22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A By Tobe Eze

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

FIRST READING
Jeremiah 20:7—9

SECOND READING
Romans 12:1—2

GOSPEL
Matthew 16:21—27

THEME: DOCILITY: A PERFECT WAY OF LIFE.

The proverb of onye n' enyo, isi ya ana-aputa is not only on bad things that it is being used, it is also ad rem to today’s readings. Onye gakwuru Jesu nso, onweta otutu ihe di mma. When you go closer to Jesus with a docile heart, he will shower you with his blessings. Sometimes the blessings may look like it is being delayed. We may suffer many things in the cause of going to God with a docile heart, but at last we will enjoy. Sorrow may endure for the night but morning comes with joy. Continue Reading..........................................

In the case of Jeremiah in the first reading, he lamented that the Lord has seduced him, but where he was hands downed was because he allowed himself to be seduced. He was the cause of his problem. Had it been that he did not allow himself to be seduced by God, he would have not suffered the problems he was suffering, but the truth remains that he chose a better part. Had it been we are not following Christ, all these troubles may have not come our way, but we have chosen the better part. When we allow ourselves to be seduced by God, we should be ready to face many challenges. Think of Jeremiah, he accepted to become a true messenger of God and suffered many tribulations, think of Job who was faithful to God he suffered many tribulations, think of Jesus Christ that is God, he is telling us that he is going to suffer and die, think of the apostles and saints, they suffered a lot but the joy of all these is that, all of these are now enjoying in the beatific home in heaven.

It is only required of us to ask God for a docile heart to accept every situation we find ourselves, not to always complain. In so far we have faith in God, we should not fear for our faith cannot deceive us (Romans 5:5).

Peter in the gospel was thinking like every other man, he could not believe that Christ will suffer. How can he suffer? How can this man who is so pious suffer or even fall into sin? Peter the first and head of the apostles was called Satan, what of us who are just ordinary men in quote? Let us not have false human believe where another is, Like in this story: The False Human Belief

As a man was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime can break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not.

He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. “Well,” trainer said, “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”

The man was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were.

Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before?

Moral: Failure is a part of learning. We should never give up the struggle in life. You Fail not because you are destined to fail, but because there are lessons which you need to learn as you move on with your life.

Jeremiah allowed God to use him, St. Paul in the second reading asked us to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God and Christ is telling us to learn from him how to be opened to face anything in life. Docility is the virtue we should seek. THANKS AND HAPPY SUNDAY.