Tuesday of the 15th Week: Reflection by Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh
Theme: THE DANGER OF CONVERTING BLESSINGS TO WOES
(Matthew 11: 20–24)
The Lord God has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. He goes around distributing these blessings according to His riches in glory. These blessings come in form of persons, endowments and favours. They come as teachings, miracles and wonders. They come as opportunities, decisions and resolutions. They come as demands, responsibilities and deposits that call for accountability.
Jesus went back to the places he had worked before but lo and behold, they wasted the graces, the blessings and the opportunities lavished on them. These cities failed in being receptive and productive with the spiritual, moral, human, intellectual and all forms of resources they are endowed with.
He never came to get such a negative feedback. He came to congratulate them, to take the glory, to marvel at the impact of His work. But unfortunately, it looked as if He had wasted his energy. He came to bless them the more, but He ended up cursing them and leaving them with anger.
I am imagining Jesus Christ coming to Africa, to Nigeria, to Igboland, to our states, towns, villages, kindred and families. What will He see? A productive people or a destructive people? Those cooperating with the Holy Spirit or those working against the intention of God?
What has God not blessed us with? What has He not done for us? He blessed us with the best climatic condition, He blessed us with a very fertile land. He deposited in our earth mineral resources of unimaginable value. He made us rich in culture. But what are we making out of these wonderful works God initiated in and around us? Wickedness, hardened heart, insecurity, bad leadership, corruption and immorality.
Jesus will certainly observe as we must agree that if the miracles done in our land had been done in some other countries, they would have been great with it. Well, Judgement awaits all those who convert the blessings of God into woe.
Yes, those who make our rich population to be a problem instead of a blessing. Those who make our multicultural blessings to be a curse. Those who make our industrious spirit a reason to marginalise us. Those who abuse our religious inclinations. Those who take advantage of our peaceful nature. God will speak. He will arise to frown at the way the blessings of His people have been turned to woe. Let us guard against the wrath of God and be wise with His gracious blessings.
May God continue to bless us and help us to make good use of His blessed opportunities in our lives.
LET US PRAY
Heavenly Father, we thank You for blessing us richly in Christ. Grant us the grace to work with Your blessings in our lives. Confront all the forces holding down our blessings and making them causes of sorrow instead of joy. May we be blessed all the more and make good use of the opportunities You give us each day that on the last day we may render good account to You through Christ our Lord. Amen
God bless your Tuesday (15th Week, Ordinary Time)
Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh