DAILY CHEWING STICK FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 2ND WEEK OF LENT

*DAILY LENTEN CHEWING STICK FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 2ND WEEK OF LENT, 16TH MARCH 2022 (Jer. 18:18-20, Mtt. 20:17-28).*

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our topic for today’s reflection is: *INGRATITUDE TO MAN IS INGRATITUDE TO GOD!*

1. INGRATITUDE is the daughter of PRIDE says a Spanish proverb.

2. A GRATEFUL HEART is a magnet for Miracles.

3. GRATITUDE is not only one of the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.

4. Living in a STATE OF GRATITUDE is the gateway to Grace.

5. INGRATITUDE is acidic to the Soul, run away from it.

Brethren, do you remember and know that beautiful saying: ONE WITH GOD IS MAJORITY?
Have you always been with God and has it always worked for you?
JEREMIAH from the very beginning of his Ministry had had God as his COMPANION AND PROTECTOR, as can be seen in(Jer. 1:5) *’BEFORE I FORMED YOU IN THE WOMB I KNEW YOU, BEFORE YOU CAME TO BIRTH I CONSECRATED YOU; I APPOINTED YOU AS PROPHET TO THE NATIONS.”*
However, today in the first reading, he had to face some CHALLENGES AND DIFFICULTIES from the same people he had PRAYED, LABOURED AND SACRIFICED SO MUCH FOR AS THEY PLOTTED AND GANGED TO KILL HIM.
A clear case of INGRATITUDE!

My Dear People of God, Jesus too suffered same fate in the hands of His people. Do you recall in (Jn. 5:16-18) the Jews persecuted Jesus because He cured the Sick man at the POOL OF BETHZATHA ON SABBATH DAY?
Again, (Mtt. 12:14), when He cured the man with WITHERED HAND, they wanted to kill Him.
After the discourse on Holy Eucharist in (Jn. 7:1),they wanted to kill Him.
After raising Lazarus from the dead, the Jews planned to kill Jesus in (Jn. 11:53).
Brethren, does these not make Paul Bamikole right when he said: *INGRATITUDE MAKES MAN AN ANIMAL, EVEN WORSE, FOR SOME ANIMALS DO HAVE A WAY OF SAYING THANK YOU WHEN YOU DO THEM A FAVOUR; TAKE A DOG FOR INSTANCE.* Jeremiah therefore reacted asking God to PUNISH THE EVIL DOERS. He prayed thus: *’O GOD, GIVE THEIR CHILDREN OVER TO FAMINE, HURL THEM OUT TO TO POWER OF THE SWORD… MAY THEIR MEN MEET DEATH BY PESTILENCE.”*
But Jesus reacting to His Enemies asked God to FORGIVE THEM: FORGIVE THEM FATHER, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY ARE DOING (Lk 23:34).

Dearest Friends in Christ, like JESUS AND JEREMIAH, we too have DONE GOOD AND SHOWN KINDNESS TO PEOPLE BEFORE SEVERALLY, BUT THEY HAVE REPAID US WITH EVILS. A clear case of INGRATITUDE and What the English People will term: BITING THE FINGER THAT FED YOU!
On the other hand, people have also shown us GOODNESS AND KINDNESS before which WE MAY HAVE REPAID WITH INGRATITUDE.

Dear Child of God, rather than call the HOLY GHOST FIRE TO CONSUME THOSE WHO HAVE REPAID OUR KINDNESS AND LOVE WITH EVIL LIKE JEREMIAH DID, LET US IN THE SPIRIT OF LENT ASK GOD TO FORGIVE THEM AND FORGIVE US, AND GRANT US ALL A CHANGE OF HEART.
Let us always bear in mind that:
(1) To render GOOD for GOOD is HUMAN.
(2) To render EVIL for EVIL is BRUTISH.
(3) To render EVIL for GOOD is DEVILISH.
*(4) To render GOOD for EVIL is CHRISTIAN.*
Please remain a CHRISTIAN. DO NOT BE OVERCOME BY EVIL, OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD (Rm 12:21).
*Repay Evil with Good and HELL WILL NOT CLAIM YOU.*

GOOD MORNING AND GOD BLESS OUR DAY. AMEN.

Rev. Fr. Francis Uchechukwu Onugha
(Fada Kosi Much)