THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Wednesday of 15^th week in Ordinary time, 2022

Isa 10:5-7,13-16

Ps 94

Matt 11:25-27

Hidden from the wise…

Dear friends in Christ, when the battle is won and the enemy conquered, it is not impossible to have the victor boast of his prowess at achieving success. Sometimes people talk about the many hours they have put into the preparations and the equipment they have had to acquire with a great level of expertise to achieve their goal. There may be nothing wrong with all the human efforts except that sometimes such people fail to acknowledge the grace that accompanied their victory.

Our first reading today (Isa 10:5-7.13-16) is God’s reaction to Assyria’s boast concerning its victory over the Northern Kingdom (Israel with its capital in Samaria). Israel fell because she failed to obey the voice of the Lord, and also went into alliance with Syria against Judah. Assyria on the other hand failed to acknowledge that it would have been impossible for any other nation to conquer Israel, small as it may be, except God allowed it. Her boast about this victory turned into an insult before God. Assyria boasted, “By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding; I have removed the boundaries of the peoples, and have plundered their treasures; like a bull, I have brought down those who sat on thrones…” This boast is not just about Assyria, we are tempted often to think that it is by our power and efforts we have come to certain heights in life and that leads us to despise others and see even some as failures based on the fact that they've not been able to achieve the same thing.

So God said through Isaiah, “Ah Assyria, the rod of my anger, the staff of my fury! Against a godless nation, I send him, and against the people of my wrath, I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder and to tread them down like the mire…But he does not so intend.” People are quick to forget that even when Paul plants and Apollos waters, it takes the grace of God for it to grow. When you look around you, you will find that many people work harder than you do. If you succeed in your endeavor, it is the grace of God and so appreciates, even more, those who have not been able to sail through. We are instruments in God’s hands and he achieves in and through us his purpose. “Shall the ax vaunt itself over him who hews with it, or the saw magnifies itself against him who wields it?” The boast of Assyria marked the beginning of its downfall, and soon after, it fell.

We have nothing to boast about except the grace of God in us through which we conquer our troubles. Let us bow ourselves before the throne of grace then and surrender all to Jesus who ‘reveals to infants what is hidden from the wise and learned’ (Matt 11:25-27).

Let us pray: Lord, I cannot do anything without you, fill me with your grace to achieve greater things to your glory. Amen.

+Remain blessed