REFLECTIONS

BE VERY CAREFUL: EVERYTHING IS INTERCONNECTED | Saturday, Week 5 in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Fr. Simon Onyekachi Madu, OSJ

Child of God have you ever imagined the consequences of sin on the whole of creation: how the consequences one person’s sin not only affects him, but affects his neighbours and his environment as well; such that the whole system is upset with thrife, setbacks, suffering and tension. Some persons today don’t understand this and live their life carelessly only to discover that certain things work against them, they are beset with bad fortune. They remain in some form of bondage: set backs left and right, and in their confusion, not knowing the cause of their problems, they run from pillar to post. If this is unclear read slowly…

Genesis 3:9-24
The Lord God called to the man. ‘Where are you?’ he asked. ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden;’ he replied ‘I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.’ ‘Who told you that you were naked?’ he asked ‘Have you been eating of the tree I forbade you to eat?’ The man replied, ‘It was the woman you put with me; she gave me the fruit, and I ate it.’ Then the Lord God asked the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The woman replied, ‘The serpent tempted me and I ate.’ Then the Lord God said to the SERPENT, ‘Because you have done this, ‘Be accursed beyond all cattle ,all wild beasts. You shall crawl on your belly and eat dust every day of your life… To the WOMAN he said: ‘I will multiply your pains in childbearing, you shall give birth to your children in pain. Your yearning shall be for your husband, yet he will lord it over you.’ To the MAN he said, ‘Because you listened to the voice of your wife and ate from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat, ‘Accursed be the SOIL because of you. With suffering shall you get your food from it every day of your life.It shall yield you brambles and thistles and you shall eat wild plants.With sweat on your brow shall you eat your bread, until you return to the soil, as you were taken from it. For dust you are and to dust you shall return.’
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
1. The Word of God you just read is a classical example in the Bible that portrays dramatically the consequences of sin: teaching us that every evil act has both a Personal dimension that affects the individual who sinned, and Communal/Interpersonal dimension that affects those around us, whether humans or the environment- which also include things like our work, business, eduction, career, etc. Hence we see how the consequences of Eve’s sin led to a shared suffering from the source of the evil- the Serpent through Adam to the Land!

2. Child of God listen to this: sins can be forgiven and the soul that sins shall die, but consequences are passed down. [If you wish to know more about this subject click here to read my work on ANCESTRAL CURSE: REAL OR HOAX]. As such many live in suffering and confusion today not knowing that they are experiencing the consequences of their own evil actions in the past, or consequences of some evil actions committed by parents, or grandparents. Hence they have to face the consequences squarely and not run away from it. For no one escapes consequences! It is a natural law and not a curse! No wonder God tells Adam and by extension tells us: with sweat on your brow shall you eat your bread, until you return to the soil, as you were taken from it. For dust you are and to dust you shall return.’ By this the Lord God endorses hard work as way by which man must earn his living and survive!

3. Now imagine: if some evil act could create such devastating consequences, how much more will a good act create? This calls for wisdom! If your evil act today can go as far as affecting even generations unborn, why not do some good now so that your generation shall be blessed. The Lord God does not remember our sins anymore when we seek his forgiveness but the consequences of our sins are not under his control, we must face it. Instead the Lord remembers our good deeds, hence scripture says in Psalm 20: 3 that the Lord remembers oblations, and look favourably on burnt offerings.

TASK: Make it a point of duty today to right a particular wrong in your life that your life and generation shall receive blessings and be favoured. I pray for you: May your good deeds extend and connect divine favour to every activities of your life in Jesus name. Amen.

© Fr. SimOne Madu, OSJ 
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Fr. Simon Onyekachi Madu, OSJ

Is a Catholic Priest of the Oblates of St. Joseph. He developed this medium to promote prayer life, spiritual growth, and meditation on the Word of God. He is a relationship and marriage counsellor, a deliverance minister, a mentor for career development, and a Canon Lawyer. You can call him for prayers, deliverance sessions, counselling or mentorship. Follow and pray with him daily across all social media platforms and Subscribe to his YouTube Channel with the links provided on this web. God bless you.

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