SATURDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD (SATWOG MARCH 25TH, 2023) INSPIRING REFLECTIONS OF MEMBERS

 

LAITY REFLECTIONS FOR THE 5TH SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR A

First Reading: Ezekiel 37:12-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 130:1-2;3-4;5-7a;7b-8(R.7b)
Second Reading: Romans 8:8-11
Gospel Acclamation: Joel 2:12-13
Gospel: John 11:1-45

Ngozi Nlewedim

MY REFLECTION

My reflection is from the first reading.

In the valley of dry bones, Ezekiel speaks of a life that only God can accomplish: I will make breath enter you. I will attach tendons. I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. My dear OCCF family, nothing, absolutely nothing, is impossible with God! May God continue to bless us all. Amen.

Janefrances Udeh

MY REFLECTION

In the Second Reading, St. Paul explains that those who live according to their sinful nature cannot please God, but those who live according to the Spirit, please God. The text also describes how the Spirit of God dwells in Christians, giving them life and the ability to overcome sin.

Practically speaking, this passage encourages us to live in alignment with the Spirit of God. This means being intentional about our thoughts, words, and actions, seeking to please God rather than our own sinful desires. It also means cultivating a relationship with the Holy Spirit through prayer, reading the Bible, and other spiritual practices.

In our daily lives, we can apply this lesson by examining our motives and actions, asking ourselves if they align with God's will. We can also seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to guide and direct our steps. Through this process of submission and obedience, we can experience the fullness of life that God desires for us.

Philip Okoye

MY REFLECTION

Theme: How often do I bring the Lazarus situations in my life before Christ?

Jesus said to Martha, "I am the resurrection and life."

Brothers and sisters, the Lazarus episode in the gospel narrative, is quite remarkable for me, and has found its place in becoming the theme of my reflection.

       

The gospel reading teaches me that I should always believe and hold on to Christ in faith at all times irrespective of the situation.

I am being encouraged and reassured that, coming to Christ with whatever the Lazarus situation in my life is, will ultimately bring life, restoration, healing and wholesomeness to me in my christian life.

1️⃣ The Lazarus situation in me could be my bad or poor attitudinal disposition.

Let's, for instance, say I have an attitudinal problem of arrogance, it simply follows that the Lazarus situation, in my life in this case, is the dead humility in me, which can only be raised to life in me by Christ alone.

Again for instance, let's say I am the kind that is very selfish and full of greed, it simply follows that the Lazarus situation in my life in this case, is the dead generosity and selflessness in me, which can only be raised to life in me by Christ alone.

If I am the kind that dispossesses, silence and oppresses the poor, orphans, widows and the voiceless, e.t.c. It simply follows that the Lazarus situation in my life is the dead empathy/compassion/love in me, which can only be raised to life in me by Christ alone.

Also, I might be the kind that is a liar; a swindler; a womaniser; a fraudster; political criminal; a backstabber; a gossip e.t.c. It simply follows that the Lazarus situation in my life is the dead conscience and fear of God in me, which can only be raised to life in me by Christ alone.

2️⃣ Also brothers and sisters, the Lazarus situation in my life could be the challenge or obstacle facing my life. 

For instance, it could be a situation tormenting me and causing worries, fears, pains, despair, hopelessness, e.t.c. 

It could be in the form of worry in my career; problem of still being Single; problem in my marital life; in my business; my nuclear and extended families; economic situation e.t.c

In all these, it really doesn't matter the situation I'm faced with. Christ Himself, who spoke LIFE to the dead Lazarus in the gospel; and who also spoke CALM to the raging storm on the sea, is ever ABLE to come through for me, if only I hold on to HIM in faith, believe and trust.

Therefore, let's learn to always believe in HIM, trust in HIM, and hold on to HIM by always bringing before HIM, the Lazarus situations in our lives. 

This is possible by our determination in doing a sincere and thorough retrospective reflection on our lives. And in humility, bring before Christ, our challenges, inadequacies and failings, in a life of Prayers, Fasting and Almsgiving, especially in this Lenten season.

May God continue to bless His word in our hearts through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Igwe Mary Benita

MY REFLECTION

In the Gospel reading, we are called to understand that Jesus Christ is the resurrection and Life. Therefore we should hold firm our belief and trust in Christ.

The disciples tried to stop or rather make Jesus change his mind about going to raise Lazarus but Jesus stood by his word.

For me, the disciples are like things of the world that stops us, most times, from doing the will of God and standing firm in our faith.

Each biblical story always has a deep message that it passes to us; only the wise understand it.

Oki Nkechi Joy

MY REFLECTION

"If Christ is in you, although your bodies are dead because of sin, your spirits are alive because of righteousness."

This is an assurance of God's unwavering love for mankind: Assurance of life after death.

An assurance to me that despite our being born with original sin, but cleansed by the blood of the lamb, we shall wear the crown of glory on the resurrection day.

Lady Stellamaris, KSJI

MY REFLECTION

For the gospel acclamation, God dey call me and you say "my pikin, no matter wetin you don do, just come back to me".

Wetin sweet pass be say, Him still confirm to us say, Him good mind (grace) and pity (mercy) brekete and Him dey ready to accept us as we dey. The only thing wey we need to do na to surrender everything to am, we need to show say we go dey everly loyal to am.

My brother, my sister, make I ask una one kwesion, e get any of you wey fit do pass God for good good things? Even from now to eternity, the answer na capital NO!

Abeg, my brothers and sisters, the only way wey pure, na God way. So make we leave all the things wey no pure wey we dey do, follow Christ. As we do so, Him go show us mercy inside, Him grace, come still bless us 🙏🏽

We dey pray say God go dey help us as we give am our trust and hope through Christ our Lord and Saviour, Amen.