TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

READINGS AT MASS TODAY

Is. 22:19-23

Psalm 138

Rom. 11:33-36

Matt. 16:13-20

Theme: A 'SHEBNA' KIND OF LIFE

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

Imagine what it was like to be in an ancient city under siege. Outside the wall is the enemy - strong and ruthless. You know that other cities have already fallen to him. Now he is determined to conquer and plunder your city, rape and kill its inhabitants. You can only hope and pray that your walls - protective shield put in place by those in authority - will keep him out. This is what we read about in Isaiah 22; our first reading. 

Today's first reading is a prophecy concerning Shebna, a high ranking official of the Royal Court possessing enormous authority to help his people at this difficult time but who rather used the authority at his disposal to benefit himself to the detriment of his nation and its people. 

The personality of Shebna is quite an interesting character we must all learn from. The Bible tells us that he is the Master of the Royal Household. As the direct link between the king and the outside world, he oversees and controls everything. He is what we now know and call the Chief of Staff of the Presidency. As an officer in the the Court of Hezekiah, a good and noble King, Shebna was a wicked, deceitful, and proud man. According to some Jewish historians, he conspired with Assyria in the attack on Jerusalem. He was the enemy within - a brother in the face and speech but dangerous in deeds. With this character, he secured his position and future. 

In the midst of an impending national disaster, Shebna was preoccupied with building a monumental grave for himself. He thought he will be well remembered by the kind of grave he hewn for himself. Probably, he has gone outside Jerusalem with his mighty chariots to check up on this project when the Prophet caught up with him with a prophecy from God. "Go, proceed to this steward, to Shebna, who is over the house and Say: what have you here, and whom have you here, that you have hewn a sepulcher here, as he who hews himself a sepulcher on high, who carves a tomb for himself in a rock? Indeed, the Lord will throw you away violently,..." (Is. 22: 15-23).

Beloved, God sees and is in control of everything. He sees even the powerful enemy hidden deep within his people. At the right time, He will catch up with them. In this difficult time when we as a people and a nation are in great distress, trying only to survive, some who have the power to help are only capitalizing on the unfortunate circumstances of Covid-19 to enrich themselves and secure firmly their political power. Their actions like the actions of the enemy within are only making things easier for the enemy standing outside the wall and make life more difficult with no insurance for the poor man on the street. These brother-like enemies are powerful and cannot be touched. But God sees and will catch up with them at the right time.

PRAYER

Lord God, you know everything and sees all that is hidden. We commit to you the brother-like enemies in our midst. Expose them and bring their enterprise to naught. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, August 27, 2023.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.