Saturday 6th May 2020
9th week in ordinary time year II
2 Timothy 4:1-8, Mark 12:38-44
When you look around you and see
how churches multiply everyday in street corners, you cannot but imagine how we
got to where we are. I saw a self acclaimed man of God recently on Facebook,
proclaiming prosperity and progress. When I tried to correct some of his
biblical interpretations, he told me to leave him alone, that he did not spend 9
to 10 years studying as I did. The disciples of Jesus spent three years with
him before they were competent to be entrusted with the word of God. Paul had a
good length of time with the other Apostles before he became an apostle to the
gentiles. Paul also trained Barnabas,
Titus, Timothy and many others and entrusted the caring of the Church to
them. It is therefore obvious that one cannot wake up a day a become a general
overseer of a Church without going through the right training.
In the first reading of today, we
see that Paul had predicted this period when he was advising Timothy. According
to him, "the time is sure to come when, far from being content with sound
teaching, people will be avid for the latest novelty and collect themselves a
whole series of teachers according to their own tastes; and then, instead of
listening to the truth, they will turn to myths. Be careful always to choose
the right course; be brave under trials; make the preaching of the Good News
your life’s work, in thoroughgoing service". That time has really come,
people no longer want to listen to the truth, they run to where things that
they want to hear are said. Paul therefore advised Timothy that in the midst of
this, he should proclaim the message and, welcome or unwelcome, insist on it.
He should refute falsehood, correct error, call to obedience. This can only be
done with patience and with the intention of teaching.
This is why Jesus warns us in the
gospel reading to be weary of people who are like the scribes and pharisees who
see religion as a show, an extension of social gathering. It is not about what
you show to people, but who you truly are. Only God knows us through and
through (psalm 139). God help us. Amen
Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP
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