Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time of the Year (C)
Mystery of the day: Sorrowful
Table of the Word: Ezekiel 28:1-10; Matthew 19:23-30
Theme: Pride goes before fall.
"Because your heart is proud, and you have said, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas, ..." (Ezekiel 28:2)
The glory of every man is bestowed only by God. Fame and honour fade when there is a derailed from its source through pride and self-glorification. But he who holds God as the first and the last of every crown stands to enjoy the aura of a dignified state.
Today, in the first reading Prophet Ezekiel presented before us an account of yet another foolish man, who did not see God as the source of his strength.
"Because your heart is proud, and you have said, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas, ..." (Ezekiel 28:2)
In human calculations, he sees himself as "all" and "all", the beginning and the end; and suddenly forgets that God is the author and finisher of his being.
To buttress this point, St. Paul in his second epistle to the Corinthian Church recounted the loss Christ accepted for our gain saying:
"Though Jesus Christ was rich, yet for our sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9).
Beloved in Christ, how do we reciprocate this kind gesture of our Creator? Is it by using what He has blessed us with, to suppress others? To inflict pains? Judge others unjustly? Telling the poor "your life is in my hand." Above all, we only think as humans and not God. He has the final say. Let us not forget in haste also, the story of that Biblical rich fool, who had all at his beck and call, but his hope in himself was thwarted by his Creator.
Finally, let us learn form the fig tree that there is nothing, absolutely nothing that last forever, except God Himself and His Words. And something must certainly humble a man. Peace! Be with you.
Let us pray
Holy, Immortal and Invincible God, we give You glory and honour for Your faithfulness and love. Grant us we pray the grace to be humble before You through our fellow men. Let our actions be geared toward the sanctification of our souls and the glory of Your name. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
© The ARCHIVE 16082022
Amen, more grace fr.
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