationship with God, God desires that we turn away from our own sins and plead for His mercy on behalf of our country. Like Israel, we must remember that God is our only hope (Jeremiah 14:22). If we look away from Him because we there is no apparent improvement in our country, then we would find ourselves in the depths of despair. God would have spared Sodom and Gomorrah if there were just ten righteous people there (Genesis 18:32); if God is to spare our land because of a certain number of righteous men would you and I add to or subtract from that number? God is counting on you and I to stand in the gap for Nigeria as we call upon Him for mercy on our land.

PRAYER: Lord God, please have mercy on our country. Forgive our sins and deliver us from the evils that beset us. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 331 – Why is there nevertheless injustice among men?

All men have the same dignity, but not all of them meet with the same living conditions. In cases where injustice is man-made, it contradicts the Gospel. In cases where men have been endowed by God with different gifts and talents, God is asking us to rely on one another: in charity one should make up for what the other lacks.

HIDE A TREASURE: “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 RSV-CE

Readings for today: Jeremiah 14: 17-22; Psalm 79: 8-13; Luke 10: 38-42

Monday 28^th July – Monday of week 17 of the year

Reflection: Matthew 13: 31- 35

NOURISH YOUR SEED

A seed is something we are all familiar with from our everyday human experience. Most plants around us are propagated by a seed and hence we can very well understand the concept of the seed with Christ uses as an analogy to the Kingdom of Heaven.

At our baptism, we became children of God and the seed of God’s kingdom was sown in each of us. Just as a seed has great potentials but requires nutrition and the right environment to germinate and grow, so too is does the seed planted in us. The seed of faith planted within us at baptism has great potentials – to help us live to glorify God and to be with Him in Heaven ultimately.

Let us nourish the seed of faith within us through the Sacraments especially by frequenting the Holy Eucharist which is our food for the journey of faith and the Sacrament of reconciliation. Let us find direction, courage, example and instruction in the Word of God through daily meditation and let us find strength in prayer.

Every seed has the potential for numerous fruits with millions of new seeds. As we journey in our faith let us share the joy of the gospel of Christ with those who surround us so that more seeds of faith will germinate through us. Only then would the potentials of the seed sown in you and I truly come alive.

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for the gift of my faith. Please help me to nourish this seed and bear fruit in plenty. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 1254 – Faith and Baptism

For all the baptized, children or adults, faith must grow after Baptism. For this reason the Church celebrates each year at the Easter vigil the renewal of Baptismal promises. Preparation for Baptism leads only to the threshold of new life. Baptism is the source of that new life in Christ from which the entire Christian life springs forth.

HIDE A TREASURE: “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.” John 15: 8 RSV-CE

Readings for today: Jeremiah 13: 1-11; Deuteronomy 32: 18-21; Matthew 13: 31- 35