The Mystery of Authority in the Catholic Church.

Homily for August 27, 2017

With an over two thousand year history, the Catholic Church today remains the longest surviving institution ever known to man. Despite the attacks the church has suffered both from within and outside its walls, how come the Catholic Church still remains firm? How come it did not crumble under the Roman Empire? How come the church survived the various political invasions? How did the church scale through the reformation? Or more recently, how come the church did not end with the recent media propaganda attacks regarding scandals?

The answer to these questions is contained in our Gospel passage this morning: “You are Peter and upon this Rock, I will build my church and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18.

The secret behind the success of the Catholic Church is that God himself is the leader of the church. That is, the church is a visible expression of the power and presence of God among human beings.  Note that Jesus did not say to Peter, “You are Peter and I give you power to build a church for me….” No, instead Jesus said: “Upon this Rock, I (Jesus himself) will build my church…”

So who is building a church? God! Who is really in charge? God! Tell me, who can battle with the Lord? (song…).

God is the one who builds the Catholic Church and God is the one who sustains the Catholic Church and that is why the gates of hell cannot prevail against it. The Pope is only a figure head; figure head in that the survival of the church does not depend on his personal intelligence, holiness or might neither can it be affected by his personal weakness.

Yes, I used the word “figure head” not to undermine the greatness of the office but to point out that God himself is the one in charge. And no matter how weak or ordinary the Pope may be, the Church cannot fall because of his personal weakness. In fact, it should not surprise you that when we read a few verses beyond where our Gospel passage today ends, Jesus addressed this same Peter in these words: “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” Matthew 16:23 

Unlike any other establishment, Peter did not have and did not need to have any personal qualifications for the job. He was just an unschooled fisherman, even his spirituality was not all that refined, his faith was even a shaky faith. Recall that last two Sundays, we read about how Peter attempted to walk on water to meet Jesus only for him to start sinking because he was afraid. (Matthew 14:28-33). This same Pope Peter would one day deny that he ever knew Jesus.

So, if it were to be a matter of personal qualification, or if it was the case that Peter himself was the one building the Church, there was just no chance of this church surviving. This is the reason why, after Peter answered correctly the question about the true identity of Jesus, Jesus said to Peter: “Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 16:17.

What is my source of knowledge? There is knowledge that comes to us from flesh and blood, this is knowledge that depends on our education, knowledge we acquire by reading books and studying hard. This knowledge is always unreliable but there is knowledge that comes to us because God himself speaks through us.

For Jesus, the mere fact that God can speak through Peter meant that God had chosen him for the office. Hence, Jesus spells out nature of the office by saying: “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19.

This is why we respect the Pope. This is why the millions of true Catholics all over the world would readily obey the Pope. We respect him not because he has any personal qualifications, not because he is a white man, but because we believe that God speaks through him. We respect the Pope because we believe his source of wisdom is not flesh and blood. We respect the Pope because we know that Heaven respects his decisions; that whatever he binds on earth is binding in heaven.

Dear friends, the truth is that all power belongs to God and God alone has the power to transfer power and authority to any human being he so chooses.  As we read in our first reading, there is a transfer of power from Shebna to Eliakim and God said: “I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David, he shall open and none shall shut; he shall shut and none shall open.” Isaiah 22:22.

We may wonder, why did God give Peter so much authority and power? Could God not have been able to lead the affairs of His Church without using any visible leader or structure? In fact, who am I to question how God does his things? Can we really question God? No wonder St. Paul tell us in our second reading today: “O the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God… for who has known the mind of God or who has been his counsellor? Romans 11:33-34.

Dear friends, all authority comes from God. Whatever position you find yourself was given to you by God not because you are qualified. So don’t brag about it, use your authority in humility to serve others.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, enlighten my heart to respect those you have put in charge of me. Amen.

Happy Sunday. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (21^st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A. Bible Study Isaiah 22:19-23, Romans 11:33-36 and Matthew 16:13-20).

Do I practice what I preach?

Homily for August 26, 2017

Today is one of those days that the homily is primarily directed to the preacher himself. There are times I wish I would sit in the congregation and allow the people preach to me and really tell me to my face the hard truths I need to know so as to make corrections where necessary.

