THE CHURCH COMPETING WITH THE WORLD

 

Friday, February 17, 2023

SEVEN HOLY FOUNDERS OF THE ORDER OF SERVITES (OPT MEM)

First Reading. Genesis 11: 1-9   
Psalm. 33: 10-15 (R.12b)
Gospel. Mark 8: 34-9: 1

TOPIC FOR REFLECTION

THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD, AND THE WORLD IN THE CHURCH: CARRY YOUR CROSS 

Today, we live in a secularized world. Secularism means the separation of the church from the state. Although, the separation of church from the state may be considered in terms of administration in which the state will focus on all that concerns its public functions such as politics, welfare, etc since not everybody is Christ follower; while the church will focus on building the kingdom of God on earth.

Yet, all human beings living in this world belong to God, and at the same time belong to society. Hence, the church in the secular world, and the secular world in the church.

However, the most surprising is that secularism was re-defined as the cause of time, and deviated from its administrative function; it was consumed by materialism.
Ideally, secularism is to focus on how to better the lives of her citizens without partiality.
On the contrary, secularism became sectionalism, where people are being sectionalized, that is, the rich and the poor, etc.
Still, sectionalism brought about capitalism. Capitalism according to an online dictionary, is defined as an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit.
So, in the process of making a profit, humanity becomes an end to that means, and wealth becomes more valuable to humanity.

Therefore, with the arrival of capitalism, society now becomes a battlefield for the survival of the fittest.
The capitalists enslave humanity for profit, while humanity keeps resisting.
Then, in the wake of time, materialism became the order of the day. The sole intention of wanting to show off, oppress and suppress, and as a proof of achievement.

Materialism is the focus on material things in life instead of focusing on God.

So, the summary of the explanations above is represented thus:
SECULARISM👉🚩SECTIONALISM👉🚩CAPITALISM in which all are embedded in MATERIALISM. Hence, the world became materialistic.

This is to say, THE CHURCH IS IN THE WORLD, AND THE WORLD IS IN THE CHURCH.

However, we should always remember the words of Jesus that though we are in the world, but not of the world. Cf. John 17: 16

Despite all, in today's Gospel, Jesus laid much emphasis on what to do in other to enter the kingdom of God.
He says...
***If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would have his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel will save it.
***For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?
***For what can a man give in return for his life?
***For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

The questions that came to my mind are...
***How will the Christians enter heaven when they focus on material wealth as a yardstick for serving God?
***How will the church direct souls to God, when it competes with the secular world with material wealth achievements?
***How will the church members gain heaven, when they use material wealth to oppress and suppress one another in the church?
***How will heaven gain souls, while her members on earth are concerned with the latest car, house, cloth, jet, and TITHE, as a means to show off as blessings from God?
***How will the church members make heaven when they compete in vices and not in virtues?

My dear, you can add yours, let us use our tongues to count our teeth.
Nothing last forever.
No matter what you possess, none will leave this world with you.

Think more of God, and less of material wealth, trust God and not material wealth.

Aim at becoming God's Spirit-filled, and not becoming king of material wealth. 

Carry the cross of spirituality faithfully, it will lead to heaven. The cross of Material wealth leads to doom. 

Peace ✌️ be with you.

Rev. Fr. Segun Oladeji, CRS.

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