Todays Reading:
Exodus 11:10-12:14
Psalm 116:12-13,15-18
Matthew 12:1-8
There is a saying that, “Prevention is better than cure”. My broken English translation of it is, “Do something before something do you”. This is because a lot of us take our faith and the riches that God bestows on us through the different sacraments and sacramentals that are available to us for granted. And the readings of today are replete with a lot of symbolism gestures and sayings that we can still tap into because history repeats itself. Each of us is living out the mysteries of life, ministry, suffering, death and resurrection of Christ as we go about on a daily basis.
In many cases too, we are living out the events of history that have gone before us. For example, the slavery of Israel in Egypt is a type or symbol of our Christian journey through this world. The hardness of heart that Pharaoh had towards the Israelites is a symbol of the oppression that we see today among leaders of different nations. God’s instruction to the Israelites to observe the ritual eating of the Passover meal as a preparation for their movement out of Egypt in freedom, is an echo and a symbolism which is fulfilled more deeply in the Eucharistic meal that we have the privilege of celebrating every single day – the means by which we are rejuvenated and liberated spiritually.
The Eucharist makes us aware of God’s abiding presence in us. The blood that marked the doorposts of the houses where the Israelites lived is a sign of our Baptism. At Baptism, water was poured over our heads, symbolizing our death in Christ. And it also symbolizes our rebirth in the blood of Christ who has marked us with the sign of the Cross so that we are His own forever. I just think that a lot of people take all these things for granted. The Gospel reading where Jesus confronts the Pharisees who were trailing Him and his disciples in order to catch them doing something wrong on the Sabbath day, and Jesus’ way of dispelling their criticism is the way in which we are emboldened by the Word of God to break every evil stronghold in our lives. I see a neglect on our part to tap into these riches that God pours out upon us. We neglect the riches of our Baptism. Holy Water which we can sprinkle on ourselves and on our household, protects us from the evils of the enemy and from even physical manifestations of evil. I see the way in which we play with the sacrament of the Eucharist which we can receive daily at the church. A lot of us can afford to attend church daily, but we downplay its power and value.
I see how many of us make excuses for prayer and daily study the Scriptures because we are
busy. I pray that God will give us the strength to tap into the opportunities we have in the
sacraments and sacramentals of the Church, so that ‘You go do something before something do
you’. Prevention is always better than cure. God bless you.
JUDE-MARY OWOH
Prayer:
I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless thee, and I will praise thy name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable
One generation shall praise thy works to another and shall declare thy mighty acts.
Thank You, Lord, for all the goodness and privileges we have in Christ Jesus.
Lord help me to love and appreciate the finished work of Our Saviour on the Cross, in Jesus' name.
Lord daily let me see You more clearly, daily love You more dearly, and daily follow You more nearly all the days of my life, in Jesus' name.
Father, in our children, youths, and young adults, raise a focused generation that will be of service to You, in Jesus' name.
Lord visit the body of Christ with Your mercy, Your love and Your truth; that they may proclaim the truth about the Gospel of truth, in Jesus' name.
Merciful God, gracious Father, walk the length and breadth of our nation and uproot everything You have not planted with Your fire, in Jesus' name Amen.
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