Jesus summarizes the life of the Scribes and Pharisees (the holy people), today saying they do not practice what they preach. The question is, am I simply being a sign board? Do I tell people the direction to heaven without actually going there myself?

The best form of preaching is practice. If I fail to practice the message and apply the lessons of my homilies in my life, then I am only deceiving myself. It is very easy to preach, it is very easy to point out the errors in other people’s lives, very easy to see the specks in their eyes but it is not so easy to turn the torchlight towards yourself, not so easy to see the log in your own eyes.

I guess in anger, Jesus went further to encourage the people not to worship their religious leaders because they are not what they claim to be. Jesus said: “Call no one your Father, Call no one your Master…” One of the signs of not practicing what I preach is when I begin to exult myself above others.

When I begin to behave as though I am Jesus Christ, when I make people carry me on their shoulders as I preach, when I start marching on people’s heads in the name of deliverance, when I start giving myself titles, when I begin to put my picture in billboards and posters, when I begin to claim the glory for miracles and so on and so on, then I have simply lost it.

It is a contradiction to preach about the humility of Jesus who came not to be served but to serve while I myself make others worship me in the name of being a man of God. I am nothing more than a servant, my ability to preach is a gift, God uses me and I dare not claim to be better than anyone else. Left to myself, I am just a piece of rag.

The story of Ruth and Naomi comes to an end today with the happy union of Ruth and Boaz whom God blessed with a child that eventually became the direct Grandfather of David and subsequently, one of the ancestors of Jesus Christ.

Our responsorial psalm today says it all. There is a surely a reward for being good. Blessed is everyone who FEARS THE LORD, who walks in his ways! You shall EAT THE FRUIT OF THE LABOUR of your hands; you shall BE HAPPY, and it shall BE WELL WITH YOU…. Psalm 128:1-6.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, help me to love you with better each day. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday of the 20^th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17 and Matthew 23:1-12).

True Love is Sacrificing for Others.

Homily for August 25, 2017

                     

                                                                               

The love of God is the summary of all the commandments. It is also the greatest of them all. What does it mean to love God? It means to value God so much in your heart that you would rather die than offend him.

At the heart of Christian worship is love. Another word for love is worship. To love is to worship. In other words, if we were to really love God, we would truly worship him by keeping every one of his commandments even if we don’t feel like keeping them. To love God is to sacrifice one’s own will for the sake of doing the will of God.

Take away love, and all that we do in Church becomes a waste of time and energy, a show or drama so to say! This was why Jesus had to ask Peter this question three times, “Do you love me?” “Peter, do you love me more than these?” “Peter, do you really love me more than these?” How can we claim to be serving God if we love other things more than God?

The first and greatest commandment is also intricately connected to the second commandment which is: “You shall love you neighbour as yourself.” Of course, as St. John says:  “If any one says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.” 1 John chapter 4, verse 20.

The Story of Ruth and Naomi in the Bible is a story of Love. How I wish our women will increase the love they love they have for their mothers-in-law and stop seeing them as enemies trying to compete for attention over their sons.

Ruth refused to leave Naomi, her mother-in-law because she was wise enough to know that Naomi, being an aged woman cannot survive on her own without help. Here comes another lesson in love; the care for the old.

I often wonder why our old people are not treated with as much care and love as they deserve. I wonder why the moment a person is old, he or she is suddenly labelled a witch even by their own children.

Love is empty if it doesn’t require anything from you. Mind you, love is not just a feeling. Just as loving God demands our whole hearted worship, loving our neighbours also demands sacrifice on our part.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, help me to love you with better each day. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Friday of the 20^th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Ruth 1:1-22 and Matthew 22:34-40).

There is Love in Sharing.

Homily for August 24, 2017

           

                                                                                         

Today, we celebrate the feast of St. Bartholomew, otherwise known as Nathanael. A man whom Philip shared the news of having discovered Jesus of Nazareth. Bartho (for short) would never have known Jesus if Philip had not personally introduced him. Even though it is not Philip we are celebrating today, there is need for us to highlight and reflect on the action of Philip.

The question is: Why do I find it very difficult to talk about Jesus to others? To my colleagues at work, to the stranger I find on the street, to the man I happen to share a bus ride with, to my best friend, to my family members? How come I would rather talk about a thousand and one things but carefully leave out Jesus?

How come the only time I invite people to church is to join me raise funds for harvest or for my thanksgiving or for one ceremony or another that would involve them donating for one project or another? Am I really convinced about my Christian faith?

Bartho on his part did not hide his deep seated convictions regarding Nazareth as a whole. “Can anything good come out of that town?” Without mincing words, this statement must have been very discouraging. When I try to talk about Jesus to others, I should not expect that they would accept what I have to say hook, line and sinker. I would be a dreamer to assume that they would immediately say “Yes, Yes, Yes, I believe.”

Philip wasn’t discouraged by Bartho’s reaction. He didn’t write him off. Instead he said: “Come and see.” When Bartho eventually became an Apostle himself, he must have remembered this experience many times and used the same strategy in spreading the Good News.

Bartho was touched merely by the fact that Jesus saw him under the fig tree. He was convinced immediately that only a Son of God could have known he was under a fig tree at that time.

The way and manner we become converted vary. Some people’s conversion were rather dramatic, some not so. The “how” is not so important. What matters is that at some point in our lives, we become true Christians, true followers of Jesus and fully convinced about Jesus. And one way we know we are converted is when we stopped being shy about spreading the Good News.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, use me as your instrument of salvation. Amen. 

St. Bartholomew, pray for us.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Feast of St. Bartholomew, Apostle. Bible Study: Revelation 21:9-14 and John 1:45-51).

*You Lack One Thing.*

(Homily for August 21, 2017)

Religiosity without charity amounts to mere lip service before God. It is not enough that we keep God’s commandments, we must also ensure that we do not make a god of our material possessions.

If we cannot give out what we have, if we cannot help the less privileged, if we do not care about the poor, it simply means the things we have are the gods we worship. Like the Israelites we read about in our first reading, we become idol worshippers each time we find it difficult to share our possessions with others.

The key to generosity is knowing where one’s security lies. Where exactly is my security? My bank account? My name? My friends? My job description? Or my God. The truth is that if my security lies on anything material, I am bound to become stingy knowing that the source of my security will not last forever.

The young man walked away sorrowful because he could not imagine life without his possessions. He felt that without his money, without his expensive clothes, shoes, gold and diamonds, without his mansions, without his oil wells and so on, he would just die.

Try to put yourself in the shoes of this young man and allow the words of Jesus resound once again in your ears: “If you want to perfect, go and sell what you possess and give to the poor.” Are you going to walk away? Are you going to just bluff over this message and go about your normal day to day activities? Or are you going to take an excursion to your wardrobe and bring out clothes you no longer need so that you can clothe some poor persons who cannot afford such?

That the bible recorded the sorrowful disposition of this young man shows that in truth, attachment to what this world has to offer only brings sorrow, pain and sadness. There is nothing in this world that is capable of bringing us lasting happiness as much as God can give to us. There is nothing in this world we cannot do without because in the first place we all came to this world naked and empty from our mothers’ womb.

True freedom is the willingness to risk losing everything we have because we know that God alone is our security. Shun idolatry, stop worshiping your properties. You were born without them and you can still survive without them. Let go and Let God.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, deepen my trust in you. Amen

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Monday of the Twentieth week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study Judges 2:11-19 and Matthew 19:16-22).

Faith is not Magic.

Homily for August 20, 2017

Have you ever prayed for something only to get silence from God? The story of the Canaanite woman is one that relates to such experiences. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus tells us: “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Now, can we say the Canaanite woman’s faith was not up to the size of a mustard seed? Definitely this cannot be the case. If she did not believe in Jesus at all, she would not have come to him in the first place. For Jesus to have completely ignored her at first teaches us a very important lesson: that faith is not magic.

There were times Jesus healed people instantly so as to why Jesus decided to ignore this woman at first shows that receiving answers to our prayer is up to God and not us. Yes, when we pray, we should not go with the disposition of receiving immediate responses from God as though God is our errand boy.

That this woman had to wait patiently until she finally got the attention of Jesus begs the question as to whether it is possible for instant miracles to be displayed on stage as we often find in our churches and crusade centres. Are those miracles really from God? Does it mean that certain human beings are now greater than God such that each time they gather a crowd, they are able to perform instant healings? How come those healings only happen in the from a camera?

