DO NOT LOOK UNTO MAN, BUT GOD

⏰Monday of the Twenty-Ninth Week of Ordinary Time 2 (29 October 2018)

📕Eph 4:32 – 5:8; Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6 (R. Eph 5:1); Luke 13:10-17

After teaching the Ephesians the need to be united as one in Christ, St. Paul began to instruct them on how they are to live in newness of life in that body of Christ (Eph 4:17 – 5:20). Today, he advises us, the neo-Ephesians, to be imitators of God and not of man (Eph 4:32-5:8). If we look upon man, he would mislead us because man is filled with evil passions that are not of God.

The practical example of that conclusion is found in the Gospel, where Jesus who is God heals a sick woman out of love but the synagogue official condemned it as evil because he broke the rule of the Sabbath. You see! God thinks of love while man thinks of the law, yet love is the fulfilment of the law (Rom 13:8).

Therefore, since we have been won over to Christ through Baptism, we now belong to light. We must ensure that we do not continue living as we did when we were in darkness. Rather, we must walk as children of the light (Eph 5:8).

By the way, can you imagine the joy of that woman who was healed? She knew that the officials would not be happy, yet, when Jesus summoned her (Luke 13:12) she answered. It won’t be easy to answer Jesus’ invitation to come to him with our worries (Matt 11:28) but your perseverance will win you your joy and life (Luke 21:19).

As you place all your hopes and trust on God, may your songs at the end of this new working week be songs of joy and victory. Amen.

Have a successful working week. Peace be with you.