ATTENTION PLEASE!

Iletogbe Daniel would begin a retreat today. its a general retreat for candidates training for the priesthood in the catholic diocese of Ilorin. It is a private time for prayer and discernment of the vocation am in. I will also like to take some personal time to pray and discern what am truly doing in this vocation. To this effect, there will be no weekday reflection from now till the 25th day of August 2013. Thanks. Pray along with us that God will give us the grace of holiness and lead us safely to his Holy Altar. God bless you all

WEDNESDAY, 19TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

DEUTERONOMY 34: 1-12/MATTHEW 18: 15-20

Socrates an ancient Greek Philosopher believes in the power of dialectics. Dialectics for Socrates is a method of revealing truth through disputation. Socrates’ style or method is quite enviable since it entails that those involved must sit together and argue out what the problem really is. but it is not as if its not with its own pitfalls. in that resolving conflicts is through disputation.
 Our gospel reading today, brings to fore a more apposite approach to resolving conflicting without necessarily precipitating some kind of feud. Fraternal correction would go a long way to help in settling disputes. Following St. Jerome Biblical Commentary on this gospel passage, the procedure for disciplining a recalcitrant brother unfolds in a three-stage trial routine.
The first is a private confrontation. As Christians, it is inappropriate for us to “keep people in mind” if a brother wrongs you, it is of utmost importance to bring it to his notice and hear from him. Rather than pile it up for him or keep malice, who knows, our assumptions or inductions about him or her may not be right. It is always key to check with reality. If we confront the person and dialogue with the person, we might get a clearer insight into whatever the case is and thus be able to settle amicably. It is therefore of utmost importance not to hold back. We must create an avenue for those who have wronged us to make amends.
Again, reference is made to having two or three witnesses. This is in accordance with Deut. 19:15 “One witness alone shall not take the stand against a man in regard to any crime or any offence of which he may be guilty; a judicial fact shall be established only on the testimony of two or three witnesses.” The tendency to exonerate one’s self in a fracas cannot be completely ruled out. As such, it is important to check with some other persons to curb excesses and to achieve an objective judgment. From this, we must learn that while we are busy giving a catalogue of reasons why “it’s a brother's fault”, we should give room for others to assist us in making judgments that are free from biases, prejudice or sentiments.
The third stage which makes reference to the church deals with reporting the issue to a community of believers who would probably see from a neutral point of view.
What challenge does all these hold for us? This passage exhorts us to brotherly love even in the face of personal offences. The passage continually used the term brother for the person who offends. How many of us in all honesty see those who offend us as brothers? Are we not quick to refer to them as enemies? Again, that passage tells us that sin against brother is a reality even among us Christians. What is important is that we learn to settle our disputes amicably. By constantly trying to win our brother back, has a message inherent there in. That is, to seek for the spiritual interest of the offender. Not to start keeping malice. Treating him as a tax collector or pagan means that the church must deal with unrepentant sinners. Let us therefore ask for the grace to be able to truly seek the spiritual interest of our brothers and sisters. Especially those of them that offend us. Amen!

EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23/ Colossians 3: 1-5, 9-11/ Luke 12:13-21

There is the story about a fisherman who after some catch in the night decided to relax on the sea with a glass of whiskey and a few smoked fishes. His counterparts were surprised about this act of his and then they approached him and said, what on earth are you doing? You have started relaxing after just some few catch, how much money have you made this week that you think is enough to earn this? His response was, what would you have me do? They urged him to keep catching. He was a bit reluctant and then he asked them after that what more would I do? They retorted; you can now start supplying cold rooms, oh, that’s good. And after that, then you make so much money and then start your own cold room, and then? they said when you make money and keeping catching fishes, you can start exporting fishes and have a big company of your own. Impressed with that, he asked again, and then? They replied, you will have companies in different places around the globe, and then? You can ensure that your children and children’s children lives are secured and then? You can now sit back and relax. He simply answered, why do I have to go through all that stress to relax, what do you think am doing now?
Our readings today are an invitations extended to us as Christians to sing requiem for our greed, lust after wealth, and mundane things. They are also charges for us to pay more attention on heavenly things.
Our first reading today from the famous book of Ecclesiastes shows the vanity of the happiness that comes from earthly things. They fade like a shadow, they are short lived. He says “Vanity of vanities, all is vanities.” This once again, attests to the futility, triviality, fruitlessness, aimlessness, and emptiness that accompany things of the earth. Earth, which is the centre of all happenings. Romans 8.20 tell us that “For creation was made subject to futility…” This reading as well as the gospel reading as we shall soon see brings out the illusion and delusion in worldly things. They are but, a thing of the moment and in no distant time we leave them and go. That is why we must tend towards the things of heaven. Isn’t it funny then, that we as human beings live sometimes as though we weren’t going to die? Isn’t it disheartening how much effort we put into amassing, garnering and gathering properties for our comfort here on earth and then make little or no effort to secure a place in heaven? Look at the story I told at the beginning of this reflection, if that’s our attitude towards life, the world would be a better place to live in. I remember Father Gabriel Adeleke’s reflection on last Sunday’s gospel, which is about prayer, he said the lord’s prayer teaches us to consider just today’s need and nothing more “give us this day, our daily bread” but today, we plan for years to come even when are not certain of the next hour. This is what is responsible for all the chaos in our world today. When you look deeply at this chaos, it has its allies as greed, selfishness, satisfying one’s evil intent, to mention but a few. I mean why would someone carry the nation’s wealth and turn it into his own property? (Greed) Why would a religion insist on having things done its own way? (Selfishness) why would a grown man want to marry a baby? (Satisfying evil intents and desires). My dear friends, why bite more than we can chew. It is appalling.
In our gospel passage, we must know that the parable of the rich fool is not to assert that riches are bad. We often make mistakes by saying money is the root of all evil. It is important to note what the bible says and what it didn’t. The bible says, the LOVE of money is the root of all evil, and some people in their desire for it as strayed away from the faith… (1st timothy 6:10). And not MONEY is the root of all evil. Even the church needs money to run its affairs. We cannot run the church on holy water and Hail Mary’s alone. As such, today’s parable is addressed not to rich people but to those who “store up treasures for themselves”. It is quite possible that one may have little money and yet be distracted by that little wealth. Hence, he’s poor but has the heart of a rich person. And yet, one may be rich and yet have the heart of a poor person. This parable therefore reminds us as Christians whose final end is in God that the treasures of this world will not accompany us into heaven, rather, it is Christ who will. And that is why the second reading exhorts us to put to death all that is earthly. The vices we are drowning in namely; greed, selfishness, self-love, evil desires and a host of others should be replaced with virtues such as goodness, charity, love, kindness etc. Eschatology, a branch of systematic theology gives us an antidote to the poison of storing up treasures for ourselves. We must focus on the last four things. That would do the trick. Death, judgment, Heaven, and hell. I will conclude this reflection with the words of Father Ambrose Dada of Ekiti Diocese, “Do not be possessed by your possessions, do not hold to a false belief that this world is heaven. Life is not about grabbing and acquiring”
I pray with the words of the psalmist as we find in our responsorial psalm today, Lord, make us know the shortness of our lives that we may gain wisdom of heart. Amen
HAPPY SUNDAY TO YOU ALL.

THE MEMORIAL OF ALPHONSUS LIGUORI YEAR C

As opposed to prophetic messages which are usually direct, parables are stories or a picture that shows our place in a situation. Take for instance, in the parable of the prodigal son; after a careful introspection, we should be able to find ourselves in those characters. As the father, the elder brother, or the prodigal son. Or even at various times when we have played each of those characters.
Similarly, in today’s gospel, the parable of the dragnet stresses the reality of the future final judgment and whose duty it is to pronounce it.
We must as Christians learn to shun off all attitude of passing judgment on people. We should know that we cannot play God in people’s lives. However, this does not mean that we neglect our brothers who go astray. It rather means that we should be Christian in our approach.
More importantly, that parable calls us all to examine our lives bearing in mind the reality of the final judgment. Let us therefore not abuse the time and opportunity God has given us. We do not have to wait till the last day, because we do not even know when the last day will be. Our duty today will therefore be to ensure that we help people avoid grinding and gnashing their teeth by showing them the way to Heaven as did St. Alphonsus Liguori
Look at the life of Alphonsus Liguori whose memorial we celebrate this evening. He gave up all he had in order to serve God. His life was a life of service. He dedicated his life to showing people the way to heaven. thedivinemercy.org has this to say about him;
Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) was a Neapolitan who founded the Redemptorist Order of priests, a congregation dedicated to providing parish missions, especially to the poor in rural areas. His spirituality was both affective and active, centered above all on the Passion of Jesus Christ as the principal sign of our Savior's love for us. Saint Alphonsus also encouraged an intimate, personal relationship with Jesus Christ through frequent visits to the Blessed Sacrament. In fact, a book of meditations that he originally wrote for his Redemptorist seminarians entitled Visits to the Blessed Sacrament went through dozens of editions and was used all across Europe, remaining a popular guide to Eucharistic devotion to this very day.
Saint Alphonsus was a master of spirituality in other respects as well. For example, his book The Glories of Mary earned him the official ecclesiastical title of "The Marian Doctor of the Church," and he insisted that the Redemptorists defend and promote the doctrine of Mary's Immaculate Conception long before that doctrine was infallibly defined as an article of faith by the Magisterium.
This is the man whose life we are called to emulate today as we celebrate his memorial. Pope John Paul II described Alphonsus as a close friend of the people, a missionary who went in search of abandoned souls...  a founder who wants a group which would make a radical option in favour of the lowly… a Bishop whose house was open to all… a writer who focused on what would be of benefit to the people. Would this be said of us too after our life here on earth?

