THURSDAY JANUARY 11, 2024
THURSDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME B
1 Samuel 4:1-11
Mark 1:40-45
SUPERFICIALITY IN RELIGIOUS INCLINATION YIELDS LITTLE OR NO FRUIT.
The sons of Eli the priest, the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, who were more or less custodians of the Ark of the Covenant had been questioned because of their wayward life, irreligiosity, greed and cheating on God. They claim to be Sons of the Priest, Eli who is impeccable, who has maintained great moral standard with strong faith and commitment to God. But for his Sons, the contrary is the case. They were cheating on God, taking the sacrificial offerings that were the best and offering to God the worthless ones. And they did other abominable things to displease God.
In the time of their need of God’s help and support, they sought to force God’s help by bringing the Ark of the Covenant to fight their battle but of course, they were defeated and the ark of the Covenant was ceased or rather captured by the Phillistians.
Half baked religion, and all forms of fake and superficial religious actions and moral decadence does not go well with those who profess faith in God. Faithfulness and total surrender is the only way and key to claim the blessings of God. We cannot be half baked Christians too and be living pretentious lives hoping to be saved when we need it. God is not a toy to be played with. He is not even a God of magic to be called upon only when we need him.
To gain God’s blessings, we must be faith filled, wholly committed and adequately striving for the salvation that we hope to receive from him.
The leper in the gospel of today, came begging for God’s mercy, healing and restoration. He came worshipping, kneeling, imploring the God of salvation to come to his aid in his despicable situation. Leprosy is a disease that is akin to the situation of man. It depicts the situation of the hopelessness of man, the situation of limitedness, incapabilities and the many scourges plaguing man on earth.
But in all these, our total trust in God and full commitment and abandonment of ourselves can restore us to wholeness and normalcy. God is abundantly able to set us free from all if we put up the same attitude of the leper, the attitude of recognizing our debasement, then of adoring our God, worshipping his majesty, living under his control and being always attentive to his ordinances and desires.
Pure and unadulterated religious life is the key for God’s help and support. When we strive towards all these our salvation is secured and sure. Let us begin today to work for a life in Christ that is filled with faith, commitment and total abandonment.
Heavenly Father, the leper received his healing and was restored to wholeness became he responded in faith and totally abandoned himself to you. Grant us the same spirit and dedication to always seek to do your will, work in your ways, build faith and trust in you and surrender ourselves totally to you. May our situation be better, our sicknesses healed, our hearts inclined to you and our wills submit totally to your counsel through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
