Laity Reflections for 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
| First reading: Malachi 3:19-20 Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 97(98):5-9 Second reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12 Gospel: Luke 21:5-19 |
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| Sr. Veronica Amaechi, FSP |
That which is more important is my attitude towards the last day. How am I waiting, am I living an arrogant lifestyle like those Prophet Malachi condemned in the first reading? Or am I passively waiting as the Thessalonians who St Paul called idle busybodies? Am I preoccupied with fear about how that day will be that I fail to live fully my life, or am I persevering in doing good, actively waiting in joyful hope, practicing my Christian virtues, with that assurance that my redemption is drawing near?
The coming of the Lord is inevitable, as the Psalmist said, he will come to judge the world in fairness, thus, trusting in the graces I receive in the Sacraments, (esp. Holy Eucharist, our daily spiritual bread for the journey and the sacrament of Reconciliation), I will strive each day to live according to the teachings of Jesus, my Master. I will wait for his coming in hope and in active service. So help me God. Amen
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| Sister Oparaji |
Nothing in life comes easy.
We need to evangelize to the world,
especially to our youths who think that things come very easily
without hard work.
Let's be hardworking and believe God to reward our sincere efforts.
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| Irene Egbuniwe |
There's beauty in being rejected,
misunderstood,
unseen, and unsupported by people.
It teaches you
to rely on God
for everything
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| Ojo Emmanuel |
A faithful Roman Catholic
is expected to pray IN THE WORDS OUR
SAVOUR TAUGHT US....at least once a day
In it, we beg to allow the world to end (YOUR KINGDOM COME)
Big question
If the kingdom comes,
are we really going to rejoice
or ask for a little more time?
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| Uchenna Malachi Okpala |
Just as I was reflecting on the gospel reading and it happens that, I posted something on my WhatsApp status and someone replied saying "How long will I be patient and endure; Shay na until I die"... Well; it's so disheartening that, majority of persons have lost hope and as such, they have begun to question God of their existence...
The readings most especially the gospel is relating to us words of admonition. It says that in as much you place your hope in Christ, you should take heed that you be not led astray. On daily basis, there will be persecution, and tumult from within that we shouldn't be afraid rather we should endure and be patient.
May the Lord bless his words in our hearts.. Amen
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| Josephine Uzo |
As we draw to the end of our liturgical seasons this year 2022. The readings cut across END TIME AND JUDGEMENT...
An important lesson drawn from the first readings is that there are certain punishments for the wicked. No matter how cruel and fierce they may seem to be, the days of their punishment will surely come. And on that day only the righteous who persevered to the end will be consoled with the reward of eternal life.
Our responsorial psalm presents God as the supreme judge who will judge the world with justice and fairness. He is the God of impartiality. HE IS INDEED A SPECIAL KING!
The second reading centers on faith and work. St. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians about the importance of faith and work. Back then there was a controversial rumor that the end time is near and some of the believers were doing nothing for a living but instead remained idle and waiting for the trumpet to sound. Funny enough but st. Paul wrote to them urging them to work.
There is this popular saying "no food for a lazy man", implying this in our second reading where Paul stated, "if anyone will not work, let him not eat"*, depicts that if you do not have work to show forth your faith, then you are as good as dead. *Therefore faith without work is dead! You can't preach that God is a God of abundance while you go about begging for alms/food to eat. After all, Christ when he was on earth was a humble carpenter. Involve yourself in a pure hustle, be you a priest or a lay faithful.
In the gospel reading, Christ gave a vivid explanation of what judgment day will be like. That day is not known yet but it will be full of terrors!
Brethren are you ready for that day? Christ had promised that not even a hair of our head will perish. For by our endurance/love for Christ(instilled in us by the Holy Spirit), we will gain our eternity.
As our liturgical year comes to an end soon, continue to be a #soulofamissionary!
May we never be found wanting on the last day in Jesus name. Amen
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| Fidelis Moses |
We have entered this state of grace in which we can boast, but that is not all we can boast about. We can boast about our suffering, this suffering brings patience we know, and patience brings perseverance, perseverance brings hope and this hope is not deceptive because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the holy spirit.
My dear brothers in Christ, the first reading and the gospel speak about the end time but, is that really what it means? I simply say the end time means the end of the world of sin, suffering, injustice, corruption, hatred, and all evil things". So the Lord will wipe away the evil world and create a new one in which only those who are not at fault can enter.
St Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians warns Christians to be sober and hard-working so that they should meet up to the stand of their living. And I am really happy with the words of encouragement of St. Paul because he that fails to harken to his words will fall into the trap of the evil world that will be wiped away. The 'new world' will be built little by little, with a lot of faith, Patience, holiness, perseverance, tolerance, and endurance, and with a lot of suffering and it must begin inside each of us.
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| Chinwe Ann |
The first reading and the Gospel to me sound as if it were the end of the world, but deep reflection made me realize that it's not really the end of the world but rather the end of the world of sin, of suffering, of wickedness, of bad governance, of abject poverty, etc., all these will no longer exist but will be taken over by the world where only good things exist, meanwhile for the meantime we are going through all these trials and tribulation we should be careful not to be deceived by the infiltrators claiming to have been sent by Christ rather we should be strong bearing in mind that the day is coming when we will rejoice. Also warning to desist from doing evil because the day is coming when all evildoers will be burnt up leaving them neither root nor shoot.
