I say it, as the Father told me!

Readings: 1st: Acts 12:24.13:5; Ps: 67; Gos John 12:44-50

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.

On this Wednesday of the fourth week of Easter, the gospel according John continues with the dialogue between Jesus and his listeners.

Moved by the question, “who are you, and what is your work?” Jesus gave a  great testimony not only about himself, but about the Father who sent him to fulfil his mission.

Of course, he never does anything without the father. So, he continues to stress that he did not send himself. The basic point here is that he is obedient to the will of the Father who sent him.

So, the father’s will, is his will. The father’s word is his word, and of course, the father’s mission, is his mission. He told them: “what I say, I say as the Father told me.

Therefore, today Christ revealed three important aspects on the nature of his mission. The first is the foundation of his mission. God the Father himself is the founder and foundation of Christ’s mission.

The second aspect is, the message and objective of his mission. The message is the good news of salvation. It is equally, Christ himself, the light of the world present among us.

The last aspect of his mission is, the beneficiaries of his mission. Of course, the beneficiaries are you and I! Yes, Christ came for our salvation, and not for his own salvation.

Being one with God, Christ does not need to be saved from anything. So, we are the beneficiaries who must listen to his message, make it our own, and permit it to transform and prepare us for eternal life.

So, in this week for prayer for vocations, let us pray that we may to respond to Christ’s message, and also collaborate with him in his mission. Alleluia, Alleluia!

Peace be with you all!

Maranatha!