Home » Reflections » GOD HAS NO EQUAL: TUESDAY, 16TH AUGUST 2022, WEEK 20, YEAR II.

GOD HAS NO EQUAL: TUESDAY, 16TH AUGUST 2022, WEEK 20, YEAR II.

EZEKIEL 28:1-10; RESP: DEUTERONOMY 32; MATTHEW 19:23-30

In the First Reading of today, we have the message of God through the Prophet Ezekiel against the city of Tyre. Occasionally, God sent warnings to states/nations surrounding Israel to show that He is Lord over all nations and to Him all nations are accountable, not just Israel as a nation.

According to the prophecy in the First Reading, the sin of Tyre was pride. They claimed to be equal to God. They claimed to have ultimate wisdom and to be able to do anything without being accountable to anyone. For this, God said He would humiliate them and punish the arrogance of their king.

Today, let us reflect on the sin of Tyre – the claim of being equal to God. We must all be careful of this tendency. I will mention three ways in which people often declare by their actions that they are equal to God.

A. When we take glory for a good action that we have performed. For every good deed, an act of kindness and any achievement, all glory must go to God alone and we must be satisfied to see Him glorified.

B. When we try to control others, take away their will (freedom) and expect absolute obedience from them because of our position in their lives. Only God deserves absolute obedience from anyone.

C. When we seek to take revenge: God says vengeance is mine. To retaliate or seek vengeance is to put ourselves in the place of God.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus told Peter that nothing is impossible for God. Peter asked Jesus what they stood to gain by leaving everything and following Him.

Dear friends, only God can make the impossible possible, only God deserves our all, only God can reward us with eternal life. Let us be cautious not to act as if we are equal to Him and let us be careful not to give anyone the place of God in our lives.

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