WHICH DO YOU PREFER? LIFE OR DEATH
Sunday, February 12, 2023.
SIXTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR (A)
Psalm. 119: 1-2, 4-5, 17-1 8, 33-34 (R. 1b)
Second Reading. 1 Corinthians 2: 6-10
Gospel. Matthew 5: 17-37
TOPIC FOR REFLECTION
YOUR CHOICE: LIFE OR DEATH.
My dear, you have the freedom to...
1. Keep God's commandments or not.
2. Trust God or not.
3. Choose water or fire.
4. Choose life or death.
5. Choose Good or evil
Hence, the first reading stated clearly that whatever a person chooses will be given to him/her.
***The wisdom of the Lord is mighty in power and He sees everything.
***The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him. He keeps the record.
***God knows every deed of humanity. ***God has not commanded anyone to be ungodly, and he has not given anyone permission to SIN.
The psalmist said Blessed are those who walk in the law of the Lord.
So, whoever chooses to trust, believe, and keep the commandments of God is already walking in the law of the Lord.
In that regard, St. Paul said that for us to be steadfast in walking in the law of the Lord, we need not the wisdom of this world, but the divine wisdom, which comes from above, the wisdom of God.
The wisdom of this world is evil, and it will perish with the world, while the wisdom of God is eternal, and whoever welcomes the eternal wisdom, welcomes God. Hence, such a fellow will have the Spirit of God to keep the new commandments Jesus taught us.
Jesus said...
1. Do not think that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. (Jesus is the fulfillment of the law)
2. Truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. (Those of us who manipulate the law to soothe ourselves should be very careful. It's strong warming for us)
3. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
4. Listen, Jesus said: Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Those of us living a pharisaic life, a pretentious life, using the Church to commit evil will not enter heaven, let us repent)
5. You have heard the followings...
***You shall not kill, and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.
***But I say to you that anyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be liable to the hell of fire.
---My dear this No 5. ehn, almost all of us are guilty of it oooo.
Can we count how many times we have been angry with ourselves, and with others, especially being angry with the present situation of the country?
Can any of us count how many times we have insulted one another and called ourselves fools? Hmmm, may God have mercy on us.
TEACHING ON FORGIVENESS.
If you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go; first, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison; truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny.
***Today many of us glory in paying our tithes, and giving offerings, because it is a blessing to give, yet many are experts, while some have a Doctorate degree in malice keeping. Going with what Jesus said in today's Gospel, are those tithes and offerings accepted by God?
TEACHING ON MORAL LIFE
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.* If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body is thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body goes into hell.
***Hmmm, how many will be saved today in our society which promotes and teaches people how to authenticate or make real their lustful pleasure into sexual acts?
TEACHING ON SINCERITY
Again you have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘YES’ or ‘NO’; anything more than this comes from the Evil One.”
***What happened to those of us who have turned swearing to daily food?
My dear, today's reflection is loaded with lots of teachings. He who has an ear, let him/her hear what the Spirit is saying.
Peace ✌️ be with you.
Rev. Fr. Segun Oladeji, CRS.
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