DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

MONDAY OF THE 29th WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR (II)

Mystery of the day: Joyful

Celebration:   St Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr (+107). He was the successor to St Peter as Bishop of Antioch. He suffered martyrdom in Rome during the persecution of Trajan. On his way to the Holy City, he wrote seven letters concerning the Person of Christ, the constitution of the Church, and Christian life. In these letters, he expressed his great love for the Lord and his ardent desire for martyrdom. His name is in the Roman Canon.

Table of the Word:  Ephesians 2:1-10; Luke 12:13-21

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God -- not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, ..." (Ephesians 2:9)

Theme: Boast not, except in Christ

Reflection for the day:

Absolutely, there is nothing we have or status we occupy that was not given to us directly or indirectly by God. For some who in their foolish paradise think that, it is as a result of hard work that they are at the crescendo of life, or as a result of their intellect, whimps and caprisces lost it out because of ignorant.

Obviously, their claim is far from the truth, for it is about God's providence and grace. And it is our obligation every now and then to acknowledge this source of our strength as St. Paul in the first reading avers:

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God -- not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, ..." (Ephesians 2:9)

In our failure to boast in Him who is the beginning and the end correlate us with that rich fool which Evangelist Luke in the gospel pericope recounted. (cf.Luke 12:13-21)

A man who trusted in his strength, who was all for himself without recourse to anyone. He saw himself as the beginning and the end, and as it pleases the Creator his soul was demanded of him when he thought he had all at his beck and call?

O! What an empty life, his late to bed and earlier rising all in vain.

In contrast to this, St. Ignatius of Antioch whose memorial we celebrate today, gave us exemplary life of following the gospel, when he considered wealth and royalty as a barrier for him to attain the highest good - Heaven.

To this end, beloved in Christ, where do we place God in our success story? Is He at the apex or consultant when the going is bad? Think well of the goodness of the Lord in your life and be humbled to acknowledge the "Source of the sources". Else, you will prepare a banquet for unexpected guest/as the rich fool in the gospel pericope. Peace, be with you!

Let us pray

Almighty ever-living God, who adorn the sacred body of your Church with the confessions of holy Martyrs, grant, we pray, that, just as the glorious passion of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, which we celebrate today, brought him eternal splendour, so may it be for us unending protection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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