GOD DISCIPLINES THOSE HE LOVES

Liturgy of the Word with Fr. Evaristus Eghiemeiyo Abu - Wednesday of Week 4 in Ordinary Time - Memorial of St. Agathat of Sicily
“The Lord disciplines those he loves and chastises every child he accepts. Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline?” (Hebrews 12:6-7)
The Letter to the Hebrews tells us that God disciplines (chastises) us not out of hatred but because he wants us to learn. The saying goes, “Never regret a day in your life: good days give happiness; bad days give experience, and worst days give lessons.” Truthfully, we learn more from our painful moments than our happy ones. Every sad event is a blessing in disguise.
The story is told of a man who, while travelling with his son, visited a very poor couple whose lives were entirely dependent on the only cow they had. The cow was their source of milk, transportation, and tractor on the farm. Despite their poverty, they were quite content with their lives. While the man left, he told his son to push the cow down a steep hill. The son protested, “What will happen to this poor couple?” His father said: “Just do it.”
Many years passed, and this boy became a grown-up man. It was time for him to get married, and he accompanied his fiancé to her parents’ home. Upon getting there, he recognised that her parents were the poor couple whom he had killed their only cow, but to his utter amazement, they had become the wealthiest family in that village. He could not contain himself, so he confessed his crime of years ago and said that he wanted to know how the couple managed to survive afterwards.
With a huge smile, the girl’s father got up from his seat and hugged the boy, thanking him profusely for what he had done many years before. According to him, the death of their only cow was very painful at first, but it forced him and his wife to look beyond that cow. The man added that when they found the cow at the bottom of the hill the next morning, they wanted to cut the meat for sale only to realise that the cow had been very sick all along. If they had continued drinking its milk, they would have died themselves.
Indeed, we cannot but agree with St. Paul that all things work unto good for those who love God. (Romans 8:28). Never get angry with God for allowing painful things to happen to you. Like the boy who did not understand why his father told him to kill the couple’s only cow, there are so many things we do not understand about God. We have to trust Him.
Jesus experienced something painful among his people when he went there to preach. They looked down on him. They took offence at Jesus because they felt he claimed to be something other than the ordinary carpenter they knew him as. Jesus did not get angry with them; he did not curse them. Instead, He said: “A prophet is not without honour except in his own country and house.”
To this day, those who believe that Jesus is only a human being continue to quote this passage as a justification for the fact that Jesus had biological brothers and sisters. Anyone who truly believes Jesus is God would know that for God, nothing is impossible. If God could take flesh in Mary’s womb without the intervention of a man, do we say God wasn’t also capable of giving Mary the grace of preserving her virginity even after the birth of Jesus?
Today, we celebrate the Memorial of St. Agatha of Sicily. Born around 231 AD in Catania or Palermo, she was a deeply devoted virgin and one of the Catholic Church’s most honoured martyrs. She is the patron saint of Sicily, bellfounders, breast cancer patients, Palermo, rape victims, and wet nurses, and is invoked for protection against fires. Her feast day is celebrated on February 5.
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, help us look beyond our pains to see your hand in them. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

[@PaulOnyekachukwuIfenu]

God thank u for making me to near u always through fr Everistus Abu , Amen shalom

[@obashiphilipnwugah3560]

Most times,we don't comment but we are always with you
Thank you father

[@rosemaryabu8114]

St Agatha Pray and intercede for us.
Amen and Amen.Thanks so much Father

[@FRANCISOKOEKHIAN]

Amen
Thanks Father Evaristus 🙏

[@luluoj5398]

Lord Jesus bless and strengthen me to always trust in you 🙏

[@mercyezehi3297]

Amen. Thank you Father

[@annienahas113]

Amen 🙏.
Thank you Lord.

[@anyanhunsunday6629]

Amen 🙏 to all prayers...

[@osazuwaveronica4796]

Thanks be to God

[@ngoziiweka5426]

Amen. Thank you Padre

[@anthoniaogochukwu3965]

Amen. Thanks so much padre. God bless u more

[@osazuwaveronica4796]

Amen 🙏 ❤

[@osazuwaveronica4796]

Amen

[@ngoziiweka5426]

Amen. Goodmorning Padre.

[@josephine4796]

And of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Amen ❤

[@mr.idowuamune6041]

❤❤❤🙏🏽

[@lyndaomachi4696]

Amen 🙏