SATURDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD (SATWOG JULY 1ST, 2023) INSPIRING REFLECTIONS OF MEMBERS

 LAITY REFLECTIONS FOR THE 13TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

First Reading: 2 Kings 4:8-11;14-16a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 89:2-3;16-17;18-19 (R. Cf. 2a)
Second Reading: Romans 6:3-4;8-11
Gospel Acclamation: 1 Peter 2:9
Gospel: Matthew 10:37-42

Lucy Mary Muokwe

MY REFLECTION

BE GOOD TO ALL: You Might be Helping Your Destiny Helper Unknowingly.

Hospitality + generosity = Blessings 

God is merciful to those who are merciful. God's mercy is an everlasting mercy.

To follow Christ is to give up on yourself completely. It calls for total self-abandonment. He who follows Christ must be prepared to "drink the cup he drank"; in this "cup" lies suffering, death. Then, comes defeat of shame, ridicule and death. 

There is always a good outcome for goodness. We only need to give it time.

Abandon sin. Live holy. If we must be blessed by God, we must have a mortal aversion for sin. We must ask God for courage that will help us weather the storm of persecutions that follow those who live for Christ. We must draw strength from the knowledge that there is an eternal reward which God reserves only for those who live righteously. 

To access that reward, we must love Christ above any other love- father, mother, child or spouse. In fact, the love we have for others must be subject to that which we have for Christ. Every other love exists because of the love we have for Christ. 

Be good to all for the sake of Christ. You never know whom you may showing kindness to. You may inadvertently be showing kindness to your destiny helper. Dem no dey writer helpers for face o.  

Also keep in mind: "He who receives a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward."

Moses Ekene

MY REFLECTION

The Cross of Goodness

The readings of today brings a new perspective of carrying our cross. In our modern world, where being charitable, is becoming dangerous, the readings reminds me that it is a cross to always carry. Our daily crosses do not always endure sorrow and pain or being punished. 

The way of the cross of Jesus in our world today, yields people who have been resurrected with Christ through baptism. It is the path of bearing goodness to a world lacking it and for which the evil ones are using it to scare us away from bearing our good fruits. The reward for goodness, being charitable and hospitable is far beyond what we can often imagine and the first reading gave us an idea of it. 

The instrument of our goodness as the Psalmist puts it, is by God's favour on us that our might are exalted, we must trust him and carry along our cross of goodness, for the Lord is our Shield 

May the Lord strengthen us to carry daily our crosses of goodness, Amen.

Rosemary Ibazebo

MY REFLECTION

Glory to Jesus...

From the first reading, I learnt hospitality from the woman of Shunem. She did what she did, not because she was expecting something in return. However, we see that God always rewards every good deed done with right motive/intentions.

When I show hospitality to others, what is the reason behind why I do it? Is it so that they can sing my praises, or be indebted to me, or repay me back someway?

We are encouraged to do good, after all, that is what St. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:10 - 'We are God's masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for a life of good deeds, which He has already prepared before hand for us to do'.

Anna Akudo Azoti

MY REFLECTION

The Gospel reading speaks of the cost of Discipleship. Nothing should be an obstacle in answering 'Yes' to Jesus. No sacrifice we make for the sake of Christ will go unrewarded. We must follow the way of the Master. The cross is the sign of the Christian Faith. If we have died with Christ, we believe we shall also live with Him.

The rewards of most of the good things we do in this life are received in the hereafter. Our daily necessary crosses could be the pains and sufferings we experience daily, or in standing by those who suffer pain- the sick, the bereaved or the needy. Hospitality should also be taken seriously, many have entertained angels without knowing it. 

I pray that God Almighty will give us his grace to be able to care for those around us, Amen.

Eghe Okonofua

MY REFLECTION

Just as the Responsorial Psalm says: For it is you, O Lord, who are the glory of their strength; By your favour it is, that our might is exalted. Behold, the Lord is our shield; He is the Holy One of Israel, our king.

Only those who understand the above and can apply all that they have as from the Lord, like the Shunamites can agree to the above statement.

And in all situations in their lives say: I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

Just like St. Paul said, our baptism makes us dead to the world for which nothing can move us, be it wealth, possessions, position, beauty, suffering and the likes. Our minds are set on the life we are to enter with Christ.

But we need to ask ourselves if this is our reality, and if not do something about it for his grace is sufficient for those who desire it.

Chinwe Ann

MY REFLECTION

HOSPITALITY, A FUNNEL OF GOD'S BLESSING

The liturgy of the word this Sunday lays emphasis on hospitality and how it attracts God's blessing depending on how we tend to it. Severally in the bible, we have seen how people have been blessed or rewarded because of their good hospitality, someone like Abraham and so on.

In the first reading we see how Elijah on his way to Shunem met a woman who always asked him to come in and eat before continuing his journey, to the extent she made up her mind to build him a room of his own so that whenever he comes, he will feel comfortable and also sleep then, continue his journey next morning. This woman also discussed with the husband and I think the husband gave in to it because the room was built for him.

It was in that room that Elijah thought of what to do for this same woman, you see? He was relaxed and queried himself on how to reward this woman so, he sent for her immediately.

This woman from the look of things seems to be rich but she doesn't have a child, can you imagine what kind of pain, suffering and even insult she must have been gone through because of this childlessness? Yet, she didn't allow the situation to discourage her nor be led astray nor walk away from God as some of us might do when we face a difficult situation, but this woman persisted and was able to recognize Elijah as a man of God, welcomed him and took care of him in her house.

In the Gospel reading, Jesus said, anyone who welcomes a prophet, will have the reward of a prophet and anyone who welcomes a holy man of God, will receive a holy man's reward. Therefore the Shunamite woman welcomed a man of God and received her reward- the reward of a prophet.

Many times, a difficult situation might make us deviate from doing what is good because our mind is full of bitterness because the only thing we see, is that difficult situation, but we forget that Christ said, "if you want to follow me, carry your cross". May we always carry any cross given to us by God in a cheerful way, irrespective of the pain we are going through. I know it is very difficult but we must have in mind that it is not permanent and that God can never allow us carry any cross that is bigger than our capacity.

Let's learn from the Shunamite woman so that, even in our difficult moment, we can still render a helping hand to someone. We should also from the Shunamite woman's husband, and be a supporter of good deeds whenever we are opportune to do so.

May the merciful God give us the strength and grace not to go astray because of any difficult moment we experience in our life, rather we may seize the opportunity and climb the ladder of faith, Amen.