Reflection on Today’s Readings, Monday of 23rd Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, September 11th, 2023
Texts: Colossians 1:24-2:3; Psalm 62:6-7,9; Luke 6:6-11 

Reading today’s readings, what should come to mind is the question, “what impact has my knowledge of Christ’s passion made in my life?” It is a given that every Christian has the knowledge of Christ’s passion. Has the knowledge changed my life for better. St. Paul shows, in today’s first reading, that such knowledge should have affected us positively. This is clear in his belief that telling the Colossians and Laodicians his striving on their account should encourage them.  

Today’s gospel reading reminds us that Jesus endured hostility to sent us free from slavery. The religious leaders of the people had created culture of death with the law of life. What an Iron! Creating culture of death from the law of life. They were in bondage under the law of freedom. Jesus Christ suffered hostility to reveal the real nature of the law. With Jesus Christ we now know that law is to make life liveable. Jesus Christ finally died for us to reveal the love of God for us. What Jesus Christ suffered for us should encourage us to be faithful to Him and keep His words.  

It is worth striving for good and rewarding course

St. Paul suffered to reveal the riches of understanding and knowledge of God. His willingness to suffer for the course of the gospel affirms the truth in it. He would not have suffered for it if it were not true. Hence, such awareness of his striving should be encouraging to the people. St. Paul also shows that it is worth striving for good and rewarding course. If our faith is good and rewarding we have to be seen striving for it. This is by living life in accordance with our faith. When we are faithful to Christ daily, we show that we appreciate His love and passion for us. 

We are not to live our life as if it is without cost 

We are not to live our life as if it is without cost. Our mothers went through the pain of childbearing to give birth to us. Parents do make sacrifices to bring up their children. Just like St. Paul they rejoiced in their sufferings for our sake. We should be encouraged by their labour and sacrifices that they cannot lead us astray. Hence, we are to obey them, knowing that they will our good. Being good provides comfort for them in their sufferings.  We also provide reason for them to live when we are good. We are to love our parents and help them.  

Our life in Christ also costs Jesus His passion and death. Jesus Christ died for us to reconcile us to God and make us His children. The passion, death and resurrection of Christ make sense in our lives only when we have faith in Him. We afford ourselves the benefits of redemptive price by keeping His words. We appreciate and bear the fruits of His passion by our faith, love and obedience to His words.  

Prayer 

Lord Jesus Christ, we thank You for all You suffered for our sake, touch our cold hearts to feel Your love for us; grant that we may acknowledge Your passion by our obedience to Your will. Amen 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke