“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and get gain”; whereas you do not know about tomorrow. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and we shall do this or that.””
Excerpt, First Reading, Wednesday 22nd May 2024 – JAMES 4:13-17.
So, there is this saying that is quite common with elderly people, especially when they speak to younger ones. Its simply goes thus, “Tomorrow is pregnant.”
Such a statement always brings to mind the admiration one has for some African names, like, “Onyemaechi” (who knows tomorrow) – Igbo language, Nigeria.
Others are, “Orfega” (who knows or none can tell the future) – Tiv language, Nigeria. Abazi kusasa (who knows tomorrow) – Zulu language, South Africa. Etc
The truth is that, the Almighty God is the only One Who knows tomorrow from today. This is rightly so because, He is the Supreme Being and the Owner of creation.
This is the very reason why we have imported into our moral lexicon some religious injunctions like advised by the Apostle James in today’s teaching.
Therefore, when we will refer to or talk about the future, some of us do usually add, “By the grace of God” or “By God’s grace” or ‘God willing” or “By the will of God.”
Some Muslims will always say, “Insha Allah” when they refer to or talk about the future. This also directly translates as, “By the grace of God.”
Since we have no power over how tomorrow could be shaped, we therefore, should and must base all our intentions and plans through the grace of God.
Anything short of this is folly, since as mortals, we are just a breathe away from making or not making tomorrow.
Dear friend, it isn’t being over-religious when we use such expressions ☝️ above in our every day lives. It’s simply been realistic. This is just because we don’t know tomorrow.
Nevertheless, the Almighty God, He alone Who knows our tomorrow from today has assured us that we shouldn’t bother about tomorrow. Rather, we should have faith and believe, cast our lots on Him and commit our tomorrow unto Him. Orfega, Insha Allah, tomorrow go beta.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#SAINT_RITA_OF_CASCIA! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.