THE MEMORIAL OF ST. JOACHIM AND ANNE (PARENTS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY)

EXODUS 20: 1-17/MATTHEW 13:18-23

The Catholic Church as an institution believes in the bible and sacred tradition. Sacred traditions would be truths outside the bible passed on to us by our fathers in faith.  As such, we are not a solar scriptura people. (Fundamentalist; those who regard no truth outside the bible). Today, the church blesses us with the feast of St. Joachim and St. Anne. As I said earlier, we just don’t rely on the bible, but we believe that tradition and the bible constitute one single sacred deposit.
There is no place in the bible were reference is made to these two great saints, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the grandparents of Jesus. The only place where we find something about them is in the gospel of St. James. Please bear in mind that this is different from the letter of St. James. And that gospel never made it into the bible. However, it is very influential in the life of the church.
Who are these saints? The Catholic Encyclopedia gives us the following:
 “The Protoevangelium gives the following account: In Nazareth there lived a rich and pious couple, Joachim and Hannah. They were childless. When on a feast day Joachim presented himself to offer sacrifice in the temple, he was repulsed by a certain Ruben, under the pretext that men without offspring were unworthy to be admitted. Whereupon Joachim, bowed down with grief, did not return home, but went into the mountains to make his plaint to God in solitude. Also Hannah, having learned the reason of the prolonged absence of her husband, cried to the Lord to take away from her the curse of sterility, promising to dedicate her child to the service of God. Their prayers were heard; an angel came to Hannah and said: “Hannah, the Lord has looked upon thy tears; thou shalt conceive and give birth and the fruit of thy womb shall be blessed by the entire world”. The angel made the same promise to Joachim, who returned to his wife. Hannah gave birth to a daughter whom she called Miriam (Mary).”
From this story, we see the type of faith and believe they had in God. They put their faith into action and never wavered.
We as Christians ought to emulate these great saints holding firm unto God’s promises for us without wavering. Even though we do not know much about these great saints, their child and grandchildren speaks well for them. Have we brought up our children, people under us or even our friends in the way of the lord, that their lives give glory to God’s name?
In our gospel reading this morning, a parable is presented to us. There is something about parables, in parables; God presents us with a beautiful image to contemplate on. He shows us the ideal, and then tells us who we are. While meditating on the parable of this morning, we should be able to tell which category we belong. And make conscious effort to amend our ways.
May St. Joachim and Anne continually intercede for us through Christ our Lord! Amen.

THE FEAST OF ST. JAMES

2ND COR. 4: 7-15/ MATTHEW 20: 20-28

Have you ever wondered why some people in power would not just let go? It’s not just because they can’t let go. It’s because they want to keep enjoying the monopoly of power, wealth and fame. Why do you think it took forever to get Gaddafi out of power despite all the protests on the streets of Tripoli and Benghazi for his immediate removal from power? We all have this tendency within us. But we need to realize that wealth can melt, fame can turn into shame and power isn’t forever.
Christ in the gospel reading of this morning seizes the opportunity to tell us the true way to greatness and power. The mother of john and James whose feast we celebrate today, like every other mother, wanted good things for her kids so let us not cast stones at her.
The way to true greatness is service, to become servants. Christ said whoever wants to be more important in your group must become your servant. And whoever wants to be first must make himself your slave.
This is the attitude Christ wants us to have. Following his own example who came not to be served but to serve. What is our attitude in the various positions God has placed us? As the head of the family, as bosses in our offices, as prefects in our schools, as leaders generally?  Do we lord it over our subjects as the pagan does?
We have heard today in our gospel reading that true greatness lies in a life dedicated to service. The humiliation, discomfort, inconveniences we suffer while carrying out this injunction to serve is the cup we too have to drink. Do not despair; do not feel abandoned or crushed… for whatever happens to us is for our sake. In the end we shall see that Christ shall bestow the grace to live faithfully upon us. May St. James continually intercede for us. Amen!

LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

EXODUS 16:1-5, 9-15/ MATTHEW 13:1-9

“Some things in life are bad they can really make you mad other things just make you swear and curse. When you're chewing on life's gristle, don't grumble give a whistle and this will help things turn out for the best. And always look on the bright side of life Always look on the light side of life”
The above lyrics are from Monty Python. He titled his song “Always look on the bright side of Life”
In our first reading today, it is quite amazing that the Israelites who hitherto complained about the slavery and hard condition in Egypt and were freed, turned the other way round to grumble about the freedom in the wilderness. Sometimes we too as human beings often complain bitterly about some situations we find ourselves. having looked for an alternative, we begin to feel we were better off in our former situation. The reason why we display this type of attitude is because we fail to be contended. Contentment means embracing a sense of satisfaction and sufficiency. It allows us to take pleasure in what we have and what we are, even life's simplest offerings. It frees us from envy and longing and so makes us generous. No matter the situation we find ourselves, we can practice contentment. Contentment looks for the riches that can be found amidst poverty and the small marvels that can be found in the direst conditions. Closely linked with that is optimism. That is, taking a favorable view of events and expecting favorable outcome. This was what the Israelites couldn’t do.
We must as Christians, have reasons to always be thankful. Let us not repay God’s goodness to us with grumbling and ingratitude as did the Israelites in our first reading. Let us learn to count our blessings!
When we have been able to do this, then the word of God will not be choked by the thorns of ingratitude and grumbling, birds of distraction will not eat it up. Rather, we will have a heart that is able to allow God’s word sprout and thrive and yield abundant fruits in hundreds, sixty…
SHALOM!

TUEDAY, 23RD JULY, 2013. 16TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C

EXODUS 14: 21-15:1/ MATTHEW 12:46-50
We are all confronted by one trouble or problem that weighs us down. All of us in one way or another have experienced depression, loneliness, heart break, and exhaustion. However, it is so consoling to know that in the midst of all these heaviness that we have in our hearts, there is a God who is very much willing to see us through. He offers a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light. That is exemplified in the life of the Israelites as we read this morning. He hears the cry of his own children. It is only we who sometimes fail to call upon him for help. This reminds me of a story told by Brett Blair. It is an old story about a little boy who was out helping his dad with the yard work. Dad asked him to pick up the rocks in a certain area of the yard. Dad looked over and saw him struggling to pull up a huge rock buried in the dirt. The little boy struggled and struggled while Dad watched. Finally, the boy gave up and said, “I can’t do it.” Dad asked, “Did you use all of your strength?” The little boy looked hurt and said, “Yes, sir. I used every ounce of strength I have.” The father smiled and said, “No, you didn’t. You didn’t ask me to help.” The father walked over and then the two of them pulled that big rock out of the dirt.
And that is all that we need to do. There is a Father who is very much willing to unburden us, to lighten the load on our backs. All we need to do is ask. From the story of the Israelites, we should learn this.
Our gospel reading today speaks of a relationship which exceeds family ties. It’s more about doing the will of God. What matters is not belonging to a thousand and one pious groups, or being called Christians. It is more about living out the life we have embraced and we must never lose sight of this. It is therefore fool hardy to refer to ourselves as Christians while not living according to the dictates of the Christian calling. Let us therefore dispose ourselves becomingly as God’s family who truly does his will.

16TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C. 21ST JULY, 2013

GENESIS 18: 1-10a, COL 1:24-28, LUKE 10:38-42
16TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C

The hallmark of a truly matured and hospitable person is his or her ability to put a smile on his or her face irrespective of what they are going through, and to be able to put others before priorities before theirs. As such, it becomes a sin to open one’s door of hospitality and then darken our countenance. Abraham showed a great deal of this virtue of hospitality by entertaining those guests in our first reading today. The fact that Abraham was childless is enough trouble for him, but he never allowed that get in the way of engaging in good acts. And at the end of that reading we saw what happened. His hospitality won for him a long desired favor. Sarah was promised to have a child. Perhaps they might have even given up on the whole issue of having a child. But his hospitality opened up the door of God’s blessings for them.
The letter to the Hebrews equally gave us an insight into this whole thing. Hebrew 13:2 says “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” We never can tell who the angel that is sent to us is.
As such, are we truly hospitable? What’s our attitude to that child that is kept under our charge who is not really a member of the family? How about the apprentices we have in care? Have you seen a wounded brother and offered to bandage his wounds? Do you give a shoulder to those who are wearied to lean on? Are you buried in your own problem that it becomes difficult for you to help others in their distress? Or perhaps we are just indifferent to whatever troubles that afflict them? We are called upon today through the first reading to be more dedicated to acts of hospitality.
Again, in our gospel reading, we see the acts of hospitality displayed by the two sisters. If you ask me, I will say it is Martha who’s rude. How could she just report Mary like that? The problem is that she considered Mary’s part as idleness. Let us not be consumed by complacency. Preparing meal for a stranger is a gesture of kindness. Engaging him in a conversation is not any different either. However, Jesus seizes the opportunity to make a clear distinction. Martha was engaged in a physical preparation; Mary’s own part was spiritual. While it is important to take care of our physical needs, spiritual needs should occupy a pride of place in our priority list. One should not oppose the other.
Let us therefore ensure that we find time this week and henceforth to be with the Lord in prayer and meditate on his word. May Christ help us in our struggles through Christ our Lord! Amen!
HAPPY SUNDAY Y’LL

THEY TOOK COUNSEL AGAINST JESUS!

EXODUS 12:37-42/ MATTHEW 12:14-21

In our gospel reading today, a gospel which is a fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah, Isaiah chapter 42, we see the plot that is shaping up against Jesus. The provocation of the Pharisees was stimulated by the act of kindness performed by Jesus. His offence was that he cured a man with a paralyzed hand on Sabbath day and for the Pharisees that is a don’t. I just cannot but wonder how showing mercy to others becomes an offence. Would there be a better way to celebrate Sabbath other than giving a helping hand to the needy or sick as the case may be? However, Jesus aware of their plot did not wage war against them. Rather, he withdrew from their midst.
Do we also hide under rules and regulations thereby shying away from our responsibilities as Christians? Is it just a ritualistic observation of the law, or we are aware of the spirit behind the law?
There are some things which we should pay attention to. The Pharisees took counsel in themselves and thus, arrived at a rash decision- the plot against Christ. When we rely on our own effort, without taking it to the lord in prayer, we also stand the chance of making ridiculous decisions as did the Pharisees.
Again, we ought to bear in mind that the withdrawal of Jesus from their midst is not tantamount to giving up or surrender. We read that he went away from that place and continued his work. And people still followed him. You see what I mean by ‘no good done is lost whether it is appreciated or scorned” when I reflected on Joseph and his brothers. People who saw the good he did still followed him.
From the withdrawal of Jesus as Father Alfonse puts it, we should learn that the good work that we do is much more important than the distraction of a good fight.
This attitude of the religious leaders is also connected with pride. In a good portion of the gospels, they have never being at home with the gift of healing and conversion of Christ. Let’s pause and ask ourselves, are my blinded by envy and consumed by jealousy that I speak less of the gifts or good works of my brothers and sisters?
Truth be told, our world is full of people who cry out for mercy. Some are far away from us, and some are just right under our nose. They cry out for food, help, a compassionate ear, forgiveness, and love. Are we ready to meet their needs, or are we going to hold back and hide behind rules?

Today’s gospel challenges us to put away our excuses, open our eyes, ears, and hearts, leave judgment to God alone, and share some of the mercy which we ourselves have enjoyed from God and the blessings he has showered upon us with those in need.

Let us therefore learn to always take counsel in God by asking for the direction of the Holy Spirit. Let us rid ourselves of all forms of envy and jealousy. Let us pray that the light of the Holy Spirit may dispel all forms of darkness from our minds and hearts.
SHALOM!

ENDURING PAIN AND HARDSHIPS

WEDNESDAY, 10TH JULY 2013. 14TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
GENESIS 41:55-57; 42:5-7a.17-24 / MATTHEW 10:1-7 
Every now and then life throws us in the deep end and tells us to swim. We are being pulled in opposite directions. We find ourselves in overwhelming situations that we don’t know how to deal with. Sometimes, it is the death of a loved one, a severe illness, barrenness, stunted growth in our businesses etc. We must bear in mind that pain and hardships are inevitable. No one can escape them. Every single one of us, at some point in our life, will experience pain, suffering and hardships of some form or another. My goal in saying this is not to dash your hopes nor depress you. Rather my goal is to inspire you. What truly matters in the face of hardships and pain is our response to the pain and bitterness we experience.
Look at Joseph in our first reading today, it was his brothers who sold him into slavery, imagine how much pain and hardship he must have gone through before God raised him to fame and authority in Egypt.
 A story is told about a farmer and his donkey. On a sunny afternoon while they were heading back home from the farm, the farmer’s donkey fell inside an old and abandoned well. And the poor animal began to cry. All attempts to remove this poor animal proved abortive, and then the farmer concluded; this animal is old and almost becoming senile and so is this well. It has dried up and it is abandoned. So he decided to bury the animal by covering the well so that no one else would fall inside. He gathered young men and they started to cover the well with sand. The poor animal as if aware of what is about to happen began to cry louder than it ever did. Shortly afterwards, the cry stooped. As soon as the sand gets on its back, he shakes it off and climbs on it, this it did on till it eventually got to the surface of the well.
Joseph was never discouraged by the pain and hardship he suffered when his own blood sold him as a slave. The response of Joseph is two dimensional. His response to the hardship, and his attitude towards those who inflicted the hardship. When his brothers came to him, Joseph could have seen it as opportunity to pay back. But he refused to be consumed by resentment and bitterness. We were in fact told that after hearing their conversation, he wept bitterly.
What is our own response to the hardship we experience as well as our attitude to those who inflict the hardship? I remember the prayer of the eighth station we use to pray in the seminary; “Lord, teach me, help me to learn when I would snap at those who hurt me with their ridicule, those who misunderstand me those whom I think hinder my progress with some misguided helpfulness those who intrude upon my privacy those who restrict my freedom and liberty, then help me curb my tongue, may gentleness become my cloak”
The lessons for us in this first reading are therefore that; we must realize that our hardship makes us better, Strength does not come from winning. It is our struggles that develop our strengths. When we go through hardship and we decide not to surrender that is strength.
No good done is lost, whether it is appreciated or scorned.
Our pains and hardship won’t last. They are short-lived, and finally that we are not alone. God was with Joseph through his hardship and that is why he was raised to fame and authority.
In our gospel reading, we see how God chose his twelve disciples. When we look at all the people that Jesus chose to be his disciples, they were all ordinary people. They were not the most educated; not the professionals; they had no masters or PhD degrees, and they were not even the most holy people. They are the common, ordinary people. However, Jesus empowers them and gives them authority to heal and to do extraordinary things. Jesus Christ chooses ordinary people and makes them extraordinary people. That is what Jesus wants to do with every one of us here today. He knows that we are ordinary people, but he wants to make us extraordinary people. Imagine the greedy Judas, Thomas the doubter, the ambitious James and John, and then of course there was Peter the Coward.
If we examine a computer, perhaps we will understand what God is doing by choosing those “failures”. A computer is a powerful tool. Even though we are drawing closer to “artificial intelligence” in computers, they are still only a tool at our disposal.  They can do great things for us.  But they are not as important as the users who control them and make them do what we want them to do. SHALOM!

CALLED TO BE MISSIONARIES

SUNDAY, 7TH JULY 2013. 14TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
ISAIAH 66: 10-14/ GALATIANS 6:14-18/LUKE 10:1-12.17-20

This morning, we continue our journey with Luke’s account of Jesus and the disciples as they head to Jerusalem. And the theme of today’s gospel reading is discipleship. The introduction of that reading begins with “after this, the lord appointed seventy two other disciples…”
Discipleship is modeling and teaching Christians the precepts of the Bible; mainly prayer, doctrine, Christian living, and worship. And in our gospel reading today, that is quite evident because that was the charge Christ gave his disciples.
Now, we can bifurcate the gospel of today. The first deals with the commissioning of the seventy two, and the second deals with their joyous return.  Apart from this sending out story, Luke’s Gospel also has another story of Jesus sending out his followers to go and spread the Good News. In chapter 9 Jesus sends the twelve apostles and in chapter 10 that we read today, he sends seventy-two others. Matthew’s Gospel has only one: the sending of the Twelve. Biblical Scholars believe that Luke’s story of the sending out of the Seventy-two is the author’s way of emphasizing the universal scope of the message of Christ. The mission of the Twelve, according to Matthew, was limited to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6). However,  the mission of this Seventy-two in our gospel reading today has no such limitation. It cuts across the whole human race. According to Jewish tradition there are twelve tribes of Israel and seventy nations of the earth. The sending of today’s seventy-two disciples, therefore, symbolizes the sending of the message of Christ to the whole world.
What lesson does this hold for us? Today marks the commissioning of lay ministry. The twelve that was hitherto sent out were clerics ordained by Jesus. Today’s seventy-two are therefore lay people. As such, we should immediately recall in our minds the number of times, we have closed our minds and refuse to listen to lay people who head or direct some programmes in our church. Or the times we have erroneously hold to “mindsets” like, “only the priest can pray for me.” Mission is not only for clerics, we are all called to be disciples.
Christ of course gave us a reason for the inculcation of lay people in the work of mission, he submits that “the harvest is abundant but the workers are few”. As we are all pondering on this, we may begin to ask ourselves, but what role am I suppose to play in the work of mission? I can’t say mass nor hear confession, neither can I anoint nor consecrate. Well do not sweat it. Christ says; you are to pray and ask the lord of the harvest to send workers to his harvest, and secondly, he says go, I am sending you. The implication of this is that we must pray and be involved actively. Active participation in the work of mission is therefore not negotiable. We all have roles to play. We are all called into a life of commitment to prayer and commitment to service. Remember our reflection last week equally charges us to remain committed to Christ. So, we are to pray to God as though everything depends on him and then work as though everything rests on us.
Jesus also gives us an attitude to work with in his response to the joyous disciples. Upon their return, they were very happy and they reported, “Even the demons obeyed us when we called upon your name” but Christ answered saying, do not rejoice that the demons obeyed you, rejoice rather that your names have been written in heaven. The spirit of meekness and submission are essential tools for discipleship.
When we follow this footstep, when we carry out the work of mission, there are a lot which awaits us. Imagine the joy that radiated from the disciples having accomplished the work? This was possible because they relied on his power and presence, not on their own strength or abilities. The antidote for failure in missionary work is therefore, total dependence on God. If our missionary effort must bear fruits, either as clerics or lay people, we must recognize that we are sent out by Jesus, and it is from him that we can draw strength. May Christ make us faithful disciples through Christ our lord. Amen!

SATURDAY, 6TH JULY 2013. 13TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

GENESIS 27: 1-5.15-29/ MATTHEW 9:14-17

Our gospel reading today contains a controversial dialogue between Jesus and the Pharisees. Jesus seized the opportunity to clear the religious misconceptions of the Pharisees. Fasting is not evil; in fact, it has both physical and spiritual benefits. While it helps the physical body to attain discipline and concentration, it helps the soul to lift up its heart to God. Yet, like everything else, there is a place and time for it. Jesus equally uses two little parables to drive home his points. The first, putting new unshrunk cloth on old material and second, pouring new wine into old wine skins.
It is an invitation to change. The Pharisees held on to the tradition which associated fasting with mourning and couldn’t just let go. So seeing Jesus eat with tax collectors in our reading yesterday, and then his disciples eating today was a scandal. However, Jesus shed light on the issue. He told them that’s not it.
What challenge does this pose for us? We also have to learn to jettison traditions which keep us in bondage and deprive us of our enjoyment as wedding guests of God.
Clearly, the old garment and the old wineskins represented Judaism in so far as it contained elements which were being replaced. The new cloth and the new wine are the spirit of Kingdom as proclaimed by Jesus. The Pharisees and John’s disciples were like patches on old cloth or new wine in old wineskins, trying to put life into something that was giving way to a totally new order. The new wine that Jesus brought is a radical departure from the hitherto way or what I would call a paradigm shift, a radically new understanding of how God wants to be loved and served.
My dear friends, what is our attitude towards Vatican II and The new liturgy today? If we take Heraclitus’ model of the world as a guide, then we would come to terms with the fact that change is the only constant thing. So why fear change? Don’t move backward when God is calling you forward. Rid yourself of metathesiophobic tendencies (fear of change).
We equally have to learn to defy traditions in order to integrate ourselves within the dynamism of Jesus’ new order. We can begin this by firstly examining the traditions we cling to so dearly. C.P Varkey, shared a story in his book titled: Be Human, Be Holy. It was about a Buddhist leader, who had a cat he loved so dearly, and wouldn’t go anywhere without the cat. However, when it was time to pray, he ties the cat just closed by to avoid distraction. This he did for a long time. After a while, the cat died and the old Buddhist also died. The son who took over from him could not pray unless he ties a cat close to him. Little did he know that the cat had nothing to do with the prayers. Let us also try to examine our own traditions and not be kept in bondage by them.
Finally, it is the Holy Spirit that brings changes. The work of transformation in the church is done by the Holy Spirit. Let us therefore keep our selves open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit that we may come to the knowledge of the new kingdom proclaimed by Jesus Christ!
 SHALOM!!!

TUESDAY, 2ND JULY, 2013. 13TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

GENESIS 19:15-29/ MATTHEW 8: 23-27

In our gospel reading today, we find that Jesus and his disciples were trying to get to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, and they were faced with a fierce tempest. The disciples were worried and they cried aloud, Lord! Save us. There is a lesson for us to learn from that. As Christians, we should bear in mind that just because we have Christ as the center of our lives does not mean we will be exempted from storms of life. The disciples had Christ with them in the boat and yet they had their own fair share. I wonder how terrified they must have been. But the joy for us as Christians is that, irrespective of how fierce the storm might be, Jesus will certainly come to our aid.
In all honesty, let us imagine how the disciples were running helter-skelter and in the middle of all these hustle and bustle, they found out that Christ was sleeping. Are there not times dearly beloved, when we face trials, temptations and tribulations that we will feel Christ has sleep on us? Be assured today, that Christ never leaves you. 1st Peter 5:7 reassures us of this fact when it says; “Leave all your worries with him, for he cares for you”. You may be going through some storms in your marriage, in your relationship, on your job, at school, in your home, in your health, in your finances, or whatever. Just remember God sees all, and He knows all about your struggles.
Didn’t the first reading also showcase this? Zoar was part of the town that was to be destroyed. But Lot chose it as a place of refuge from the destruction that was going to befall Sodom and because of that it was spared. The angel said to Lot; “flee fast for I can do nothing till you arrive there”. Once again, we see that God cares and never forgets his own people. Isaiah 49:15 says, "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!”
So, when the chips are down and everything becomes so dark, when all hopes seem dashed and you are alone with a foggy head, remember to say DOMINE SALVUM ME FAC! Lord save me!

