DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

WEDNESDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR (II)

Mystery of the day: Glorious

Table of the Word

1st Reading = James 4:13-17                      Resp. Psalm = Ps 49:1-2,5-10;13       Gospel = Mark 9:38-40

Saint of the day

St. Polycarp

He lived in the antiquity and was said to have born in the year 69 A.D. As per Tertullian, Polycarp was a disciple of John the Apostle, the author of the Gospel according to John. Apostle John converted Polycarp to Christianity and ordained him as the bishop of Smyrna. Polycarp was in communion with the Apostles and others who have seen and talked with Jesus. Irenaeus also reported that he heard Polycarp speak, when he was young. Polycarp followed the eastern practice of celebrating Passover on the 14th Nissan, the day of Jewish Passover regardless of what day of the week it falls. He died a martyr’s death. Polycarp died on a Saturday February 23, probably in the year 155 or 156 A.D. during the Pro-Consulship of Statius Quadratus. He was bound in a stake and was set fire. But the fire did not touch him. So the guards killed him by stabbing with spear. He was killed for his refusal to burn incense to the image of the Roman Emperor. He told them that he served God for 86 years and as such he could not serve the Emperor.

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Reflection for the day

Theme: The shortness of human life

"Beloved: Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and get gain"; whereas you do not know about tomorrow. What is your life?" (James 4:13ff.)

Dearest friend(s) in Christ Jesus, I wish to begin this reflection with a thought provoking question, which is an extract from the first reading of today and the last sentence of the central text.

What is your life?

Putting this question before us called to mind our fragility and dependency on God, for we cannot do it without Him. As an unknown author wrote:"There is nothing difficult that I and God cannot handle together.". Yes! He is all-knowing, all-powerful and ever-present among us. 

In our text today, we wish to reflect with St. James who said: 

"Beloved: Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and get gain"; whereas you do not know about tomorrow. What is your life?" (James 4:13ff.)

This serves as a sure reminder of the shortness of our lives and God's supreme power over us. For man proposes and God disposes according to His will and for our good. 

Therefore, we need to commend our plans to Him, He will be there to see to it completion. Though sometimes, we tend to believe in our whims and caprices, our intellect and prowess, but forget that these are of God and God alone. 

The words of the Psalmist put us on the know concerning our dependency on God saying: "No man can ransom a brother, nor pay a price to God for his life." (Psalm 49:7) That is to say, all that we are, have come from God.

Peace! Be with you

Let us pray

Merciful Lord, we acknowledge Your unfathomable love and mercy. Hearken to our plea, we beg Thee, and grant us the grace to put You before every other thing. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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