Skip to main content

DOING THE WILL OF GOD …THE TRUE FAMILY OF JESUS By Rev Fr Victor Ibiyemi


JUNE 10, TENTH SUNDAY- GENESIS 2:9-15, PSALM 130:1-8, 2 CORINTHIANS 4:13-5:1, JOHN 12:3, MARK 3:20-35. 

It is very true in “modern day Christianity” that many Christians are only church-goers, pew-warmers and even bench-breakers. Many Christians have no inclination, connection or affinity with God! Yes, we are always in Church, always present at religious activities, always identifying with the flaunting of religiosity, however, the truth remains that many Christians do not belong to the family of God, many Christians though present at religious gatherings are always outside the circle of God. That is why with such great presence of Christianity on our streets, our society has remained as godless as any sin-city. God’s word today speaks to us on the fundamental criterion of being a true member of Jesus’ family. 

The first reading tells how the first family fell out of the plenitude of divine grace due to its disobedience to God. This short drama gives the necessary lessons about the nature, mechanism and effects of sin. The first family was tempted and deceived by the devil, however, Adam and Eve consciously consented to the serpent and therefore sinned. The effect of their disobedience was the loss of personal relationship of communion with God. They lost that personal, familiar, peculiar connection with God. But because with the Lord there is mercy and plentiful redemption, God gives hope to the first family that despite their sin there will be a fulfilment of redemption through their progeny.

 In the Gospel, the friends (family) of Jesus thought he was mad. They have many reasons to think so. The scribes on another level accused him of being possessed by the prince of demons. Jesus corrected their ignorance by teaching them the foolishness of a divided kingdom. He then named that one sin that could put us out of His family forever- the Sin against the Holy Spirit which is obstinacy- the inability to repent! Immediately, his family stood outside asking for him, Jesus seized that important opportunity to declare those who truly constitute the family of God. 

For sure, it is not a bloodline affair, rather, those who do the will of God are his family members. By this, Jesus made his mother- Mary the perfect example of God’s family. Brothers and sisters, doing the will of God- which is obedience to him- is the only way we belong to God’s family. We must strive to do His will every day! May God give us that courage and grace to do his will always through Christ our Lord.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

GROWING IN SILENCE… THE BEAUTY OF HUMBLE BEGINNINGS By Rev Fr Victor Ibiyemi

JUNE 17, ELEVENTH SUNDAY- EZEKIEL 17:22-24, PSALM 91:2-3, 13-16, 2 CORINTHIANS 5:6-10, JOHN 15:15, MARK 4:26-34 There are two more evils we need to combat in our contemporary world. They are: NOISE and HASTE. Our society is too NOISY; everybody is shouting, nobody is heard! Everybody is talking, nobody is listening! Everybody wants to speak all the time! Nobody wants to listen at any time! With the slightest opportunity we h ave, we flaunt ourselves, make noise about ourselves and about everything else.  The social media has become a stage for the grievous insanity! You would not believe what you will see there! The internet makes the loudest and heart-aching noise! Our music are loud! Our talking is loud! Our dancing is loud! All these pockets of noise deafen and hinder us from true growth. The second vice which apparently appears like a virtue is the evil of HASTE. Everybody is in HASTE! We are all in a RUSH! We hastily hunt for money, fame, recognition and acceptance.  E
Post a Comment
Read more

WHAT IS MY PURPOSE IN LIFE? By Rev Fr Victor Ibiyemi

JUNE 24, THE BIRTHDAY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST-ISAIAH 49:1-6, PSALM 138, ACTS 13:22-26, LUKE 1:76, LUKE 1:57-66,80.    The ultimate question in life is: What is my purpose in life? This question, answered wrongly or even unanswered has driven many people to their early graves, succeeded and attempted suicides, frustration, depression and eventual madness. This question has made many sick, enraged, confused, cold and unresponsive. This same questi on is tearing many people apart, making them focus-less, insatiable, distracted, unorganised and unstable. Nevertheless, this question when answered properly and applied, it always evokes happiness, joy, peace, serenity, satisfaction and fulfilment in one’s life.  The Birth of John the Baptist gives us an opportunity to reflect on the unique purposefulness of our lives. In John the Baptist, we learn that to every human being, God has a unique purpose that must be discovered and lived. God’s purpose for everyone is as different as ou
Post a Comment
Read more

CHOOSE TODAY WHOM YOU SHALL SERVE… TO WHOM DO YOU GO?...REV FR VICTOR IBIYEMI

AUGUST 26, TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME- JOSHUA 24:1-2, 15-17, 18, PSALM 34, EPHESIANS 5:21-32, JOHN 6:63, 68, JOHN 6:60-69...... Today, God’s Word examines our decision, loyalty, sincerity, commitment and faithfulness to God. These questions must continue to ring in our hearts: Whom are we actually serving? Why are we serving God? When everything scatters, to whom do we go? In the first reading, Joshua gathered the peo ple of Israel to confess their loyalty and fundamental option for God. It was a great convention for an extraordinary decision. In the story of the Israelites, God always did the choosing but now the table was turned around. Israel (God is asking us today) was asked to choose its loyalties, something the pagan nations did not have to do because they could embrace all the gods.  The Israelites were being asked to do what Rahab had done, namely, to embrace this one God and, by doing so, to reject all others (see on 2:9–11). Joshua led by example when he m
Post a Comment
Read more