Wednesday of the 21st Week: Reflection by Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh
Theme: WHAT DO YOU HAVE INSIDE?
(Matthew 23:27–32)
The word of God today wants us to look inwards. God wants to see what we are really and not what we pretend to be or parade ourselves to be.
Yes, the world sees us as we appear. But appearance is not reality in most cases. The question is a personal one: Are you really what you appear to be? Are you actually what you present yourself to be? What and who are you in the sight of God? Are you doing well as people think?
Jesus gives the sad picture of outward goodness of the Pharisees. He describes them as hypocritical, whitewashed tombs and dead. In fact, such lifestyle is a perfect definition of ‘beautiful nonsense.’
Beware of what you carry inside. Be careful too about what people around you carry inside. Do not be drawn to people by what they claim to be but by what they are really. Do not also deceive people by pretending to be good when you’re indeed evil. You may deceive men, but You can’t deceive God. ‘I pughi I zonari ya Chineke’. Live true, open and transparent before God and man.
Destroy every tinted material covering you and giving you false security. Don’t cover evil with apparent goodness. Don’t use religion to cover your iniquities. Don’t cover your iniquities with marriage. Don’t cover your evils with your habit or hood. Don’t bury your crimes under philanthropic this and that. Stop covering up with pretentious smiles and crocodile tears. Let the Spirit of God touch you today to expose yourself before God so that every hidden evil, faults and uncleanness may be cleansed from you, that you may appear pure and holy before God and man.
LET US PRAY
We bring ourselves before you Oh Lord. You know us through and through. Our real selves are not hidden and cannot be hidden from You. Remove the dead works in our lives and make our entire being an acceptable sacrifice to You through Christ our Lord. Amen
God bless your Wednesday (21st Week, Ordinary Time)
Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh