THURSDAY OCTOBER 17, 2024
THURSDAY OF THE TWENTY EIGHTH WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME B
ST IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH B.M. (MEMORIAL)
Ephesians 1: 1- 10
Luke 11:47-54
NEVER BE A SCANDAL OR STUMBLING BLOCK IN GOD’S PLAN
The Pharisees and leaders of the people in the time of Jesus were more concerned with their ego, their importance, their wellbeing and their interest. The plan of God was only secondary. And in the bid to project themselves, they undermined the prophets, killed some, and acted wickedly to many. Even the messiah, Jesus was not accepted instead, they were intent on catching him by what he may say or do. And they laid traps for him.
In all these, the pharisees and the leaders of the people were more a scandals to the people and they appeared like stumbling blocks to the plan of God.
In today’s gospel, Jesus accuses them of the crimes of blocking the people from gaining knowledge and acting as stumbling block, scandals and trying to do away with him. By these, their pretenses to be working for God, and to have love and admiration for the prophets whom they killed, were revealed. Jesus accuses them and requests from them a change of heart.
In the first reading, a beginning of Saint Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we are reminded of the divine plan of God for humanity in Christ Jesus. The plan of our salvation accomplished in Christ. That God willed us to be saved in Christ, that our sins will be washed away in the death and resurrection of Christ. And we may become new creatures, working for God. And it ended with this. “For he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth:”
This plan of God is purposely that, we may gain wisdom, we may become united in Christ and we may be reconciled with our God.
This is the plan of God revealed in Christ and made open to us by Saint Paul. We are urged to key into this divine plan of God. That our knowledge may lead us to God, and not become a stumbling block to others. That our life will become testimony of God’s love and faithfulness and not a scandal to the world. That we may become consumed with this divine plan and work for its fulfilment and not its destruction.
So unlike the Pharisees and the leaders of the people, our earnest striving, life and activity will be to propagate the plans of our God. We must seek to uphold the name of God and not ours. We must be serious to share this knowledge of his will, his plan and work for it.
It means that we must be selfless in action, faithful to God, sincere to the task of evolving God’s plan and giving due honour, regards and respect to God’s plan, God’s messengers, and God’s ways. Our entire focus should be God oriented.
Any attempt or indication to place self above this plan brings to disrepute the desire of our God and results in scandals and self serving.
Heavenly Father, your plan of salvation is real, sincere and faithful. Help us to key into this plan, to uphold and enhance it. May we never become stumbling block or create scandal by thwarting this plan of our salvation. May we seek holiness, and purity of life as we work to fulfil your mission of saving mankind through Christ our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
