February 15, 2025
Reflections By Rev. Fr. David Okolie

EQUALITY AND DIVINE PROVIDENCE (23RD SUNDAY CATECHESIS (B)

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Rev. Fr. David Okolie

Dearest friends,

Through Baptism, the Holy Spirit sows the seed of faith in us and through this faith, we are made Christians, children of God and members of the Church (cf. CCC n. 1213). Through this faith, there is EQUALITY among all of Christ’s faithful. Concerning this, the 1983 Code of the Canon Law affirms:

Flowing from their rebirth in Christ, there is a GENUINE EQUALITY of dignity and action among all of Christ’s faithful… (cf. Can. 208).

Hence, there should not be discrimination among Christ’s faithful. Those who still discriminate under whatever umbrella: (Osu/Diala, Ohu/Amadi, Rich /Poor, etc.) are called to change their attitude and accept and treat all as equal in the Lord. St. Paul wonderfully captured the above thus:

For you are all children of God, through the faith which is in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been BAPTIZED in Christ have become clothed with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither servant nor free; there is neither male nor female. For you are all ONE in Christ Jesus… (cf. Gal 3:26-29).

Also, amist the difficulties and evils in the world and in our day to day activities, there is still DIVINE PROVIDENCE. We call โ€˜Divine Providence‘ the dispositions by which God guides his creation towards perfection (cf. CCC no 302). This means that God knows the many evils and difficulties that are besieging us and he rescues us at his own appointed time. Thus the Psalmist affirms โ€œOur God is in the heavens ; he does whatever he pleases” (Ps 115:3, CCC no 303). We should always bear in mind that while God is not the cause of the evils in the world and the difficulties we often undergo, he, sometime permits them so as to accomplish his own design. Remember that God permitted the โ€˜worst of evilsโ€™ to befall his beloved Son, Jesus Christ just to bring about our redemption, also the selling off of Joseph by his brothers was an evil that led to the survival of many in the time of famine (cf. CCC 311-312).

๐Ÿ‘‰๐ŸผHowever, we must always bear in mind that *in everything, God works for the good of those who love him* (cf. Rom 8:28, CCC no 313) and Jesus asks for childlike abandonment to the providence of our heavenly Father who takes care of his children’s smallest needs: *โ€œTherefore do not be anxious, saying, โ€˜What shall we eat?’ or โ€˜What shall we drink?’…Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as wellโ€* (cf. CCC no 305, Mt 10:29-31). In the above, Jesus is simply demanding a DEEP FAITH in God from us. This type of FAITH is different from the UNBRIDDLED quest for โ€˜Miraclesโ€™ (Signs and Wonders) which is tossing a number of Christians up and down on daily basis.

We pray the Blessed Virgin Mary to always support us with her powerful intercession. Amen๐Ÿ™๐Ÿผ

CATECHESIS (NKUZI NKE OKWUKWE) FOR THE 23RD SUNDAY, YEAR B
READINGS: R1 Is 35:4-7a, R2 Jas 2:1-5, Gosp Mt 7:31-37

Happy Sunday and remain blessed!

contributor
Rev. Fr. David Okolie is a Priest of the Catholic Diocese of Okigwe, Imo State, Nigeria. He is a prolific writer, retreat preacher and social media evangelizer.

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