First Reading: Ex 1:8-14. 22; Psalm: 124 R. v. 8a; Gospel: Mt 10:34-11:1

THE SACREDNESS OF THE PAST

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP.

The past is not always ugly. Some pasts are beautiful and sacrosanct that it becomes abominable to forget them. If we failed to remember where we are coming from, it can rob us of a well-informed decision. Sometimes the compass to our successes in life is well archived in our past that if we failed to retrospect, we are doomed to fail. Many of us who are living today owe a lot of gratitude to the actors in the scenes of our past. We are all coming from somewhere through a path created by known and unknown heroes. So each of us is a product of sacrifices; and this should elicit gratitude and humility.

A new Pharaoh suddenly arose in Egypt. That he did not know of Joseph is inexcusable. A king who does not know the history of his people is not worthy of the throne. More so, when it has to do with a history so remarkable to his people. The foresight, ingenuity and sacrifices of Joseph averted a famine that could have wiped off the entire land of Egypt. But for the intervention of Joseph this new Pharaoh probably wouldn’t have existed. If truly he knew nothing about Joseph, what stops him from asking his elders about the history of Joseph’s people? Ignorance is not an excuse on sensitive matters that are easily accessible. The decision of this new king to oppress the descendants of Israel will eventually lead to the ruin of the land and his own destruction.

When we suddenly rise to riches, prominence or power; we can be tempted to be controlled by that feeling of “I have arrived.” This feeling is a quicksand that could easily bring us down if we failed to realise that we were only able to arrive where we presently are through the pathway created by others. There are places and positions we may not have reached today were it not for the love and sacrifices of parents, the support of family, the encouragement of friends, and the timely intervention of some key figures in our life’s story. A complete disregard to these key players in our story is an abuse to kindness and love. We can obviously see from the final defeat of Pharaoh that God frowns at ingratitude. So, no matter how far we have gone; we should never forget where we are coming from.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Lord Jesus, may we grow in gratitude and love. Amen.