Lent 5. 2016 13th March - Whenever we live a gospel life

13th March

(C)Br Luke Efo 2010

Scripture John 12: 1-8

1 Then six days before the Passover, Yeshua came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2 So they made him a supper there. Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him. 3 Therefore Miriam took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed Yeshua’s feet and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. 4 Then Judah Iscariot, Simon’s son, one of his disciples, who would betray him, said, 5 “Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and given to the poor?” 6 Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it. 7 But Yeshua said, “Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial. 8 For you always have the poor with you, but you don’t always have me.”


Reflection:

Whenever we live a gospel life, or do something that shows our commitment to help others, there will always be people like Judas, who will find fault with our actions. Some of these people may even be close to us. We can give into their criticisms and stop living our lives. Or we can remain true to our calling, to our vocations, to our commitment and see the actions to the end. Which do you choose?

Your thoughts:

Lent 4. 2016 6th March-The prodigal son eventually realised

6^th March

(C)Br. Luke Efo 2010

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

¹¹ He said, “A certain man had two sons. ¹²  The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ He divided his livelihood between them. ¹³  Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and travelled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living. ¹⁴  When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵  He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶  He wanted to fill his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any. ¹⁷  But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger! ¹⁸  I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. ¹⁹  I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants.” ’

²⁰  “He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. ²¹  The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²²  “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. ²³  Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let’s eat, and celebrate; ²⁴  for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.

²⁵  “Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶  He called one of the servants to him, and asked what was going on. ²⁷  He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.’ ²⁸  But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out, and begged him. ²⁹  But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. ³⁰  But when this your son came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’

³¹  “He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. ³²  But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ ”

Reflection:

The prodigal son eventually realised that he had lost a lot more than just money and he returned home.  He no doubt expected that his father to react the way his brother did.  His angry brother did not expect their father’s compassion and forgiveness.  Which reaction do you practice: the elder brother’s or the father’s

Your thoughts:

Lent 3. 2016 February 28th-Jesus would not be deterred

28^th February

(C)Br Luke Efo 2010

Scripture: Luke 13: 31-35

³¹ On that same day, some Pharisees came, saying to him, “Get out of here, and go away, for Herod wants to kill you.”
³² He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I complete my mission. ³³  Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, for it can’t be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.’
³⁴  “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you refused! ³⁵  Behold, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ “


Reflection:
Jesus would not be deterred from his task. He knew what he was to do, and where his earthly ministry would come to its end. We often are not so clear. We often adjust our ministries, to fit the situation, to fit the people, or perhaps to fit the community. I wonder, when we do this: Do we sense that we are fulfilled? Do we feel we have met our vocations, our call to the gospel life? Or do we feel we have “fallen short” somewhere?

Your thoughts:

Lent 2. 21st February Think of the Owner of the Garden as God

21^st February

(C) Br. Luke Efo 2010

Scripture: Luke 13:1-9

¹ Now there were some present at the same time who told him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. ² Yeshua answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things? ³  I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way. ⁴  Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them; do you think that they were worse offenders than all the men who dwell in Jerusalem? ⁵  I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.”

⁶ He spoke this parable. “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, and found none. ⁷  He said to the vine dresser, ‘Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down. Why does it waste the soil?’ ⁸  He answered, ‘Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilise it. ⁹  If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.’ ”

Reflection:

Think of the Owner of the Garden as God, Jesus as the Gardner and ourselves as the Fig Tree. Sometimes in the way we live our lives, or our vocations, we can/could just be wasting the soil. Yet if we allow Jesus to nurture us, we will find that we can produce a harvest. It can be a plentiful harvest, but we will have to trust and allow the fertilising, the nurturing, to take place. This often means letting go of our egos, and this can be hard. Consider though, the alternative is not really a place of happiness.

Your thoughts: