God’s time is the best

Readings: 1^st: Wis 2: 1a, 12-22; Ps: 34; Gos: Jn 7:1-2.10.25-30

This brief reflection was written by Rev. Fr. Njoku Canice Chukwuemeka, C.S.Sp. He is a Catholic Priest and a Member of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost Fathers and Brothers (Spiritans). He is currently working with the Spiritan International Group of Puerto Rico &  Dominican Republic. He is the Administrator of Parroquia La Resurrección del Senor, Canovanas and the Chancellor of the Diocesis of Fajardo-Humacao, Puerto Rico. For more details and comments contact him on: canice_c_njoku@yahoo.com, cancilleriadfh@gmail.com, canicechukwuemeka@gmail.com

Today’s Gospel informs us that Jesus visited Jerusalem more than once, but not publicly, because in Judea the Jews wanted to kill Him. However, even when they noticed him in public, and wanted to arrest Him, “no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.

There are two important lessons we must learn from today’s gospel. This is especially in light of the current situation facing us and our entire world right now. The first point is that, although Christ is God, he took precautions and was very prudent and wise.

Ordinarily, one would expect that as God, he will just go to Judea publicly at this time. However, “he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. Being human, he saw the signs of the time and followed it prudently.

Christ knew there was an imminent danger waiting for him out there and he took the necessary precautions to avoid it. Of course, he knew he was going to die. However, it was not yet time, because he has not completed his mission.

Today, we are equally faced with an imminent danger of the COVID 19 pandemic. So, like Christ, we must be wise and prudent in order to defeat this imminent enemy. So, rather than live in fear, let us live wisely and prudently. This is what we need now, not fear. It will not make any sense, if we live in fear, and yet, die of imprudence.

The second lesson is that, every thing works according to God’s plan and time, and not according to the plan of men. Therefore, in John’s Gospel, the one who determines the hour, and the events which will take place, are not those who have the power, but God himself.

God determined even the hour of his own son’s death. He wrote the script. So, He did not give his enemies any opportunity to rewrite his script for the salvation of humanity. Like Christ, we still have a mission to complete here at God’s time.

So, let us ask God to make us wise and prudent in this dangerous time we are living, so that we might be able to fulfill our mission here on earth at God’s own time, because, “God’s time is the best!”

Peace be with you all!

Maranatha!