“… IF YOU HAVE DECIDED TO SERVE THE LORD, PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE TRIALS” (Sir 2:1)

⏰Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Ordinary Time 1 (21 Feb 2017)

????Sir 2:1-11; Ps 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40 (R.v.5); Mark 9:30-37

????”… IF YOU HAVE DECIDED TO SERVE THE LORD, PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE TRIALS” (Sir 2:1)

Some people had often opined that the reason the disciples of Jesus were unable to heal the deaf and mute child was because they were jostling among themselves over who would heal the child and take the glory. This is just an insinuation but we have to take it seriously for our purpose today. Why?

Many of us today who claim to follow and serve Christ have forgotten that no one can follow Christ without the cross. It is now all about comfort! We forget that it is God first before us.

It is not then by accident that Jesus reminded them that prayer and fasting (i.e. total dependence on God) are the supplements they needed (cf. Mark 9:29). Shortly after, he went on again to counsel them on the need to be humble (cf. Mark 9:33-37).

My dear, pride, fame, over-ambition, etc. are some of the evil trends that tear the world apart today. Everyone wants to be the “oputa obie,” the “okwusia ogwu” (the man of the moment). Sadly, many who jostle to get that fame never work to justify it, yet they destroy, kill and tarnish people’s images in order to stay atop. Hmmmm!

Now, stop using your mind to calculate the persons you think might be guilty of this! It is a time for introspection. Check yourself while I check myself. Let us find out if there is any trait of those bad attitudes in us. If we are able to expel those traits from our lives and embrace humility, God will dwell in us and exalt us.

So we pray, “Grant to us, O Lord, a heart renewed. Recreate in us, your own Spirit” (cf. Ps 51:10). Amen.

Have a grace-filled day ahead. It is well with you.