The second reading is all about falling into danger facing many Christians in the name of miracles out of all our problems forgetting that "soily hand brings about an oily mouth," we need to bear in mind that the new world will be built little by little with much patience and tolerance which begins with me and you in our little ways.
Question to ponder on:
1. Am I among the evil-doers that inflict hardship or wickedness on others? This is the time for my repentance. This is a consoling message that the time is coming for me to rejoice.
2. Do I belong to the group of "get it quick whichever way?" Or do I belong to the group that deceives by procuring miracles in order not to do the right thing?
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| Tonylaz Adoyi |
One thing that is easy to indulge in is SELF DELUSION. Many indulge in it claiming they are being objective and speaking from the sincerest of their heart. In putting up their view such people, at times, make some others holding different opinions truly feel guilty, especially when they back up their argument with some Scripture citations.
'Jesus binds the Christians to be merciful' is an example of such a citation. This injunction when hastily taken could encourage laziness and slothfulness. That same injunction would also seem to contradict what St Paul said unequivocally in his address to the Thessalonians in our second reading of today. Those who claim objectivity and sincerity need to answer this question: Does the Scripture contradict itself? Does it equivocate to suit itself in different circumstances as in a 'yea' and 'nay' which Paul debunked as not their style of proclamation? (II Corinthians 1:18-20). Every yea or nay (seemingly contradictory in the Scriptures) must be traced back to their context before any hasty conclusion to avoid misjudgment of the Scriptures. If the many, for instance, exempt themselves from gainful labour, famine, and hunger will take over the world and the face of the earth will be unkempt contrary to God's wishes and directives. This is where governments of our day and those who could provide jobs are being blamed for not taking the employable millions off the streets by providing jobs to occupy them and discourage them from loitering the streets and looking for "free lunch". In the opposite trend, where would God's injunction: " By the sweat of your brow you shall eat" be situated? (Gen 3:19) It is not piety to regularly give able-bodied people "charity", if they refused to work and earn their living. On the contrary, it is a disservice to them and humanity as that encourages them to loaf around unproductively. The saying applies here that rather than give an able-bodied person fish, teach him or her to fish.
Let us, each and all, live now as if it were our final moment on earth by putting on the enduring garb of righteousness. The end of time will spring a surprise on all of us. The best way to escape being caught unawares is to live now as perfectly as is humanly possible.
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| Georgina Chukwu |
The first reading from the book of the prophet Malachi reminds us of the last day when God will give his judgment according to the way we have lived our lives. Let us change our arrogant and evil ways so that we would be among those who fear the name of the Lord so that the sun of righteousness will arise on us.
The second reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians also admonishes us on who we should imitate. One thing is to hear the word and another thing is to be obedient to the word. A word without action is dead and that is the reason Saint Paul writes to remind the people what they were taught, how they are to imitate the good lifestyle and example he impacted on them because everything we do in this world has its reward. It reminds me of the popular song that says, If you do good kingdom if you do bad no more kingdom. An idle mind is the devil's workshop, let us always engage ourselves with something fruitful in a positive way so that we can eradicate all evil thoughts and idle living.
The time is coming when the Son of man shall appear, no one knows the hour or the day, let us prepare ourselves by living a righteous life.
Let us pray that God will help us to persevere always in doing good and living the word which we proclaim always. Amen.
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| Ayaka Daniel |
The scriptural readings of today might be confusing or contradicting but consoling words for us.
The readings remind us not to consider the trials, difficulties, and challenges of the present until the end of time.
Christ reminds us that in the face of all these persecutions we should remain faithful to His words and that will win us salvation at the end of time.
May the Lord continue to strengthen our faith in order to be faithful till the end.
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| David |
Therefore we shouldn't be bothered about the prosperity of the arrogant and evil doers for their end is near and almost at hand. Remember the Lord exalts the righteous and scatters the proud-hearted.
If we fear the Lord and obey His will, the sun of righteousness shall rise for us with healing in its wings.
Lawrence Okonofua: Once more I am reminded to do good always and everywhere.
Furthermore, beautiful as the world and its adornment are, I should look out for the essence, for all talk may not glorify His Name.
Living right will now and again set me on the path of a coalition but I should remain steadfast for my God is never far from me.
Comfort Edewor: This scripture passage often makes me ponder on the nature of the work St Paul is talking about; sincere and honest work, worthy of emulation as he invites the brethren to imitate him. St Paul had a means of livelihood that was known to the brethren, one he could openly talk about. Many young people purportedly are earning their wages and pretending to be working but are doing so to the detriment of those who end up as their victims. Therefore the nature of the work we engage in is equally as important as the money we make.
Secondly, no one should excuse themselves from earning a living because they are insisting on a particular type of job. There is dignity in honest labour that can put food on your table. An idle mind is the devil's workshop.
Kingone: The gospel reading charges us to remain steadfast in the way of righteousness. Many bad things might happen to us on account of our belief in God. These experiences might break us but let us be encouraged knowing that the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings for us as we have it in the first reading.
We should also remember God's word that if we lose our life for his sake we will gain it. May our faith in God be counted as righteousness for us through Christ our Lord, Amen.