HOW NOT TO FOLLOW CHRIST

SUNDAY, 30TH JUNE 2013. 13TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C
1ST KINGS 19:16b.19-21, GALATIANS 5:1.13-18, LUKE 9: 51-62

Last week was a really busy week for me. I had Lots of celebration. I had an anniversary I had to organize, the solemnity of St. Peter & Paul, saints that my institution is named after, it was also the student’s continuous assessment week in the school I work. I had a lot competing for my attention, so I couldn’t post reflections. I hope you missed me.
Well, today’s readings are exceptional, so I couldn’t but scribble something down to help us in our Christian journey. During the course of last week, I read a lucid and moving article by Rev, Fr. Emmanuel Ojeifo, who is the personal Secretary to the Archbishop of Abuja. He wrote on “On how not to read El-rufai’s Book” I think the theme for our reflection this evening will also follow in that light. We shall reflect on “HOW NOT TO FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST”
Our gospel reading brings to fore Jesus journey to Jerusalem. Let us bear in mind that this was the beginning of his journey to the cross. Yet, Christ was resolute in embarking on that Journey simply because of the love he has for us. Luke’s narrative of this journey unfolds in three sections as we shall see in the course of this reflection. We shall examine them one after the other.
The introductory part of that reading, talks about the; REJECTION OF CHRIST BY THE SAMARITANS AND CHRIST’S NON-RETALIATION ATTITUDE. There is a rift between the Jews and the Samaritans. Hatred between Jews and Samaritans was fierce and long-standing. In some ways, it dated all the way back to the days of the patriarchs. Jacob (or Israel) had twelve sons, whose descendants became twelve tribes. Joseph, his favorite, was despised by the other brothers (Gen. 37:3-4), and they attempted to do away with him.
As such, this hatred was extended to Jesus who was a Jew, and was going to Jerusalem. Imagine how they lost the peace and blessings they would have enjoyed having Jesus amongst them. Let us not be quick to condemn the Samaritans. Let us use it as an opportunity to examine our own lives. It’s a pity how much retrogression we have suffered instead of progression simply because of ethnic and tribal sentiments. Do we see what damage tribalism and ethnicity can cause? As such, WE ARE NOT TO FOLLOW CHRIST with tribalism and ethnicity and biases all bottled up in our minds.
What was the attitude of Jesus to the situation? The agile disciples immediately suggested that they call fire down from heaven to consume the Samaritans. You remember what happened in the 2nd books of the Kings 1:10-12? Elijah said, “If I am a Man of God, Elijah answered, may fire come down from heaven and kill you and your men!” At once fire came down from heaven and killed the officer and his men”. But Jesus Christ rebuked his disciples and lived out his teaching Luke 6: 27-29, 35 “but I tell you who hear me; love your enemies, do good to those who ill treat you. If anyone hits you on the cheek, let him hit the other too; if someone takes your coat…” As such, WE ARE NOT TO FOLLOW CHRIST with an attitude of “do me I do you God no go vex”
The second section talks about THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP; this section uses the encounter between Jesus and the men in the gospel, to teach us about the cost of discipleship. If you’ll recall, we were introduced to three characters. The first promised that he would follow Jesus wherever he goes. Yet Jesus replies to this boast with a warning. Unlike the foxes and birds, Jesus said, he had nowhere to lay his head. Jesus used this exaggeration to jolt out listeners out of their staid way of ordering the universe and to view existence from an entirely new angle as St. Jerome’s commentary tells us. It shows that discipleship is much deeper than we think. It requires a total commitment and responds to that call.  In other words, our Lord was telling this person that following him might be a bit more challenging than he imagined, and that he might wish to think twice before signing on the bottom line. In a sense, Jesus was asking: "Are you sure you want to follow me? Do you really know what you’re getting into?" this reminds me of a story told by Rev. Fr. Njoku Canice Chukwuemeka, C.S.Sp, of a boy named Ofeke. Eleven year old Ofeke disturbed his uncle (a priest) so much about going to spend his next long vacation in his parish. Knowing the solitary nature of the parish house and his busy schedule, his uncle tried to dissuade him but to no avail. Eventually, his uncle caved in to his demand and asked his mother to bring him. Ofeke arrived on Friday, spent the weekend, and by Monday morning he has packed his bag ready to end his vacation. He went to his uncle and asked him to take him home immediately. His uncle knew his problem. Ofeke could not cope with the solitude of the Parish house in spite of the food and DSTV channels at his beck and call. He was asked to wait till the weekend for his mother to come and pick him. Reluctantly, he agreed and waited for Friday to come. Very early on Friday morning Ofeke picked up his bag and told his uncle: “I am going home whether Mummy comes or not!” Most of us are like Ofeke, quick to follow but without much commitment. Hence, WE ARE NOT TO FOLLOW CHRIST with a divided attention.
The second character spoken about in the gospel was invited by Christ and he agreed to follow Jesus, but only after he has buried his father. Now we have to understand that this person’s father was not dead. His father was living, and he wanted to stay nearby. In effect, this person was saying: I would like to follow you, Jesus, but only when it’s more convenient. It’s just not the right time; I have other things I want to do first." Jesus’ response that the dead should bury their own dead was his way of saying that following him is more important than anything else we might do. So when he said let the dead bury their dead, he meant let those who are spiritually dead bury those who are physically dead. What is holding us back in responding to God’s invitation? What’s holding you back from confession, from the Holy Eucharist, from living in harmony with your brothers and sisters? This is where the first reading comes in. look at Elisha in the first reading? He left everything. Even though comfort and security is not guaranteed, Christ is urging us to remain steadfast. We ought to free ourselves from encumbrances. How can something God has given to you prevent you from serving the author of these things? In our world today, some of us are too busy to follow God, isn’t it God who has given you time?, some of us are too rich to follow God…
The first reading of today therefore challenges us to remain steadfast. Remember what the gospel tells us; “You cannot serve God and Marmon at the same time” (Lk 16, 13). Let us like Elisha kill everything that constitutes a distraction to serving God.
Finally, the third agreed to follow Christ, but also wanted to go and bid farewell. The plough mentioned by Jesus shouldn’t be seen as the modern day plough. It is the Palestinian plough, and it requires some level of dexterity and concentration because one hand is used to control the plough and the other to guide the unruly oxen which pull the oxen. As such, just a slight distraction ruins the plough. Once we have allowed God to reign in our lives, it requires consistency and commitment. We cannot allow ourselves be distracted or disturbed by trivialities. Genesis 19: 26 should remind us of the consequences of looking back. Lot’s wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. As such, WE ARE NOT TO FOLLOW Christ in inconsistency and inconstancy.
To intensify our message this evening dearly beloved, the second reading also invites us to freedom. Freedom that requires we put all the impulses of the flesh to death. Fornication, adultery, back biting, cheating, lies, dishonesty, and all those things that binds us in chain. Little wonder, the French philosopher Jean Jacque Rousseau submits that, “Man is free, but everywhere in chains”
The man who is truly free is that man who is committed to the cause of Christ.
PAX DOMINI SIT SEMPER VOBISCUM

DON'T BE A FALSE PROPHET! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY FATHER TOM!

There are so many significant days and times in father’s life, but am sure that if we ask him, his ordination day would surely be one of the most significant days of his life. So let us take a trip down memory lane, let us cast our minds back to four years ago. I must say that am very happy today because have been a part of those years. I worked with Father while he was in Theology II, at St. James Catholic Church, Sabo-oke. I carried the crosier of the bishop at his diaconate; I served as an acolyte at his priestly ordination, am currently working with him for my pastoral experience and preaching is fourth year anniversary. It’s a privilege and a rare privilege indeed! I give thanks to God for being part of this.
Father, on a day like this, it is of utmost importance to look back and see those who have guided and helped you to arrive safe and sound in the lord’s vineyard. Your parent of course occupies a pride of place in that list. We pray for your late Father, May God rest his Soul. We also remember some of your classmates who never made it to the priesthood, but who nonetheless, have a hand in what you have become today, wherever they may be, we pray that God’s love may abide with them. We equally remember those who made it to the priesthood, but today are no more. May God let his perpetual light shine upon them.
 However, we shouldn’t be maudlin or sad. Today is a day for us to consider all the blessings that have been part of your life especially these four years. And that blessing dearly beloved people of St. Martin’s Catholic Church, includes us all. So once again, let me remind us the purpose for which we gathered; it is to honor father’s four years of service to God.
To you father, the song on your lips should be “how can I repay the lord’s goodness to me?” let me answer that for you father, you can only repay the Lord by being constant in the way you have chosen. By being a priest. That’s all Christ demands of you. Even when your people make it difficult, you must remain steadfast to the call you have answered. Remember Christ had his own fair share. Matthew 11:17 “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.”
Words can be very powerful. There is a story I came across once, I cannot remember where, but the story goes thus, a blind man was in a street begging, and he had this inscription close to where he was “I am blind”. As people walked along, some few persons dropped some coin in the bowl before the blind man and walked away. Then came a woman, she simply bent down and added something to the inscription the blind man had. And now people dropped money more than ever. Do you know what she added? It is a beautiful morning, but I’m blind and cannot see it”
The above shows the power of words. But the problem with the priest and word is that; the priest says one thing, parishioners hear another. This is a Major problem. But then, Father you have to continue speaking. Do not be discouraged by inadequacies of some people and that is what Christ requires of you… this is what Christ endured; this is what you must endure.
Dear friends, in our gospel reading, Jesus is warning us of one of the greatest threats to our welfare, yet it is a warning that the vast majority of people, even if they read this passage, will not give much consideration to. Most people consider things such as the economy, personal finance, health, safety, politics and social values to be of much greater importance. Even when each of these can only affect us for only a relatively short time at most, we give more consideration to them because they are what affect us now. We would all like our lives to be comfortable and happy, but a more important question is, will you find comfort and happiness when you face death? The goal of life should be preparation for eternity.
Jesus warns us about those who can affect us internally by presenting falsehood in the garb of truth, and getting us to believe and follow their lies. The greatest danger we face is what will affect us internally and determine our eternal destiny. And who are they? False prophets!
When we see an apple tree, we know, the same thing for an orange tree, a mango tree, a cashew tree… this is because we see the fruits on this trees. Similarly, by their fruits we shall equally come to know them. They are the representative of darkness masquerading as an angel of light; they ultimately direct people away from God. While we must be careful so as not to be deceived by their eloquence, we too must from time to time examine our own lives to see the kind of Fruit we bear. We must endeavor to take a spiritual inventory of our lives. One way we can do that is to ask ourselves, how do people feel when they are around us?
     Do they feel that we are dominating?
     Do they feel bad because we are the first person they saw in the morning?
     Do they feel like they a burden to us because of our disposition to them?
     Do they feel looked down upon because we’re arrogant?
     Do they feel hurt because we’re rude or selfish?
     Do they feel peaceful, respected, loved, accepted, and safe?
The challenge for us is to be known by good fruits. The fruits of the tree of life are twelvefold (REV. 22:1-2) and it bears fruit for each month of the year and these are the fruits mentioned by St. Paul in Galatians 5.
Back to you father, we thank God for the kind of tree you have and we hope we will be able to imitate some if not all your fruits. This should be the song on your lips at the end of this day father; “Praise the lord, my soul! All my being praise his holy name! Praise the lord, my soul and do not forget how kind he is” Psalm 103:1-2
Tu es sacerdos in aeternum secundum ordinem melchisedec!

