Date: March 27, 2020 ()

Bible Text: 1st Reading: WIS 2:1A, 12-22; Gospel: JN 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 |

Series:

Our life must rather be spent to follow and fulfill our purpose!!!

When the devil causes destruction, it’s not done by accident. It is always with intention. Such is the case in today’s first reading, the wicked deliberately inflict troubles to the good ones. They said: “Let us beset the just one because he is obnoxious to us.” Notice the motivation in doing so: it is always born out of jealousy and pride and its attack comes with strategic planning.

Two things we may need to do to offset its plans:

First, if the devil intends to do bad, then we must, on the contrary, intend to do good. Intending to do something requires commitment. Jesus’ commitment to love, to care, and to spread goodness was remarkable. He intends it all the time, without getting tired despite false accusations and the threat of life.

Jesus was only in his 30’s. The threat of life came so early to this young Messiah but He did not stop doing good. In Wuhan, at least eight medical workers have died, including one doctor who was 29 and another who was 34. What an amazing display of commitment.

>From this, Jesus wants to remind us that our life must rather be spent to follow and fulfill our purpose however difficult the situation or no matter what age we have because to do good is our purpose. It is our commitment whether we are young or old. We should not fear death.

Second, if the devil is cunning, then our commitment to do good must come with strategic planning as well.

Since the crisis began, the pastors in the diocese of Greensburg have been painstakingly figuring out how to keep the faithful/the sheep connected to the Shepherd. It’s not only happening here. It’s happening worldwide in almost all churches. But know that the devil’s plan is always to disintegrate the flock, to confuse, and to rob the sheep from the fold in a most-subtle way. Hence, the shepherds need to act prudently to keep his sheep intact and safe.

Let us count on the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to make us remain doing good. We learn from Jesus who remained doing good by listening to His Father and following the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Satan’s cunning can never defeat Divine Wisdom. We, therefore, must learn to patiently wait and trust God’s Wisdom.