A simple test of the genuineness of these acclaimed miracles will be to ask, who takes the glory? God or the person who begins to call himself or herself a healer? This woman assumed the position of a dog begging for crumbs that fall from the master’s table. Do we find such an attitude in today’s self-acclaimed wonder workers?

When I pray, do I realize that I don’t really deserve anything from God? Do I remind myself that just like the Canaanite woman, I am also a stranger who does not belong to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel?”

Dear friends, we live in an age where people have a strong appetite for magic. We do not care about worshiping God or keeping his commandments, but we want to see instant cures, instant wealth, instant jobs; instant everything. People are living in sin, committing all sorts of atrocities, yet they come to church not to be told the truth but to hear that all is well, that God will do miracles for them if they sow a bigger seed.

For many today, God is nothing more than miracle-performer, wealth provider and security guard. Churches are now miracle (magic) centres. Pastors are now even rated according to their ability to perform magic. It has gotten so bad today that churches now compete with one another as to the number of miracles and testimonies recorded while some go to the extent of consulting occult powers just to keep their large flocks entertained in the name of miracle.

Dear friends, let us look at what the Prophet Isaiah says to us in our first reading this morning: “Keep justice and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed… for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” Isaiah 56:1-7. Do we place emphasis on righteousness in our churches today? Is the Church a house of prayer or a house of miracle-display?

The truth must be spoken. We Christians today do not worship God, rather we worship magicians who take advantage of our poverty and failing socio-economic conditions to defraud us further in the promise of receiving breakthrough from God; magicians who are more interested in the size of our tithes and offerings than in whether we live righteously or keep God’s commandments; magicians who glorify themselves in the name of doing God’s work.

Nigeria as a country is faced with a lot of problems today, but I tell you one thing. If only all Christians in this country will just agree to just stop telling lies and stop stealing only, Nigeria would be transformed within the twinkle of an eye.

Finally, do you really seek a miracle from God? Stop running from church to church. Stop visiting prophets and healers. Do what Isaiah says in Today’s first reading, “keep justice and do righteousness.” Live a holy and sinless life and like the woman in our Gospel passage, ask God for your needs in humility and be willing to wait patiently till God answers in his own time.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, teach me to pray better and to live only for you. Amen

Happy Sunday. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A. Bible Study Isaiah 56:1,6-7, Romans 11:13-32 and Matthew 15: 21-28).

Let the Children Come to Me.

Homily for August 19, 2017

My earliest memories as a child growing up were those times we would gather as a family every morning and evening to pray. Daddy made sure we prayed the entire rosary every evening even though it was more of a sleeping tablet for us. And in the morning, we would pray from the simple prayer book.

At this time, we were still learning how to read and write so we didn’t really understand much of the prayers but because it was a consistent daily affair, we so got used to the prayer that we memorized it. honestly, I hated the sound of “wake up, wake up, lets come and pray” I felt cheated out of my sweet sleep, sometimes I grumbled only to get a slap on the back but you see, gradually we all became used to assembling at the parlour for compulsory prayer.

My first real gift was that precious book “My Book of Bible Stories.” I so much cherished this book because of the picture stories and the simple explanation of Bible Stories. It was more of a companion to my English Reader. While the English Reader talked about Agbo, Edet and Simbi, my Book of Bible Stories talked about great characters like Abraham, Joshua, David, Moses and so on.

Attending Catechism classes with that red small book “The Penny Catechism” just solidified my faith for me. Having read and memorized the entire Penny Catechism, I was set to face the world. Thrilled by the immaculate white Cassock of the seminarian teaching us catechism and the gorgeous attire of the priest at mass every Sunday, my mind was made up about what I want to do in the future.

I am relating these personal childhood experiences in the hope that it might inspire some parents who seem to care less about the kinds of books or social media their children are exposed to today. Jesus tells us in our Gospel passage “Let the children come to me.” The question is: Do we make deliberate efforts to bring our children to God?

It pains me when I see fully grown up adults who never attended Catechism classes. It pains me when I see parents who do not gather their children for COMPULSORY morning and evening prayer as a family. I did say we never liked it, yes, we grumbled and whined as kids but with time, we so got used to the prayers that any day we didn’t gather for the prayer, we were now the ones to remind mummy or daddy, “are we not going to pray today?”