TUESDAY, 25TH JUNE, 2013 ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

GENESIS 13:2.5-18/ MATTHEW 7:6.12-14

Jesus invites us to learn to treat others the way we ourselves want to be treated. It is the golden rule. It will help to remind us of our obligations and duties towards our neighbors. To do this, it requires frequent entering through the narrow gate as the gospel passage enjoined.
When we are able to do this, we give thanks to God for the gift of our brothers, friends and neighbors. We will not be like pigs and dogs that can hardly be grateful for privileges received.
Furthermore, Christ in the gospel passage simply wants us to learn to take into consideration our brothers and sisters. Look at Abram in the first reading, how many of us would gladly put our brother’s need over ours? How many of us in taking decisions, takes the other person into consideration? Is it not the case that we are being centered in or preoccupied with ourselves and the gratification of our own desires? Today’s gospel as well as the lesson from the story of Abram challenges us to shun all aortas of egoistic tendencies present in us.
Again, Christ points our attention towards direction in life with the analogy of the broad way and the narrow gate. Let us as Christians, learn to journey on the less traveled road. Crowd mentality should be discarded. We should bear in mind that life is not a bed of roses. Let us therefore not waste our precious time looking for  easy way out. May Christ help us as we do this. Amen!

THE NATIVITY OF ST.JOHN THE BAPTIST

MONDAY, 24TH JUNE, 2013 ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
ISAIAH 49:1-6/ ACTS 13:22-26/ LUKE 1:57-66.80

Ordinarily, in the Catholic Church, we observe the day of a saint's death as his feast, because that day marks his entrance into heaven. However, as the cliché goes, “To every general rule there is an exception.” To this rule of celebrating the day of a saint’s death as his or her feast, there are two notable exceptions, the birthdays of Blessed Mary and of St. John the Baptist whose solemnity we celebrate today.
Our attention today shall therefore be turned towards the life of John the Baptist. Three virtues worthy of emulation can be seen in the life of St. John the Baptist. First, his Burning and ardent zeal in the proclamation of God’s message, secondly, his humility, and finally, his courage.
John the Baptist did not suffer from crisis of identity like most of us do today. He knew who he was and what is mission is.  If today we do not sing gloriously, or we celebrate it as an optional memorial, I don’t think John the Baptist will mind. John the Baptist knew that his mission was; to prepare the way for Jesus. As such, he lived his life not to promote himself, but to promote the Lord. What challenge does this put before us? We must as Christians, learn to decrease and Christ increase. We must take him with us wherever we go that through our actions his life may show. We must therefore dearly beloved in Christ, shun all tendencies of self-promotion which has preoccupied our world today. Sometimes I cannot but marvel when I see posters and billboards of spiritual programme of some churches. The stylish and domineering pictures of “men of God”, of course with their beautiful wife is usually the centre of attraction as opposed to the message which they intend to pass. The life of St. John the Baptist therefore challenges us that Christians shouldn’t aspire to be a celebrity, but should strive to be a servant. We should live lives that shout not "Look at me!" but "Look to Jesus. Having humbled himself, he was exalted. There is no time we make reference to the public ministry of Christ that we wouldn’t talk about John the Baptist. In fact, all the four gospels did. Various bible passages attest to this laudable virtue of John the Baptist.  Mark 1:8 “I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” He never gave the people the idea that he was all in all. John 1:29 “…John recognized Jesus at once and said, “Look, there is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” After Jesus’ baptism once again we see John turning the attention to Jesus as he declared, “He must increase, I must decrease.” (John 3:30). The list is almost endless.
Yet another virtue which we must consider is his courage. We see John’s great courage in condemning the marriage of Herod to Herod’s brother’s wife. This should agonize our consciences. It a reminder for us that it is not everything that is allowed by law, that is morally right. So, the fact that homosexuality, divorce, prostitution and abortion have been legalized in some countries does not make them right.  Herod had John arrested and put in prison simply because he stood for truth. Though that cost him his head, nonetheless, he stood up for what he believed in. At least he died pursuing a cause he believed in. if we as Christians don’t stand for something, then we will fall for anything.
Finally, his zeal in extending and building God’s kingdom is also an enviable one. John never flew in private Jets nor did he have convoys follow him around. Yet he proclaimed the gospel. He lived the life of a prophet in the desert, wearing a garment of camel-skin and eating locusts and wild honey (Mark 1:6; Matt 3:4). He proclaimed the kingdom of God and a coming judgment, and invited people to accept baptism as a sign of their repentance. Today my dear friends in Christ, John has a message for us, to tax collectors he says; “Exact no more than the appointed rate.” (Luke 3:13) To our police men he says; “No intimidation! No Extortion! Be content with your pay!” (Luke 3:14)…

May we like John the Baptist, learn to live our lives in humble service to God.

DON'T SWEAT IT

FRIDAY, 20TH JUNE, 2013 ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
2ND COR. 12:1-10/ MATTHEW 6:24-34

I have seen a quote on worry by Erma Bombeck. It says; “worry is like a rocking chair; it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere.”
Even though so many of us might have read or heard about the above, am afraid that it seems almost impossible for us not to worry. The basics of life is a struggle for most of us. Don’t even get me started on the various headlines of newspapers and news stations which sends cold sweat down the spine. These are enough for us to worry about. But when we make up our minds to persevere rather than desist from worrying, let us bear in mind that, it is the root cause of our problems; physical, spiritual, and psychological.
Christ in our gospel reading today, is telling us; hey! Don’t sweat it, have got everything under control. Christ is not asking us to adopt a laisser-faire attitude to our situations. So, the invitation to trust in his divine providence and the assurance of taking care of our needs should not be taken for passivity in the face of our daily struggles. Christ says hey! Don’t sweat it. Just make a distinction between your wants and needs. Jesus seizes the opportunity to redirect our thinking to God and invites us to lift our eyes to God. To raise our sights above worry and anxiety to faith and trust, faith in our heavenly Father the source of our every blessings. God makes reference to the birds of the air… to show us we are not in this world on our own. Let us therefore stop living like functional atheists forgetting that God is watching over us, taking care of us, and providing for us in our needs.
If you feel your prayers are delayed; Christ simply wants you to know that there far more important things to seek after than foods and clothes. The story of the rich fool should ring a bell. He stored up grain and had treasure for years to come, then that night the voice came to him: “Thou fool! Tonight thy soul is required of thee!” You see, there are much more important things to be “worried about.” You can have all the wealth this world has to offer, you can have all the home theatre systems and plasma screens, you can have the Buggati Veyron and the Rolls Royce phantom, and a McMansion on a hill, but you can’t take any of it with you. 
One thing that is worth seeking is the kingdom of God and its righteousness. Hunger and thirst after these things and you will be richly satisfied.

