10th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B. By Tobe Eze

1.       Recognize your present needs and it will help you to know your future needs and prepare for them. Tobe Eze.

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B.

FIRST READING
Genesis 3:9—15

SECOND READING
2 Corinthians 4:13—5:1

GOSPEL
Mark 3:20—35

THEME: TRUTH IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT.

Truth is bitter to the ears but it gladdens the heart (Psalm 104:15, Proverb 12:25). Only truth can set us free (John 8:32). Eziokwu bu ndu.

If you see how people react to truth especially when it is not on their favour, you will notice how hard it is to accept the truth. We often lie in many occasions just because truth is not in our favour. We shift responsibilities many times because of that same reason. We deny some things we know that is very clear because of the same reason. Continue Reading.........................

In the first reading, Adam in all the questions asked him by God instead of accepting that he has committed, he shifted everything to the woman. Adam where are you? I heard your voice in the garden and I decided to hide because I am naked. What concerns the mode of dressing with where he was? The second one, have you eaten the fruit I asked you not to eat? The woman you gave me gave it to me. What concerns have you eaten and how you got it? Woman what have you done? Instead of I ate the fruit and gave him to eat, she gave reason first. She answered, the serpent deceived me. These are ways we use to answer questions when we are not on the right path or the place we suppose to be. When I was small, there were houses that I was asked not to go to. When my parents call me and I am in that particular house, I will look for any lie to give as the reason for being there. Tobe did you go there? I was passing and Uche called me to ask me about Oforma. Something like this or another lie will be told in other not to accept that I have erred.

In the second reading, St. Paul tells us the truth about the flesh and spirit. Sometimes we claim that nothing is happening while we know that something is already happening. The flesh will be controlling us and when we are called to listen to the spirit we will claim that we know all that we are doing. A certain girl was warned by the mother not to visit her boyfriend when she knows that they will be left alone. She concluded in her heart that she was in-charge that nothing will happen till it happened. Flesh and spirit are as if they are two opposite sides and we should recognize and work towards harnessing them. There are some certain things that are natural and necessary and some are natural but not necessary. Epicurus a sophist who did not believe in God said that sex is natural but not necessary. Likewise many other things in life that are natural but not necessary. They are the works of the body. Spirit is the only part that everything that is natural in it is necessary, so we should listen to the spirit more than we listen to the body. Body can deceive.

In the gospel what the Igbo’s normal say, ogbu mma adighi ekwe ka ewere mma ga ya na azu manifested there. Because some of these people claim they cast out demon which they now they do not do that rather they deceive people with the power of Belzebuul, they said that Jesus was using the same power. Because Jesus’ actions were bring the truth to an open air, making it bare, they decided to use this avenue to bring it to an end but they did not succeed. It is this same gospel that made a woman to ask me. Why do Catholics condemn those that cast out demons saying that they are using the power of devil to do that while Bible said a kingdom cannot divide against itself lest it falls? I quickly told her that they do not cast out any demon rather they win souls to demon. They make people to commit all sorts of sins. They are just acting film. They make people commit sin against the Holy Spirit which is closed heart.  People should open their eyes to the truth to see the difference between Jesus’ healing or miracle and that of Belzebuul. Every now and then people conduct deliverance and still many are still possessed. Some persons have been delivered five to ten times but they have not changed, they are still possessed. The problem here is still the problem in the whole readings for even when the truth is told, people find it difficult to accept it.

Truth is very hard to be accepted but if accepted, it gladdens the heart. It gives joy to the soul. Shifting of responsibilities will always end up giving us sense of guilty. Accept the truth and it will set you free (John 8:32). It is only the truth that can set us free accept it. My mother, father, sisters and brothers are those who do the will of God and that will of God starts with accepting the truth. Mary should be our role model. Truth is the will of God. THANKS AND HAPPY SUNDAY.