WORD OF LIVING WATER DAILY INSPIRATION. By: Rev. Fr. Akakpo Matthew.

BE GENEROUS TOWARDS YOUR PRIESTS

(2 Kg: 8-11, 14-16a, Psalm 89, Romans 6: 3-4,8-11, Matthew 10:37-42)

The readings of today especially the first reading and the second part of the gospel calls us to be generous towards our priests or pastors. An act of generosity for a man of God never goes unnoticed before God. This was the case of the rich woman of Shunem in the first reading. Shunem was a city in the tribe of Issachar that lay in the road between Samaria and Carmel, a road that Elisha often travelled. She noticed that the man of God probably went through some inconveniences whenever he gets there and want to find a place to rest. Hence, after consultation with the husband she built a rest stop for the man of God. Her reward was the gift of a son which she was not having. Some biblical commentators indicates that she was childless, the fact that she was not having a son in the context of biblical interpretations. Without a son there was no one to inherit their properties since in Israel women could not inherit properties of their parents. For her to have a son was a dream come true which possibly she has been praying for. Her prayers was answered through an act of generosity towards the Prophet Elisha.

This was a similar story of Abraham when he received the three strangers who also promised him a son from Sarah after he received them in a more hospitable manner (Gen 18:1-16). These men accordingly were angels who were sent by God to go and destroy Sodom and Gomorrah but decided to pass by the servant of God, Abraham. He did not know the calibre of persons he was dealing with, probably he thought he was only being hospitable to some strangers who were on their journey. But the reception he gave to them went unnoticed “And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son” (Gen 18:10). Isaac was the gift that Abraham had through his act of kindness even though he was promised earlier by God.

Jesus in the gospel also emphasized the fact that there is reward for showing kindness to any of His servants. “And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward ( Mat 10:42).” The little support for the ministry of his servants will be rewarded. In His public ministry, those who supported him especially the women were rewarded. The major gift they could receive from Him was eternal life which is our primary objective as Christians. 

My dear friends, our acts of kindness towards our priests opens up so many doors in our lives which sometimes we do not notice. To do good to a priest is to do good to Christ as He mentions in the gospel. These acts of kindness must be an act which comes from our hearts with a sound conscience of supporting and not courting our own hidden agenda. Some of us support them so that we can have our favours and control them. This is not what Christ is encouraging us to practice in the readings today. I must say some of us are misers in this regard. You don’t need much to share with your priest. Your widow’s mite is enough. Some people share the little they have such as foodstuffs and other basic needs of their priests. From my experience those who really support their priests genuinely, their oil never runs out in their homes. And many Catholics will give testimonies in this regard. Certain doors are not opened by prayer alone but also with acts of charity.

In the midst of our busy life, how many of us think of the wellbeing of our priests and pastors? Support is not all about material things but the emotional and psychological one is also very important for the priests. Let the welfare of our priests be dear to our heart because when they are sound in mind and heart that they can also minister to us in a worthy manner. May the grace of God help us to always think of other’s wellbeing especially the ministers of God. AMEN

Have a blessed Sunday AND A FAVOURED MONTH OF JULY AHEAD.

REV. FR. AKAKPO MATTHEW