FRIDAY, 20TH JUNE, 2013 ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

2ND COR. 11:18.21-30/ MATTHEW 6:19-23
Our natural tendency as humans is to gather, garner or amass. This is because man’s heart yearns for a treasure which will give him security, happiness and even give him a living. It is therefore very likely that an institution which extends an invitation like; “building wealth is serious, but wealth gathering makes it fun! Our goal is to make you financially fit, and we support you as you improve day by day” will naturally pull crowds than one which says “go sell all you have and follow me”.
However, Christ in Our gospel reading today invites us to rise above that human nature. Because, every human treasure which comes in form of earthly treasure comes with its own burden. Having being acquired, in its trail comes the risk and fear of losing it, as well as the strain and stress we go through trying to secure and protect it. Thus, earthly possession becomes a source of constant worry if not properly managed. Little wonder it is often said that “big man, big wahala”.
Contrary to the above, Christ tells us that true treasure lies in the good works we do, how we have been able to spend our lives for humanity, as well as in the uprightness of our lives.
Usually, I like to make a clear cut distinction from what Christ says and what he didn’t. Is Christ saying wealth or earthly possessions are evil? OF COURSE NOT. People have needs, and we are always looking for ways to meet these needs. Even the church has needs as well. We definitely cannot run the church with hailmary’s and holy water alone. What Christ says is that, our lives should not be ruled by these treasures. They are means to an end and not end in themselves. In a situation whereby an individual now makes the pursuit of earthly possessions is ultimate aim on earth; he has become guilty of being unfaithful to the dictates of God.
Let our attention be turned towards God. All we possess or do should be done in the light of the kingdom. God should be our first beginning and final end. Mike Harrison’s reflection on today’s gospel passage makes it all lucid. In a statement credited to him, he submitted, “What man should do is make his way to God. Sanctify himself and give all glory to God by making right use of the noble things of the earth.” There is a point of convergence between the above and the exhortation of St. Paul to the Colossians. Chapter 3:17; “Everything you do or say then, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks through him to God the Father”.
The analogy of the eye as a lamp, invites us to purify the intentions of our hearts as well as the motive behind all we do. Once our motives and intentions are God-centered, then we will have nothing to worry about.
Let us examine the life of St. Francis of Asisi as written by James Kiefer; Francis was born in 1182, the son of a wealthy cloth merchant. His early years were frivolous, but an experience of sickness and another of military service were instrumental in leading him to reflect on the purpose of life. One day, in the church of San Damiano as he submits, Francis seems to hear Christ saying to him, "Francis, repair my falling house." He took the words literally, and sold a bale of silk from his father's warehouse to pay for repairs to the church of San Damiano. His father was outraged, and there was a public confrontation at which his father disinherited and disowned him, and he in turn renounced his father's wealth. Another account says that he not only handed his father his purse, but also took off his expensive clothes, laid them at his father's feet, and walked away naked. He declared himself "wedded to Lady Poverty", renounced all material possessions, and devoted himself to serving the poor. Since he could not pay for repairs to the Church of San Damiano, he undertook to repair it by his own labors. He moved in with the priest, and begged stones lying useless in fields, shaping them for use in repairing the church. He got his meals, not by asking for money so that he might live at the expense of others, but by scrounging crusts and discarded vegetable from trash-bins, and by working as a day laborer, insisting on being paid in bread, milk, eggs, or vegetables rather than in money.
Dearly beloved, if in the end, we were given ONE chance to take something with us when we die; what would it be?
LET US PRAY
Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, grant your people grace gladly to renounce the vanities of this world; that, following the way of blessed Francis, we may for love of you delight in your whole creation with perfect joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever, AMEN! (Preface of a Saint)

THURSDAY, 20TH JUNE, 2013 ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

2ND COR. 11:1-11/ MATTHEW 6:7-15

If we have friends and we realized suddenly that those friends are beginning to act as enemies, do not be surprised, they’ve only gotten tired of pretending.
My dear friends in Christ, St. Paul in the first reading of today encourages us to remain friends of Christ, refusing to be led astray by strange doctrines. In our world today, a world plagued and bedeviled by a mélange of catastrophes. A world held down by a complexity of evil forces, a lot of evil is being paraded and propagated as moral ideals. A good example would be the gay-movement. It will surprise you to hear that it is being propagated even in churches such that they have even created gay bible clubs, citing some scriptural passages to support their evil. This is just one out of the catalog of issues that could actually lead people astray. So St. Paul in the first reading this morning warns us about the dangers of being led astray. Do not be carried away by sweet and eloquent words for words are cheap.
In our gospel reading today, Christ taught his disciples how to pray. And he also made reference to the need not to babble when we do that. Jesus teaches us that it is not the amount of words, nor the time we spend, what counts is the amount of faith we put in.
Each petition of the Lord’s Prayer has a lot to teach us, the summary being, having a spirit which seeks the will of God, an attitude which pleads for his providence, and the ready disposition to forgive our offenders.
As Catholics, let us not be tempted to trivialize the Lord’s Prayer, considering the fact that we say it regularly. Let the saying; ‘familiarity breeds contempt’ not be true of us when it comes to the Lord’s Prayer. Let it be the pattern of our every prayer, and let us pay sincere attention to the words.

BE KIND AND GENEROUS, BUT DON'T BE A HYPOCRITE!

WEDNESDAY, 19TH JUNE, 2013 ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

2ND COR. 9:6-11/ MATTHEW 6:1-6; 16-18

 I work in a parish that has a school attached to it. While I was going through this reading in preparation for today’s liturgy, I remembered at different points when have had to gather students to carry out some chores as well as their responses to the charge. Have had groups who grumbled and murmured but nonetheless, they carried out the given assignment. Have also had group that did not hold back, they cheerfully went about their duties as charged.
Which of these groups do you think I will be pleased with? Of course the answer is obvious. We all want Jobs done with a cheerful spirit.
Just yesterday, St. Paul was making reference to the generous and charitable deed of the Church in Macedonia, today in our first reading; St. Paul extends the invitation to us, to be charitable. He talks to us about financial stewardship.
How do we approach giving our offerings to the Lord?  Is this a task we’re glad to do, or does this feel more like a necessary evil that cannot be avoided?  St. Paul encourages us to cling to the former and rid ourselves of the latter mindset. He wrote, “Let each man give what he has decided upon personally, and not reluctantly as if compelled.” The word “reluctantly” means to feel grief and pain over something.  The synonym for “compulsion” is Constraint. It is the idea that someone is forced to endure something they don’t want to experience or to do something they don’t want to do. If we put the thoughts together, then we will see from the reading that Paul shows us the attitude God doesn’t want us to take with our offerings.  God loves a cheerful giver, and a cheerful giver is not hindered by grief. Psalm 112 gives a litany of reward for those who give without holding back.
The bible uses terms and different ways to drive home its point. And so to make his point, Paul uses an agricultural illustration that his readers could relate to, considering the type of audience he was dealing with. “Remember this: he who sows meagerly will reap meagerly, and there shall be generous harvests for him who sows generously.” The farmer who foolishly thinks that he’s going to lose something by planting lots of seed will come out short when harvest time comes.  But the farmer who wants to see a generous harvest knows that he has to plant seed generously.
 Christian charity follows the above pattern. Those who are worried that their offerings will cause them to lose something won’t have much to show for it. But those who know that those who enter into business partnership with God do not loose, will give their generous offerings with joy. God’s blessings enable cheerful giving.

 In our gospel reading today, Jesus is saying; When you do good things, don’t do them for men to see you. If you do things to receive men’s praise, you have no praise from God.” Another way of saying that is; don’t be a hypocrite. Let all you do be borne out of pure love for God.
As such, when I do something so someone will think I’m a nice person, I have no reward from God. If I do something so people will note how religious I am, I have no reward from God. If I do something good so that in return someone will do good to me, I have no reward from God.  However, let us note what Jesus is saying as opposed to what he didn’t. Jesus is not saying that if I do something good and someone sees it, I will get no reward from God? No. Jesus is saying, if I do something good looking for the praise and adoration of men, I have no reward from God.
Dearly beloved, if we do good things out of devotion to God, we will draw as little attention to ourselves as possible and when people find out about what we have done, it will not be because we drew attention to ourselves, but because God wants our good works to be a testimony for Him.      (Cf. Matthew 5:14-16)
Bottom line, the motive behind all we do is what matters. Today my dear friends, let us cease from being hypocrites!

