SERMON/MEDITATION FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR II MAY 22 2024

SERMON/MEDITATION FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II (MAY 22, 2024)

James 4:13-17; Ps.49; Mark 9:38-40

God owns our Tomorrow

Today, St. James offers us another practical guide for proper living. It is about remembering that our tomorrow is only possible by the Grace of God. It is normal and expected of humans to make plans for the future. Even a little child prepares to submit the school assignment tomorrow. For grown-ups, we make more concrete plans that aim at ensuring a better future for us. Even when it is challenging to plan for a better tomorrow, we simply hope on God.

St. James tells us that in as much as planning is normal, it is utter foolishness to think that our plans can succeed without Divine intervention. When we plan without accommodating God, without recognizing that the dawn of tomorrow and our perception of it depends on God, then we are as good as not planning at all.

The point St. James is making here is that no one with God-consciousness, will ever plan for future that is selfish or unjust to the neighbour. The evil man plans how he can grow while impoverishing others. If he’s a business man, he is thinking of more ways he can milk the strength and talents of the staff so that many more branches of the business can be set up. He does not think of improving their welfare. It is this kind planning that amounts to sinning. So, St. James noted that whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, commits sin.

If we must be godly in our plans for the future, we must understand that we are what we are today, and can only become what we hope for, by the Grace of God. Our consciousness of God’s place in our plans will help us not to be too busy for God in day-to-day activities. It will guide us against the mindset that we only need human effort and not some prayers or spiritual activities to make it in life. It will help us to be very considerate of others in all our dealings. Beloved, never you plan to grow by bringing another down. Never boast of whatever you have achieved through the destruction of others. Any joy that it motivated by the sorrow of others will surely turn into greater sorrow.

The psalmist encourages us to be poor in spirit. Learn to allow the will of God prevail. Do not be as anxious about the future as to try manipulating people and things for your selfish end. In our cravings for a better tomorrow, the gospel acclamation reminds us that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.