Tuesday, 18 February 2025. Readings: Genesis 6:5-8; 7:1-5.10, Psalm 29, Mark 8:14-21
“And the Lord was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So, the Lord said, ‘I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the ground … I am sorry that I have made them.’ But Noah found favour in the eyes of the Lord.” (Genesis 6:6-8)
- Yesterday, we read about the first murder ever recorded in the Bible. A man killed his blood brother because of envy. This was just the beginning. Wickedness had grown so much in people's hearts that it grieved God, and He regretted having made man in the first place.
- Let us not forget that from the beginning, God said that humans were “very good.” (Genesis 1:31). The question is: “How come all that goodness had now turned sour?” Did man really stop being good? The answer to this question is Noah. Yes, even amid all that wickedness and evil that dominated the hearts of humans, God was able to find one good man.
- Noah stood out! Noah chose to remain good even when evil was more popular. Noah refused to be cajoled by public opinion. Noah wasn’t a people-pleaser; he was a God-pleaser. Noah found favour with God. Noah proved that God did not make a mistake by creating man and that there was still something good in man.
- The story of Noah teaches us one lesson: “If you cannot beat them, do not join them!” In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus basically told us that as Christians, we are called to be Noah of the world. He said: “You are the salt of the earth… (and) You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:13-14). Salt preserves. Noah, by his goodness, preserved the entire world from going extinct. Be good! Be different!
- It is easy to talk about the pervasiveness of corruption and evil in our world, but it would be a great mistake to write off everyone or conclude that no good person is left. What about you? Yes, must you be like everyone else? Must you do evil because everyone seems to be doing it? Why not be the last man standing as far as holiness and Christian morality is concerned?
- Jesus told his disciples in today’s Gospel passage to avoid the yeast of the Scribes and Pharisees. However, instead of waiting for Jesus to explain what He meant by the “yeast of the Scribes, Pharisees and Herod”, Jesus’ disciples became distracted by their lack of bread. Jesus was disappointed with them because it was obvious that they had not yet understood God’s providence. They still assumed that they were sustained by bread. Jesus reminded them of the miracles of the loaves and the fact that they always had an abundance of bread left over.
- Trust in God. Do not be distracted by your poverty and lack. Do not worry about your empty stomach or your empty store. Seek God’s kingdom and righteousness first; God will provide abundant bread when needed. (Cf. Matthew 6:33). Let it not be that you participated in evil because you were hungry. God will be so disappointed. Trust that God will provide your needs; pursue righteousness. Dare to be different like Noah.
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, grant us the courage to always stand out for good. 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.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Tuesday of week 6 in Ordinary Time. Liturgical Colour: Green. Bible Study: Genesis 6:5-8; 7:1-5.10, Psalm 29, Mark 8:14-21).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu