THE HIDDEN WISDOM OF THE SON OF MAN


MONDAY, SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME  

James 1:1-11; Ps 119:67-68,71-72,75-76; Mk 8:11-13

The Sign of the Son of Man

The Pharisees, discussing with Jesus, demanded a sign from him to demonstrate that he was truly from God, the Messiah. Our Lord was troubled by such a request because it revealed that they were not genuinely interested in discovering the truth or receiving the answer to the demand they had made of Him. The demand betrayed their lack of interest and attention to the words and works of our Lord. He had done many wonderful and remarkable works and proclaimed the word of God to all who were with him, before they made the request. So, it was obvious that their request or demand was not born of genuine interest to know the Son of Man, but to test him and find something to hang on him, in order to condemn or attack him. The Evangelist remarked this. “The Pharisees came up and started a discussion with Jesus; they demanded of him a sign from heaven, to test him. And with a sigh that came straight from the heart, he said, ‘Why does this generation demand a sign? I tell you solemnly, no sign shall be given to this generation.’” The reason why no sign was given to them is that to those who are paying attention, no sign is needed, for everything in their lives testifies to the heavenly origin of the Son of Man. But no number of signs would be able to convince those who are not paying attention. Because they are not attendants to the bridegroom, they do not recognise his presence, but rather continue to fast and pray for his coming or manifestation.

Everything in the life of an attendant to the bridegroom prepares him to receive and connect to the bridegroom’s presence among us. Everything in creation bears his mark, for he is the Author of all things within and without. Even our falls, weaknesses, afflictions, and so on, all lead us to him if we are paying attention. The psalmist testifies to continuous activities of the word of God in and on us, preparing us to receive the bridegroom. “Before I was afflicted, I strayed, but now I keep your word. You are good and your deeds are good; teach me your statutes.” Our acknowledgement of God’s deeds as good follows our understanding that God orchestrates all events of our lives, and they all happen for our good when we love God. In this deeper sense of the wisdom of God in things and events of life, we appreciate the afflictions we receive from his hand as making us ready to receive the bridegroom. “It was good for me to be afflicted, to learn your statutes. The law from your mouth means more to me than silver and gold.” A profound grace is required from the Lord for us to understand that his afflictions are better and more valuable than any temporal goods or wealth. This understanding is part of the wisdom or mystery of Christ, hidden from the beginning of the world.  It was unknown in the Old Testament where the observance of the Mosaic Law was to produce material well-being to the people of God.

The hidden wisdom, which is now revealed in Jesus Christ, considers anything that does not lead to the knowledge and love of the Son of Man as rubbish or nonbeneficial to us. Thus, our benefit is not in keeping the Law, but in believing in the Son of Man, confessing his sacrificial death for our redemption, and his resurrection for our glorification and life with the Father. The secret wisdom, now revealed in Jesus Christ, places value on things only to the extent they lead us to Jesus Christ. Saint James, therefore, bids us rejoice when trials come to us, based on this understanding of the mystery of the Son of Man. “My brothers, you will always have your trials, when they come, try to treat them as a happy privilege; you understand that your faith is only put to the test to make you patient, but patience too is to have its practical results so that you will become fully-developed, complete, with nothing missing.” We must constantly keep our focus on the Son of Man, as his attendant, to be able to receive everything he sends to us as true signs of his abiding presence with us. He goes away from us when we lack the necessary attention to understand his words and works in our lives. “If there is any one of you who needs wisdom, he must ask God, who gives to all freely and ungrudgingly; it will be given to him.”

Let us pray: O God, who teach us that you abide in hearts that are just and true, grant that we may be so fashioned by your grace as to become a dwelling pleasing to you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The offsprings of the Old man and the New Man

Image
Monday, fifth week of lent/2024 Reflection from Friar Nicholas Okeke, OP Offsprings of Old man and New Man To be able to live the new life within the new Covenant in Jesus Christ, the old life must come to an end. The distinctive difference between the old man and the new man is the focus of desires. The old man and all who live by him have their desires focussed on the satisfaction of self. On the other hand, the new man and those living by him desires only to fulfil God's holy will. Thus, the old man and his offspring obey the law of sin and death. Living for self alone breeds sins, and sin causes death. So, the old man and all living by him are dead and harbingers of death to others. They are adept at manipulating the Law of God to perpetuate their interest and selfish desires. An example of this skill is the treatment the two old judges of Israel in Babylon meted out to Susanna, wife of Joachim, employing the Law of Moses as given in the first reading. “Two elderly men had ...
Read more

BECOMING A DEPENDABLE FRIEND

Image
FRIDAY, SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Eccl 6:5-17; Ps 119:12,16,18,27,34-35; Mk 10:1-12 Making and being a Good Friend The usefulness of a faithful friend is the subject discussed in the passage of Sirach we are considering. From the qualities that make a good friend, we understand that faithfulness depends on the perfection we attain in the formative school of wisdom. The first lesson we learn in nature is faithfulness. The quality of faithfulness is so closely aligned with nature that we consider nature and faithfulness synonyms. The faithfulness of nature, and subsequently of wisdom, is hinted at when we read that wisdom stands at her post/gate daily to beckon the passers-by to turn in and partake of her table. Everything that God made participates in this faithfulness of wisdom in the sense that each remains faithful to his will without failing or leading our minds astray. First, Sirach admonishes us on friendliness to people in general: “A kindly turn of speech multiplies a ...
Read more

WE CANNOT ENTER INTO HEAVEN WITHOUT FAITH

Image
OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL Reflection from Friar Nicholas Okeke, OP  Isa 7:1-9; Ps 48:2-8; Mt 11:20-24 If you do not stand by Me, you will not stand at all The Lord Jesus Christ takes up the issue of rejecting or ignoring the Gospel message when it comes to us in the gospel reading today. The word of God contains all the blessings of heaven which God had given us in Christ before the beginning of the world. Hence, a rejection or refusal to accept or listen to the Gospel message is a rejection of all the heavenly blessings we have received in Jesus Christ. These divine blessings have import for our lives here on earth. While still dwelling here on earth, those who believe in the word of God already possess the heavenly inheritance God will fully manifest to us when we exit this mortal tent. By faith, we enter into the eternal kingdom and the promised inheritance. The importance of faith for our reception of the heavenly blessings here on earth is illustrated in the first reading...
Read more