DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

TUESDAY OF  THE 21ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR (A)

MYSTERY OF THE DAY: Sorrowful 

CELEBRATION OF THE DAY: The Passion of Saint John the Baptist

St John's fearless condemnation of Herod's unlawful marriage incurred the hatred of the king's bride, Herodias. She had him imprisoned and finally killed. St John the Baptist teaches us to be strong in carrying out the mission God has given us.

TABLE OF THE WORD: Jeremiah 1:17-19; Mark 6:17-29.

THEME: I am with you.

THE WORD: 

• "They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the LORD, to deliver you." (Jeremiah 1:19)

The Scripture often serves as our sure foundation in which our faith is built upon. It gives us the assurance of God's abiding presence, that if we are faithful to His detects and ordinances we will not be disappointed.  This goes along way to establish the fact which is ascribed to St. Augustine that: "God who created us without us cannot save us without us." 

However, there must be our co-participation in our journey of redemption. This Divine assurance has been a repeated promise in many parts of the scripture.  The book of Exodus 14:14 further gives us insight into this promise as God says: "keep still, I will fight your battle." 

Consequently,  the gospel pericope gives us an account of a man who did his best to keep the Divine detects and ordinances-John the Baptist, who along the line lost his life for a higher good - the eternal life. (cf. Mark 6:17-29)

INSPIRATION

Every now and then we keep on reflecting on how to defeat our enemies, how can we triumph over the trap set before us? How possible is it to get rid of the plan of evil one? With all these, the Lord has invited us into a deeper relationship with Him, and if we eventually hearken to His instructions then His ever abiding presence will be with us as Prophet Jeremiah says: 

• "They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the LORD, to deliver you." (Jeremiah 1:19)

Beloved in Christ, if God is with us who can be against us? With this Divine promise the ever abiding presence of God is with us, therefore fear not for He is with us always. 

Peace be with you! 

PRAYER

O God, who willed that Saint John the Baptist should go ahead of your Son both in his birth and in his death, grant that as he died a Martyr for truth and justice, we, too, may fight hard for the confession of what you teach. 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.

+ May the Lord in His infinite mercy bless and keep us, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

(c) The ARCHIVE                        29082023