SATURDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD (SATWOG JUNE 17TH, 2023) INSPIRING REFLECTIONS OF MEMBERS

 

LAITY REFLECTIONS FOR THE 11TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

First Reading: Exodus 19:2-6a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 100:1-2;3;5 (R. 3c)
Second Reading: Romans 5:5-11
Gospel Acclamation: Mark 1:15
Gospel: Matthew 9:36;10:8

Udeh Edith

MY REFLECTION

Greetings beloved in Christ.

Jesus sent his disciples (We Christians) to go for the lost sheep of the house of Israel (the world and our neighbours) to preach saying the Kingdom of God is at hand. Jesus is encouraging us to bring souls to him. This is not only done by preaching on the road, street, office e.t.c. Our character and attitude towards one another are another great means of preaching. Our words, actions and behaviour towards one another equally preach to others. When we act politely and show people love, people around us learn and it impacts their lives.

May God help us to preach and bring souls to him through our actions and words, care and love Amen.

Stanley Oregie

MY REFLECTION

"You shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."

Called by God to display his love and compassion to the nations, the Israelites were thus regarded by God as "a kingdom of priests" and "a holy nation" as expressed in the First Reading. Covenanted to God by our baptisms, we too have become priests and a holy nation. Friends, we are priests of the New Covenant; we are a holy people. However, here is the challenge: are we living up to the demands of our priesthood and vocation to holiness? If we have been made holy, do we make effort to live lives worthy of who we are? 

The Second Reading is unequivocal in bringing to light the " how" of who we are. We are priests and holy people not by our merits but because "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us". He made us his people; sheep of his flock. This is who we are in Christ, not what we will become. We can truly be grateful, then, for this wonderful gift.

The unmerited love and mercies of God as revealed in the Second Reading places a demand and responsibility on us, and that is the task of announcing and proclaiming the Good News of what God has done for us to others. This is the lesson we draw from the Gospel Reading. Like the Twelve, we too, by our baptism, have been called and sent to be witnesses to the love of God in Christ. As such, in a sense, we too are "apostles". Yet, Christ is wise enough not to send us barefaced. He weaponizes us with authority. He will always supply what he demands of us. He understands what we need to "bring everything in obedience to Christ". Hence, he gives us "authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity." We must dispose ourselves daily to an appreciation and the use of this authority bestowed on us by Christ.

We must always remember that we are priests and holy people on a mission: "Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord."

Enjoy Christ's love.

Comfort Mary Edewor

MY REFLECTION

My Reflection from the Gospel.

This passage of the Scriptures is making me think deeply about the mandate given to all of us who are one in the body of Christ. We may not be among the twelve apostles chosen by our Lord Jesus Christ to preach the good news but that mandate applies to all of us who are members of the body of Christ. Preaching on every possible occasion about the kingdom of God is a task no Christian should shy away from, and indeed we must be deliberate in our effort to help expand the kingdom of God here on earth. Our whole lives, indeed, should be centered on achieving this. We have to live lives worthy of the Christian values that we preach so that those who copy or learn from us will not get lost by doing so. Even when we cannot do the preaching, we should be very ready to support those who are doing so in one way or another. We are all evangelizers by virtue of our baptism and we should all pray to keep the gospel light burning brightly everywhere we go.

Williams Odoeme

MY REFLECTION

"While we were yet sinners Christ died for us."

What is greater than what Christ Jesus has done for us? God has adopted us through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. By the blood of Christ Jesus the middle wall of separation blocking us from God is broken, and not only have we become His people but also we have become His children.

From the gospel we see Christ telling us that we should go into the world and be his witnesses - we should go into the world and let them know that Christ Jesus has saved them. We are instruments to pass the information of the redemption that Christ has gained for us through his blood and God has given us His Holy Spirit to help us carry out this task as Christians.

Ukange Dennis

MY REFLECTION

In the First Reading, God called Moses and sent him to the Israelites, informing them to turn away from their sinful lives and come back to Him for reconciliation so that He Could make them His Possession. In the same way, God is calling us to leave our sinful lives and return to Him so that He will reconcile us to Himself and make us His possession.

Jesus, in the Gospel Reading, sent out his disciples to preach the good news of reconciliation of God to the people. This task that God started with Moses, and the disciples of Jesus should not end with them but has to continue with us. We have the responsibility of inviting ourselves and others to turn away from sinful lives and collectively return to God for reconciliation. He is always merciful and waiting to welcome us back into his arms. If we keep his Commandments and faithfully follow His will, He has promised to make us his possession.

May the good Lord help us and hasten our footsteps as we make effort to return to Him through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Ushie Pascal

MY REFLECTION

God has always been good and full of compassion. All He wants is just for us to obey and trust Him. He has been saving us in his way but, most times, we want it our way. The Israelites knew they were chosen and loved by God but were still adamant about his teachings and calling. That was why He asked Moses to inform them that He would do more.

Obedience to God's law is paramount. This is because He fights many battles we do not know; and even if we know, we can’t fight those battles and win. This is why He is Almighty, the Provider, Omnipotent, and Omniscient.

Today, we should learn to obey God no matter the challenges that are yet to be attended to.

Christ died for everyone no matter your race tribe or religion.

Who are the ungodly? They are people still wallowing in evil, doing immoral things. Yet He redeemed us by His mercy by dying and going through pain and disgrace. It was his mercy that paved the way for the thief on the cross having acknowledged he was wrong and asked for mercy. The same mercy was shown to Paul despite his persecution of the Church. The woman caught in adultery is not left out of the administration of Christ's mercy. You too, since you have been reconciled with God, His grace and mercy will continue to guide you, especially when in helpless situations.

Furthermore, as expressed in the Gospel Reading, the labourers are indeed few while the harvest is rich. Why are you shy of spreading the gospel or becoming an agent of peace or the good news?

Christ said that your righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees. You must be an exemplary person in your place of work, community and society - people must see Christ in you. That everyone is immoral or committing crimes doesn’t mean you must do the same.

Christ gave them power to cast and to heal. The same authority is with us if only we can be good and obey his teachings.

Shalom!