It pains me that today children are introduced to Facebook long before they get to know who Jesus really is. It pains me that in the name of “economy is hard” parents no longer have time to check the contents of their children’s textbooks or make out time to teach them about God at that early stage.

There is no rocket science about children’s upbringing. It takes just 5 to 7 years to train a child, if at age 8, a child is yet to know God or develop a solid conscience (have a sense of right and wrong), that child will never get it right as an adult.

We tend to make the mistake of assuming children are too young to learn or that they don’t understand what we know as adults. This is a pure lie. So we should never wait till when the children are grown up before we start telling them about God.

In our first reading today, Joshua tells the people of Israel: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Take note, Joshua did not say “as for me alone”, he said “as for me and my house” that is, his children has no choice but to follow him to serve God. it is not for us to allow our children dictate to us whether or not they wish to serve God, it is our duty to ensure God is number one in their lives.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, may I never hinder any child from you. Amen

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday of the 19^th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Joshua 24:14-29 and Matthew 19:13-15).

Faithfulness in Marriage

Homily for August 18, 2017

It is not surprising that today our Gospel passage centres on marriage given that for the past two days, our Gospel passage centred on forgiveness and settling disputes among one another.

Personally, I see a connection between Jesus talking about forgiving not only seven times but seventy seven times seven times and Jesus talking about the fact that divorce is not permissible.

Having being a priest for just five years (today, happens to be the anniversary of my priesthood), having heard and seen many marriage cases, I can confidently define marriage in this way: THE HAPPY UNION OF A MAN AND WOMAN WHO KNOW HOW TO FORGIVE.

Yes, for me, the essence of marriage is forgiveness. Without forgiveness, marriage becomes a survival of the fittest. It is forgiveness that sustains marriage; knowing that your spouse is not a competitor to you but a part of you. When you forgive your spouse, you basically forgiving yourself.

For anyone preparing to marry, just bear in mind that the sustenance of your marriage would depend on your ability to forgive as many as seventy times seven the same person over and over again. Once you start keeping records of offences, you allow the devil take a tiny space in your heart and one day, the devil will crash that marriage.

When you are able to live together despite the faults and limitations of each other, when you are able to overlook and accept each other just as they are without trying by all means to change the other person, marriage becomes sweet and the thought of divorce will never arise.

The whole logic of divorce is that if I get rid of my spouse, there will be another one better than him or her out there. This is not true! Human beings are human beings. Expect you want to marry an angel from heaven.

After speaking about divorce in this way, Peter was shocked. He said to Jesus: “in that case, it is better not to marry now.” That was when Jesus brought it the idea of celibacy (eunuchs) but Jesus also added that this is not meant for everybody.

Honestly, celibacy is a gift, it is not a natural way of life. There are persons today who ought to be celibates but do not have the gift, they live a double life and are not happy! To opt for celibacy simply because marriage is difficult is to make the greatest mistake of your life. Celibacy like marriage demands faithfulness. As much as one needs strong self-discipline to be faithful to his or her spouse, one also needs strong self-discipline to be truly celibate especially in our age and time.

Marriage is sweet and beautiful if only spouses learn to see each other as one. Stop fighting your spouse, keep forgiving, be faithful to each other and keep calling on God day in day out. Divorce is not an option.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, increase faithfulness. Amen

*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Friday of the 19^th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Joshua 24:1-13 and Matthew 19:3-12).*

Fr. Abu.

As Many as Seventy Times Seven

Homily for August 17, 2017

Yesterday I started by saying: “As long as humans live together, there are bound to be moments of friction, disagreement, misunderstanding and tension. Most times, disputes begin unintentionally like little sparks of fire but when not properly managed, they become large balls of fire capable of bringing down whole communities.

At the bottom line of most of our quarrels are: 1. Pride.  2. Anger. 3. Attachment to Material Things and 4. Refusal to Forgive.” I noted that “Forgiveness is very strong medicine. Like most medicines, it is very bitter and could even involve piercing oneself with a needle (injection), but the effects are wonderful.”

Today, Jesus gives us further instructions on Forgiveness. