Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish

FR MICHAEL BOAKYE YEBOAH

CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF KUMASI, GHANA.

            It is believed that eagles are symbols of freedom but they are also an incredible aviators. The eagle symbol has come to be associated with the American culture for centuries. The symbol of an eagles finds a special place in scripture especially in today’s three readings.

            Eagles have a suite of special features that other, ‘low-level’ birds do not have, such as large lungs, a dense network of blood vessels in the wing muscles, hemoglobin in their blood that adheres to oxygen. They can hyperventilate at seven times the normal resting rate without passing out and possess more mitochondria, the energy production centers within cells. All these physiological features allow them to extract the most mileage from every breath of oxygen and fly at high altitudes.

            They can also extract up to 90% of the oxygen from air. This ability goes up as the air becomes more hypoxic. Eagles have a method in order to increase the volume of blood: they either increase their heart rate or push more blood out with every heartbeat. Both ways get oxygen from the lungs to body tissues.

            In all three of these scripture passages, the figure of speech – being “borne on eagles’ wings” – conveys the idea of a loving Father lifting his children far beyond their inherent capacity, sustaining them through tribulation, magnifying their best efforts and endowing them with power to attain what he desires for them. Today’s three scripture passages nuance “being borne on eagles’ wings.” Let us discuss them one after the other.

            In the first reading the sacred writer picked a style that was historic in character. Historic in the sense that, in order to instruct the people, he used their past as a guide because it is a popular slogan to learn from history and be wise. The inspired writer in his quest to assure the people of the protection of God, uses their history to make his point. He told them of how God borne them on eagle’s wings and brought them from the land of slavery to the promised land.

            Every Jew should be proud to read that history because since creation it was never heard that the sea could be divided in two for people to walk in-between on dry land. It was like the inspired writer wanted to tell them, if God can accomplish this, he can accomplish anything.

            As much meaning this even had for the Jew of the past, it is in like manner meaningful today because we serve a God who is the same yesterday, today and forever. For me personally, my daily miracle of crossing the “Red Sea” is sleeping and waking up every morning. Everyday God borne us on eagle’s wings and bring us to safety.

            As we are thankful to God and trust him for our safety, some people are still caught up in double minds. Double minds because today they may declare trust in the Lord but on another occasion, you may find them giving their minds to doubt and seeking alternative help. I would like to use this medium to encourage you that God will never disappoint you.  We may be unfaithful but he is always faithful. Remember, the Jews also entertained doubts but God did not use their doubts but relied on his mercies to save them.

            Secondly God is always ready to save his children because his very nature is salvific and he cannot deny himself and take on another nature. We can find such assurance from the words of St. Paul in the second reading. The learned apostle wrote: “…Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly…God proved his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us…” Jesus does not carry only the righteous on his eagle’s wings but also sinners. This is why St. Paul will conclude today’s second reading with the sentence: “…we boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. The Psalmist is therefore on point when he intoned: “We are his people: the sheep of his flock… The Lord is good: his kindness endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”

            It was for this single mission of carrying God’s people on eagle’s wings that Jesus called the twelve apostles and commissioned them. It is my prayer that the work God has entrusted to his priests and all agents of evangelization will be done well so that it will bring salvation to God’s people. Jesus was absolutely right when he told his disciples: “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

            May God carry us all on his wings so that we may find safety. I would like to use this opportunity to thank thousands of priests and religious who through their ministry and apostolates carry God’s people on their wings of prayer. Please keep up the good work for surely your names are written in the book of life and your heavenly Father will reward you at his own appointed time. OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP PRAY FOR US.