It wouldn't happen to me

Post war people have enjoyed economic prosperity for nearly seven decades. Many of them have lost a sense of crisis. One year after the earthquake cum tsunami cum nuclear disaster, even a modern country like Japan has not taken care of all the victims. Some of them are still living in relief camps. Comparatively speaking, China is not too backward in taking care of their disaster victims. In short, many people are too complacent.

Reading St. Paul's epistle to the Ephesians today in the context of present day situation, we should learn to stay alert. Christians in the first century believed that the return of the Lord was imminent. The contemporary generation would pass away very soon. All the worldly evil powers and corruption would be defeated. In short, Christians of the first century were not complacent in their life. They stayed highly alert because the end was near. A sense of crisis permeated their daily life. With this context in mind, we will appreciate better what Paul was trying to tell the Ephesians.

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,
making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is  (Ephesians 5:15-17).
Unwise? Certainly it wouldn't be me.
Many of us have benefited from compulsory education and reached at least the post-secondary level. We have learned science and mathematics. We have been enjoying the convenience provided by the advances in science and technology. We are able to explain many things scientifically which ancient people could only superstitiously cling to their myths etc. God is one of those myths and we have no need of God in our equations. How arrogant!
Here, St. Paul wrote in the context of the imminence of Parousia. There would not be much time left so he advised the Ephesians to make good use of the remaining time which was going to be cut short soon, to keep away from the evil of the world in order to prepare for the Second Coming of the Lord. In this sense, it is wise of Christians not to tarry and to waste their time doing foolish things. Rather, understand the will of the Lord and act accordingly. Here lies the wisdom of Christians of any generations.

The Japanese, who should be regarded as wise according to modern standards because they have all the technology to minimize the possible damages caused by active tectonic movements of the plates under the Pacific Ocean, were caught with their pants down. Their sufferings have taught the world a lesson on the dangers of nuclear power generation. It also showed how feeble our technology was before the might of the elements. Yet, I wonder if the world has ever learned to seek the will of the Lord from these natural and human disasters. Many still think that it would not be me. Disasters wouldn't happen to me.



So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you;
he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him (John 6:53-56).
Who can swallow this, to eat the flesh of Jesus and drink his blood?
His saying is hard to listen indeed unless we accept the fact that Jesus loves us so much that he lay down his life for us all. His love is unfathomable yet we reject it at our peril. If we say it would not happen to me, we turn our back to the eternal life offered by Jesus.



Dear Lord, let us not insist on our arrogance. Let us open our heart to invite You into our unworthy heart. Let me partake Your eternal life. Let it happen to me. Amen.