SPIRITUAL GREEDINESS

 *WEDNESDAY October 11, 2023* 


Weekday (27)


First Reading. Jonah 4: 1-10

Psalm. 86: 3-6, 9-10 (R.See15)

Gospel. Luke 11: 1-4


TOPIC FOR REFLECTION


 *SPIRITUAL GREEDINESS* 


Let me quickly ask, 

Is God's mercy your mercy?

Is God's compassion your compassion?

Is God's kindness your kindness?

Is God's love your love?

Is God's forgiveness your forgiveness?


Hmmm, why is God's generosity your headache? Well, if you have a problem with His generosity, it simply means you are SPIRITUALLY GREEDY.


Now, before you start thinking about what today's topic means, kindly read through...

1. Are you aware that some of us are angry with forgiveness?

2. While some are celebrating forgiveness, some are busy castigating it.

3. While some are trying to make friends with forgiveness, some are busy making enmity with it.

4. Some want forgiveness for themselves alone, and not for others.

5. Some see forgiveness as their birthright and not the birthright of others


In a nutshell, some want God to forgive them alone, while He should destroy others. This is what is known as SPIRITUAL GREEDINESS


In my little journey in life, I have come to realise that...

1. Some take pleasure in offending others but never want anybody to offend them.

2. Some are quick to ask for forgiveness after offending people but will boast not to forgive those who offend them. What an irony!


It is as if humanity has taken the compassionate heart of God for granted. We no longer have regard for His compassion, in short, we have no regard for God. Many of us see God as a slave whom we can dictate and direct as we wish. This is a DANGEROUS SPIRITUALITY.


It all starts with...

1. Telling God what to do at prayer, and not seeking His will. Such people are known as SPIRITUAL DICTATOR.

2. Sending God the Holy Spirit to go as a messenger to BURN our enemy.

What a SPIRITUAL INSULT!

3. Dictating and directing God on what He should do while we never want Him to direct us. What a SPIRITUAL PRIDE!


My dear, we could go on recounting some of our misleading spiritual activities. My question is, why are we angry with God's forgiveness?


Many of us Christians are angry if God should forgive the person whom we gave tagged as our enemy.

We get angry if a chronic sinner should repent

We don't want to forgive, yet if God should forgive we get angry, why?

Is this not SPIRITUAL GREED?

Invariably, you mean that forgiveness is meant for you alone and not others.


This is the case of Prophet Jonah in today's first reading, after he reluctantly delivered the message of repentance to the people of Nineveh, they repented and God forgave them, and he became angry. 


Well, humanly speaking, Jonah reacted more like a human which any of us may react to if we find ourselves in such a situation. An instance is a known Boko Haram person who has killed and destroyed many of our family members and friends, suddenly repented and God forgives, being human, one would be angry that he should be punished for killing. 


On the contrary, we should know that God does not want the death of a sinner, but to repent and be saved.

More reason the psalmist would say: You are slow to anger, O Lord. And abundant in mercy.


Similarly, in the Gospel, Jesus teaches us how to pray for our FATHER, and he encourages us to ask God to forgive us as we forgive others.


In summary, we all need forgiveness from God because no one is perfect. So, do not be angry if God forgives the person whom you see as your enemy.


Remember, if God should mark our sins, who will survive? Psalm 130.


 *Peace ✌️ be with you.* 



 *Rev. Fr. Segun Oladeji, CRS.* 


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