DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

WEDNESDAY OF  THE 25th WEEK IN ORDINARY  OF THE YEAR (A)

MYSTERY OF THE DAY: Glorious 

CELEBRATION OF THE DAY:   St. Vincent de Paul, Priest

(1581-1660). Born in France. He was a priest who dedicated himself to evangelization of the poor, the unfortunate, and the suffering. Together with Louise de Marillac, he founded the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity. He also founded the Congregation of Priests of the Mission, known as Lazarists. His life remained deeply rooted in humility in spite of his worldwide fame.

TABLE OF THE WORD:Ezra 9:5-9; Luke 9:1-6.

THEME:  Lord, we have sinned and fallen short of Your glory. 

THE WORD

"O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt; and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as at this day." (Ezra 9:6-7)

INSPIRATION 

The notion of sin is understood differently by different people. No matter the diversity of understanding,  the term sin is generally understood as: "an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law." And Evangelist John in his first letter described sin as a “transgression” of God's spiritual law. The passage reads, “Whosoever committed  sin transgressed also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” One who commits sin violates or disobeys the will of God as revealed in the Bible. (1 John 3:4)

Beloved in Christ, today's Table of the Word precisely the first reading reminded us of the shame and pain of sin as Ezra cried out: 

"O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt; and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as at this day." (Ezra 9:6-7)

Here he poured out his mind on behalf of his people seeking for reconciliation with God. This therefore serves as an invitation to each and every one us to renew our relationship with our Creator, for no one is exempted as St. Paul in his epistle to the Romans Church avers: 

"All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory." (Romans 3:23) 

In our day-to-day living let us evaluate our relationship with one another, which is a sure step to define our relationship with our God. In our thought, let us think of good about others, in words let us speak as we want God to speak to us and in our action let us act as if we are messiah to others by giving leaning shoulder to those who are weak, teaching the ignorant and leading the blind aright just as St. Vincent de Paul whose memorial we celebrate today did. Peace be with you! 

PRAYER

O God, who for the relief of the poor and the formation of the clergy endowed the Priest Saint Vincent de Paul with apostolic virtues, grant, we pray, that, afire with that same spirit, we may love what he loved and put into practice what he taught. 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                        27092023.