TUESDAY, 18TH JUNE, 2013 ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

2ND COR. 8:1-9/ MATTHEW 5:43-48

In our readings today my dear friends in Christ, St. Paul spoke highly about the churches of Macedonia. He spoke about their high sense of generosity and the likes. These qualities he referred to; as gift of divine grace. We should bear in mind that, this was possible because they put themselves at the disposal of the lord. As a community of God’s people, as Christians, we should be ready to put ourselves at the disposal of God. This we can achieve through Love as the gospel reading tells us.
The bond of love between the members of the church in Macedonia made their joy overflowed even in the midst of affliction and persecution, and that same love turned their poverty into a wealth of generosity.
It is with this sense of love that we will be able to comprehend what Christ says about loving our neighbors and praying for those who persecute us. We are invited as Christians, to transcend the ordinary routine of loving only those who love and care for us, and share in God’s perfection through a boundless love devoid of criteria or sentiments.
Dearly beloved, let us love. For they who love; they only are his sons, born from above.

MONDAY, 17TH JUNE, 2013 ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

2ND COR. 6:1-10/ MATTHEW 5:38-42

In our first reading today dearly beloved, there are several important themes for Christian living that St. Paul puts before us this morning. However, we shall concentrate on just one of the themes which of course will help us to live a fruitful Christian life in this fallen and sinful world. St. Paul quoted the Prophet Isaiah (49:8): “at the favorable time I listened to you, on the day of salvation I listened to you” And then St. Paul adds: “Behold, now is the favorable time behold, now is the day of salvation.” St. Paul used this reading of today to warn us about procrastination. The attitude of, I’ll get it done later, tomorrow, next tomorrow…
This mindset of casually putting things off until later my dear brethren, have a devastating effect on our spiritual lives. I’ll forgive later, I’ll be good later, I’ll pray later… When we sin, when we make choices that separate us from God, we should make amends as soon as possible. Let not our mindset become, “God will forgive me for this lapse…I’ll work on my prayer, my relationship with God later…I have plenty of time in the future to be concerned with ‘spiritual things’. The above mentality sets in for people in all walks of life, even for those of us who are pretty serious about our faith. But this disregard for our salvation goes directly against St. Paul’s word today. “Now is the day of salvation.” one of the major things that modern man is afflicted with is despondency—the manifest lack of concern for the salvation which God offers every day to the world as Fr. Zacharias puts it. We assume that we have later to worry about repentance and prayer and following Christ. And so we’re not concerned. But St. Paul warns us that the day is now. None of us are promised tomorrow, or next year, or even the next breath, for that matter. We never know when our time on this earth will end. Now is the day of salvation. And Christ says, “The Kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21) Now is the day of salvation, now is the acceptable day when Lord will hear us, because the Kingdom of God is within. The Christian life is never about later; it’s always about now. And this should help us to follow the injunction of our gospel reading today. The time to start paying back evil with good is now. The time to love our enemies is now. The time not to oppose evil with evil is now. May Christ strengthen our resolve to be better Christians through Christ our lord. Amen

WEDNESDAY, 11TH JUNE, 2013. TENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

2ND CORINTHIANS 3:4-11/ MATTHEW 5; 17-19

There seem to be a contradiction in our readings today. Paul in the first reading seem to jettison the law, and Christ in the gospel reading, paid more attention to the law and even made reference to the importance of the fulfillment of it. Let us not be quick to conclude that the bible is inconsistent. What Paul invites us to negate is a ritualistic observation of the laws, while neglecting things that really matter. More still, not using the law to shy away from responsibilities which we ought to bear. Paul prefers an ethics of values like faith, hope, love and walking in the spirit to a legal ethics. Little wonder then that Jesus in our gospel reading made it clear that the law of the Old Testament still stands.
We must also bear in mind, that these words of Jesus in our gospel reading today are part of his Sermon on the Mount, which begins with a vision of God’s kingdom values where the last are first in the Beatitudes, and includes some very practical if not sometimes shocking teaching about faithful and Godly living.
However, Jesus simply wants to tell us that the purpose of the law must be fulfilled. Christ’s teaching therefore should guide us to living a faithful Christian life.

TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2013. TENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

ACTS 11:21b-26;13:1-3/MATTHEW 10:7-13

Today dear friends, we celebrate the memorial of St. Barnabas, A martyr. Barnabas was not a disciple of Christ. By that, I mean he was not one of the twelve. However, the book of the Acts of the Apostles named him as an apostle. Acts 14:14 “When Barnabas and Paul heard what they were about to do, they tore their clothes and ran into the middle of the crowd shouting; why are you doing this? We ourselves are only human beings like you. We are here to announce the good news; to turn you away from these worthless things to the living God”.
Barnabas whom we read about in the first reading, was a man filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. He lived up to his name. Barnabas means “son of encouragement” and we see a point of convergence between his name and actions. He was the one who encouraged the people of Antioch to remain firm and steadfast in the lord. Again, even when nobody wanted anything to do with Saul, probably because they weren’t sure of his conversion, he set sail and went to bring him back.
For us as Christians, at our baptism and confirmation, we also received the gift of the Holy Spirit. But many of us have kept that spirit at bay. We hardly heed the voice of God speaking to us through the spirit. God may not be asking us to go on missionary journeys as he told Barnabas, but he wants us to live the faith. Let your life be the pulpit from which you preach the good news and evangelize people.
Because he had the Holy Spirit, and had faith too, he was set apart and sent forth. The theme “send”, also appears in our gospel reading. Just as Barnabas was sent forth, Christ sent his disciples too urging them to free themselves of encumbrances. He urged them to take nothing with them in order to reinforce their dependence and total trust in him. Offering peace to those whom they meet.  Perhaps we should ask ourselves; when people come in contact with us, are able to give them peace? Or do we leave them worse than they were before?
Today my dear friends, what is our attitude to the proclamation of the good news entrusted to us as Christians? Even if we have money, homes, etc, we still have to depend and trust in God. We cannot rely on money, properties, houses etc. we still have to trust wholly in God. St. Barnabas has set the example for us. He aligned his words with his actions. Such that, it was in Antioch that the followers of Christ were first called Christians. We as Christians today, should therefore struggle to live up to our name as Christians, allowing our faith and the gift of the Holy Spirit we have received to burn brightly in us.  We pray through the intercession of St. Barnabas that we may always heed God’s call, be faithful to him with all our hearts, and be encouraged by his voice. Amen!

MONDAY, JUNE 10, 2013. TENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

2^nd Corinthians 1:1-7/ Matthew 5:1-12

Aristotle enshrines happiness as a central purpose of human life and a goal in itself. Will Smith’s movie, “In Pursuit of Happiness” is yet another movie which communicates the key importance of happiness. As such, almost everything we do twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week is geared towards achieving happiness. Sad to say but true, most of the things we do as human beings only bring us happiness and joy that are short-lived or momentary. Think about the girl who wants to enjoy sexual relations with a man but who is not yet married. When she becomes pregnant, or contacts a sexually transmitted disease, tell me, just how happy do you think she will be? It dawns on her that the happiness promised by that pleasure is short-lived. So Aristotle says that the ethical person is the person who knows and does what can truly bring them not just excitement or pleasure but true and lasting happiness.

From the aforesaid, we can deduce that it will be difficult and challenging for people to be motivated by messages of pain and suffering. Yet, in our first reading today, St. Paul encourages the people of Corinth to remain firm and steadfast in the face of trials and tribulations. Pains and sufferings are temporary. Remember the letter to the Romans; chapter 8:18 also assures us that; “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

Again, in our gospel reading, Jesus assures us shows that he really wants his followers to have true and lasting happiness, the happiness that the world and everything in it cannot give. This state of blessedness is what Jesus calls being in the “kingdom of God/heaven”. The eight beatitudes we have in today’s gospel constitute a road map for anyone who seeks to attain this happiness of the kingdom as Fr. Munachi E. Ezeogu, Cssp puts it. When seen from a larger point of view dearly beloved, these beatitudes are actually about pain and suffering. It addresses those who are hungry, humiliated, persecuted, and insulted to mention but a few. Yet, beyond those pains and sufferings, lies true happiness and blessings. Each of that beatitude has attached to it a reward. Little wonder St. Paul said in the first reading; “if we are afflicted, it is for comfort  and salvation”

Let us therefore endure temporary pains and suffering for Christ’s grace is sufficient for us. I charge you to take joy and consolation in the Eternal!