God is the Final Answer

07-23-2023Weekly ReflectionFr. Anthony Okolo, C.S.Sp, V.F.

We are presented with the Book of Wisdom in the first reading of today. It is one of the last Old Testament books to be written and it gives a good reflection on final judgment, resurrection, and eternal life. The Book of Wisdom covers topics like immortality, righteousness and encourages us that God’s wisdom can be gained through a life of humility. God grants wisdom to His children who are humble and obedient. The part of the book we read today reflects on God’s mercy and how God judges with clemency and gentleness.

The nature of our God is mercy, and He does not condemn anybody but wants us to approach Him with an open and repentant heart. The Wisdom Book dwells on this mercy of God because He wants everyone to experience the salvation that God offers. The message of hope we would take home is that God’s mercy is unlimited and He wants us to be kind, gentle and hopeful. The second reading continues from where the first reading stopped; that the spirit of God comes to our aid in weakness. There may be that desire to pray but often the body is weak and then the spirit intercedes for us in our weakness. The spirit of God is always around to encourage us in our life’s daily struggle and challenges

The gospel message tells the story of a farmer who sowed good seed in his vineyard and at night an enemy came and sowed weed. The servant wanted to go and pull out the weed, but the master told them to allow both the weed and wheat to grow together until harvest time when it will be visible to separate the weed from the wheat. A very important point too is that whereas weeds can never become wheat, bad people can become good and in the history of the world, many a great sinner has become a great saint because of the grace of almighty God. Jesus wants to teach us that God permits both the sinners and saints to grow together to offer the sinner the opportunity to repent. It is not our business to conclude that certain people are weed in the sight of God. A sinner today may turn around to be a saint tomorrow while a good person today may fall away when confronted with challenges and vicissitude of life. The central message of the gospel is that time is the only thing that can determine how steadfast we are in our faith. Let us not be quick to judge and condemn other people but give them opportunity for change. The church of God is made up of saints and sinners and it is only with patience and time that the identity of each is revealed.

Fr. Tony Okolo C.S.Sp., V.F.