ILIZWI REFLECTIONS
Sunday, October 1st, 2023
26th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Ezekiel 18: 25-28
Psalm 25:4–9
Philippians 2: 1-11
Matthew 21: 28-32
Heat of the Moment
“He answered, ‘I will go, sir’, but did not go” – Mat 21:30
How many times after a good homily, inspiring speech, a good retreat do we feel so much in the spirit and we quickly resolve change, to be more faithful to our spouse or calling, to start all over again in our life and promise God many things.
But few days after, when the dust settles, we go back to normal life and find ourselves back to square one, if not worse.
In so doing we are like the 2nd son in the gospel (v.30) who when he was with his father agreed to be sent but then didn’t go.
It’s not all about how you feel when you are in Mass or during a retreat, that is, when you are with the father, that matters the most. It’s what you do after the words “go forth, the Mass is ended”. To sustain this ‘heat of the moment’ it is important to always return to it in prayer and meditation and in his month through praying the rosary. “A fire is kept burning by adding more fuel”.
The first reading is a correction of the Jewish old theology that children pay for the sins of their fathers (see Ex 34:7). Ezekiel is against the Jewish proverb, ““The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge” (Ez 18:2).
According to Ezekiel, each person is responsible for their sins. It is unfortunate that in ignorance many ill-informed pastors still preach about generational curses, or punishments. This is an old Jewish theology [and also African] which is no longer true. Each person is accountable for their own choices and actions.
“Parents shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their parents; only for their own crimes may persons be put to death.” (Deut 24:16).
The prophet says a person will live if, “he opens his eyes and turns away from the sins which he had committed” (v.28). What is key here is the aspect of opening one’s eyes and then repenting. It is like the “coming to one’s senses” of the prodigal son (Luke 15:17). This is what the 1st son in the parable did, he “opened his eyes” and changed his mind to do the father’s will (v.28-29).
This true repentance, St. Paul, says is shown through being united in one heart with others, doing nothing out of selfishness or vainglory, but living in humility, just as Christ did (2nd reading).
St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, pray for us.
In love with the Divine Word
ILIZWI BIBLICAL CENTRE
Divine Word Missionaries
Plumtree
STORY
A story is told of a dog which used to be tied on a tree every morning by the owner. One can came to realise that when this dog tries to chase it, it will always stop at a particular point.
So, this cat was in the habit of provoking the dog and then it will just run and stop at a point where it knows the dog cannot reach. The dog would run aggressively but stop where the chain ends.
One day the owner forgot to chain the dog. The cat, as usual, came to provoke the dog and it ran and just stop at its usual position. The dog aggressively ran, and you know what, it stopped at its usual place! [It thought it was chained].
The moral of the story is that, the chains of he spirits of ancestors or the past which you think hold back your progress in life, have long back been broken. You are no longer chained!
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 