SATURDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD (SATWOG AUGUST 26TH, 2023) INSPIRING REFLECTIONS OF MEMBERS

LAITY REFLECTIONS FOR THE 21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

First Reading: Isaiah 22:19-23
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 138:1-2a.2bcd-3.6 and 8bc (R. 8bc)
Second Reading: Romans 11:33-36
Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 16:18
Gospel: Matthew 16:13-20

Nnanna K. Ogbonna

MY REFLECTION

An important question we need to ask ourselves is, "Who is Jesus to me?"

Our understanding of this question helps to shape our lives and influences the key decisions we make. The question now is how do we know who Jesus is?

One of the ways is by hearing about Jesus from various preachers and/or reading more about who Jesus is. This is good because the Scripture says that faith comes through hearing (as well as reading, in my opinion).

Another way that I consider convincing, is when Jesus reveals Himself to you or the events in your life lead you to deeper conviction to know that Jesus is bigger than the boundaries we may have constrained Him to in our lives and in response, we make a statement of faith. Recall how Nathaniel was called by Philip and after his encounter with Jesus, he exclaimed "Master, you are the son of God. You are the King of Israel'' - an act of faith.

We need the help of the Holy Spirit to continue to lead us into a deeper knowledge of Jesus for He is all in all. When we understand who Jesus is, His various titles like - Almighty, Prince of Peace, My deliverer, used in various worship songs, will make more sense to you.

May God help us to experience Him and grow into a deeper relationship with Him, Amen.

Ngozi Cecilia Nlewedim

MY REFLECTION

My reflection is on the Gospel reading...

"I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

The gospel enlightens everyone that no matter what situation we are in, as long as we acknowledge who Jesus is, we will have the key to enter heaven. Jesus meant that the foundation of the Church was to be this faith. Peter himself is like the first rock in God's building. Jesus is the foundation and God's building is the Church. Peter was the first person to declare that he believed in Jesus and he became an important leader and teacher in the early Church. 

Chinyere Esther Onyia

MY REFLECTION

I always love to read Peter's response to Jesus.

Beyond the teaching, exposure, signs and wonders which the apostles have seen with and around Jesus, Jesus was interested to know what they had assimilated and what they took him for.

While I believe and agree that Peter was helped by the Holy Spirit he must have personalized his experience with Jesus, and taken a few steps inward, to make a decision about who Jesus was before he could come to the level where he made himself available for the help of the Holy Spirit.

This reminds me of the personal "effort" required from me before I could come to a place where the Holy Spirit could easily help me. The "effort" here could mean, taking time to join Saturday of the Word, attending church and other sacrifices required of us as Christians.

I pray that God continues to quicken our spirit to make this effort always. Amen.

Igbinazaka Angela

MY REFLECTION

This particular Gospel reading makes me begin to question my level of understanding of God whom I claim to know, to love and to serve in this world and in the next. 

The reading calls for deeper reflection in that, when I claim to know God it means I understand clearly the things He likes and the things He does not like. In loving God I must be able to love my neighbour as I love myself and in serving Him it must be in spirit and truth. 

Hence, in explaining who people think Jesus truly is; I can be able to educate people who Jesus is because of the simple analysis of how much I know, love and serve God. 

So, I begin to wonder if Christ should ask me today who He is if I will be disposed enough to give him a response since I claim to know him very well. Plus the fact that my sinful nature may not give me that predisposition of the Holy Spirit to hear directly from my Father (God) because God does not live in those who are not in Him.

The moral lesson is to always be in God asking for grace not be in sin and striving for holiness at all times. 

And so I will wake up from my slumber and ask for the grace to understand very deeply the mandate I have been given so that, just like Peter, I too, by virtue of my baptism, can bind and lose through the power of God. 

May God grant us to grace of understanding and knowledge. Amen.

Comfort Mary Edewor

MY REFLECTION

"But you, who do you say I am?"

I truly believe that the question Jesus asked his disciples about who people said he was, did not really make any difference to him. Rather, he was more concerned about who the disciples thought he was. Simon Peter who was the first and only disciple to speak, demonstrated by his answer, that God had spoken through him, confirming his choice as the head of the other disciples.

Jesus did not just make an arbitrary choice of Peter as the head of his church on earth. He needed to hear from the Father in heaven who alone has such authority and power. This affirms what Scripture says that all power and authority belongs to God and He chooses as He alone deems fit and any other parameter used by man to make such selection usually ends in futility. He is the one who raises one to the position of authority and can equally bring down. l am also reminded here of the two sons of Zebedee, whose mother asked Jesus to reserve choice positions on his right and left for her sons in his kingdom, and the profound response of Jesus on this occasion.

God has always demonstrated his love for mankind in his choice of leaders for his people because he alone searches the heart and does not see as men do. What we have today are leaders who force their way into office for their own selfish gains, causing the reign of suffering and hardship, war and terrorism all over the world. We should continue to pray for wisdom and light to discern God's perfect will, when the opportunity to choose our leaders arises because only then, can God's divine purpose for his people be realized.

Okoronkwo Vivian

MY REFLECTION

Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do men say the son of man is?" Some said the son of man, some said Elijah and others said Jeremiah or one of the prophets.

As Christians, who do people say we are? In our families, workplaces, in the church, and the society at large?

We pray that God Almighty will help us to live lives worthy of emulation in Jesus' name. Amen.