Rely On Divine Providence

Genesis 6:5-8,7:1-5,10
Mark 8:14-21

After the first murder account of Abel by his elder brother Cain, the acts of men became more wicked and God wanted to destroy the earth with flood. The story of Noah’s ark is one filled with faith, perseverance, and promise. Noah was a good man and he found favor in God’s sight. Noah received an awesome task from God. He was asked not just to build an ark of phenomenal proportions but he was also asked to gather all the animals God had instructed and to repopulate the earth through his family.

This story is a good lesson for us for God also gives us awesome tasks. How do we deal with those tasks? Do we depend on ourselves to carry out our task or we depend on God? Do we freak out when we are assigned a task? Do you have an awesome task from God but do not know how to proceed? Why not ask God to show you how? Ask God to give you the same wisdom and guidance that He gave Noah to accomplish that gigantic task.

In today’s gospel passage, Jesus warns us to be on guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod which is called hypocrisy. Just as yeast ferments, once we allow a sin to dwell in us, it begins to grow unless we seek forgiveness and wisdom from God, it will lead us to destruction at the end of the day.

Our Saviour tells us, that till the very day that the flood came, they were eating and drinking, Luke 17:26-27they were deaf and blind to all Divine warnings. In this posture, death surprised them. They were convinced of their folly when it was too late. We may suppose they tried all ways and means possible to save themselves, but all in vain. And those that are not found in Christ, the Ark, are certainly undone, undone forever.

Let us pause, and consider this tremendous judgment! Who can stand before the Lord when he is angry? Your today’s attitude towards your tomorrow’s future determines what it holds for you.

May God grant us the grace to do his will and carry out our tasks as we should. Amen

Fr Joseph Osho