22/09/2022
Journey with the Lord
Thursday 22 September 2022, week 25 of the year
First reading Ecclesiastes 1:2-11
Psalm 89:3-6,12-14,17
Gospel Acclamation Jn14:6
Gospel Luke 9:7-9
Vanity too will pass away but God, his world and values will remain.
1. All that we acquire here on earth will definitely pass away. They are transistory. Your riches, your fame, your wealth- numerous houses, hotels, filling stations, resort centers acquired over night at the detriment of the sweat and blood of the poor masses who labour genuinely without pay, whose gratuity, pension is not paid and taxes are used for personal gains. The image and likeness of God whose welfare is not looked after but are seen as instruments and tools of work to generate income at all means even from the vulnerable who are suffering from crisis upon crisis cries out to God like the blood of Abel (Gen 4:10). Prophet Amos remarks: The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Never will I forget a thing they have done (Amos 8:7)!
2. One thing that will ever endure is God our creator and that which has been created by him and in him and his values of truth, love, unity, peace, justice, forgiveness, service, sacrifice. God will never forget the evil, greed, selfishness, hypocricy, falsehood, injustice, wickedness, divide and rule, sacrilage, scandals immoralities, indifference and atrocities in the name of vanity that you partake in. This vanity you are ennjoying will not last. This vanity will pass away. The blood, services and tax payers money from the poor masses in this country we have embezzled to become rich cries out. The blood of those we have cheated, defrauded, manipulated to deteriorated health and subsequent death in government, relationship, marriage, vocation, labour market and economic system to become millionaires, billionaires, overnight cries out.
3. One thing is certain as put by the preacher- the endurance of this world, this too is vanity- transistoriness, aimlessness, fruitlessness, emptiness, meaningless. Vanity upon vanity all is vanity (Ecclesiastes 1:2-11). What will endure is God and that which he created and is made in him and for him. Life is vanity when we fail to involve God. How can we involve God in embezzling, greed, selfishness, stealing, killing to become rich, famous and powerful? This is vanity. Herod involved in a life of vanity by killing John the Baptist to remain in his adultrous life with Philip's wife- Herodias and in power and it hunted him. This became a thorn in his flesh whenever he hears of a good man, "John, I beheaded him. So who is this I hear such reports about?’ And he was anxious to see Jesus."(Luke 9:7-9). Only Jesus and the values of the kingdom of his Father can better our lives. What you do for the poor masses will endure to eternity ( Matt 25:31-46). What are you doing to better the lives of the poor, sick workers, less privileged of your own time? Are you taking from them even from their due or you are giving to them?
4. Oh man, oh woman, why are you chasing vanity? This too shall pass away! God will bring it to an end. God will never forget your wicked, selfish and evil deeds. God makes an end of them in their sleep; the next morning they are like the changing grass, Which at dawn springs up anew, but by evening it will become fishee ( a Tiv word for that which wilts and fades [89{90}:3-6,12-14,17]). This world is morning for so may evil and wicked people, they will spring up (doo doo- i.e very well) but by evening (when they die) it will become fishee, the day they will stand before God asking when they did not treat God made man in the least of his brethren well (Matt 25:31-46). It shall be well with you here on earth and in the next if you do well to the least of Jesus' brethren, if you don't, you shall be FISHEE- you will fade when Vanity will pass away but God, his world and values will remain to eternity. You shall be FISHEE before God if you can but you don't care for the needs of the other. Do good and it shall be well with you!
Shalom!
Have a spirit filled day
Goodmorning
Fr Akpenpuun SSP, VC
