Tuesday of 8th Week in Ordinary Time, Yr. II: reflection

Theme: Set your hope upon the grace that is coming to you in Christ Jesus. (1Pet 1:13)

Readings: 1Pet 1:10–16; Mk 10:28–31

The hardships caused by incompetent governments and their bad policies, which have become the only constant factor in our nations, especially in Nigeria, have pushed some people to long for a return to the life of darkness, where the devil and his agents are promising them easy wealth and elevated social status. However, wealth acquired by dancing to the music of the world of darkness can only make one occupy the first position (a position of honour) in this world while his position in the next world will be the last. It was for this reason that Jesus, in today’s gospel, warned that the first will be the last and the last, first.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, in today’s first reading, St. Peter advised us not to conform ourselves to the passions of our former lives, that is, the life of darkness from which Christ freed us, regardless of the degree of adversity and hardship we experience here on Earth. Rather, we ought to set our hope fully upon the grace that is coming to us at the revelation of Christ.

To jettison the passions of evil lifestyle or the lure of evil in order to focus solely on God’s grace and providence may necessitate the abandonment of homes, lands, brothers, sisters, and friends. But, then, Jesus assures us in today’s gospel that all who have given up all of these for His sake will receive them a hundredfold in eternal life.

Let us, therefore, put our trust in God’s grace, refusing any attraction of the underworld, because those who benefitted from them will be last at the end, despite of the first positions they occupied here on earth.

Fr Isaac Chima