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*DAILY CHEWING STICK FOR TUESDAY OF THE 2ND WEEK OF LENT, 15TH MARCH 2022(Is 1:10. 16-20; Mtt 23:1-12).*
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Good Morning Dearest Family of Daily Chewing Stick and how was your FIRST DAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT SPENT YESTERDAY? I hope it was GOOD, a sign that the REST of the week will be SPENT IN GOD’S PRESENCE and ended well too? Today shall be BETTER by God’s grace and your BEST DAYS await you. Best of luck in the days ahead!
Brethren, if the FISH in the sea complains of too much WATER, WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO IT?
The answer is obvious, DEATH for Sure!
If WE, Human Beings, complain of too much LOVE from God, WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO US?
The answer is same as above, DEATH for Sure!
To therefore avoid this from happening, God sent different PROPHETS at different times to His people to show them love by pointing to them the right path to follow. Isaiah was sent by God in our first reading today to the RULERS OF JERUSALEM AND JUDAH. They were told to desist from the lifestyle of RULERS OF SODOM AND PEOPLE OF GOMORRAH. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah were wicked, great sinners against the Lord and indulged in all forms of immorality and pursued unnatural lust. The Lord rained on them sulphur and fire from heaven(Gen 19:24). Hence, Prophet Isaiah warns this morning saying:
*WASH, MAKE YOURSLVES CLEAN, TAKE YOUR WRONG DOINGS OUT OF MY SIGHT.*
*CEASE TO DO EVIL.*
*LEARN TO DO GOOD,*
*SEARCH FOR JUSTICE,*
*HELP THE OPPRESSED,*
*BE JUST TO THE ORPHAN,*
*PLEAD FOR THE WIDOW.*
Dearly Beloved in Christ, is *WASHING* not one of the *EASIEST* things we do on daily basis because of its great importance?
Does anybody remind us to wash (brush) our mouth in the morning?
Does anybody remind us to wash our body in the morning before leaving for work and after when back from work?
Does anybody remind us to wash our hands before eating?
Does anybody remind us to wash our dirty clothes?
Does anybody remind us to wash our bathrooms and toilets?
Does anybody remind us to wash our cars when they are obviously dirty?
We do all these because *WHEN OUR ENVIRONMENT IS CLEAN, WE FEEL HAPPY, MOTIVATED AND HEALTHY.*
Do you know that *SOMETIMES OUR BIGGEST ADDITIONS ARE OUR SUBTRACTIONS?*
Yes, when we subtract FILT, DIRTINESS, ODOUR, IRRITATION, etc, we add value to our being.
My Dear Friends, isn’t *LENT* the best time to *WASH OFF SIN* from our lives since it separates us from God and denies us *ETERNAL LIFE?*
Isn’t *LENT* the best time to *WASH OFF BITTERNESS, MALICE & UNFORGIVENESS* which are like cancer that eats upon the host?
Isn’t *LENT* the best time to *WASH OFF ANGER, HOT TEMPERAMENT & IMPATIENT* which are small madness that destroys more than they restore?
Isn’t *LENT* the best time to *WASH OFF PROCRASTINATION* which is a graveyard where opportunities are buried?
Isn’t *LENT* the best time to *WASH OFF STINGINESS & UNCHARITABLE ATTITUDE,* knowing that all I have is from God, and I take nothing away when DEATH COMES.
Isn’t *LENT* the best time to *WASH OFF LAZINESS, COMPLACENCY & LUKEWARM ATTITUDE* to bless your marriage if you have not done so, to always go for confession, receive Holy Communion, go for stations of the Cross, attend societal meetings in Church, etc?
Isn’t *LENT* the best time to *WASH OFF GIVING WHAT BELONGS TO GOD TO CAESAR* (Monday to Saturday I spend thousands of NAIRA on myself & sometimes things not too relevant, but on Sunday I drop only N50, N100, N500, N1000 as my offering, when I could have done better).
Dear Friends in Christ, WHAT EXACTLY IS DELAYING YOU FROM THIS WASHING?
Do you need SOAP or WATER? But this DAILY CHEWING STICK is enough Soap to start with and your SELF DETERMINATION AND COMMITMENT is the water you need.
So, get up and start washing.
Good Morning and Happy WASHING!!!
Rev. Fr. Francis Uchechukwu Onugha
(Fada Kosi Much).
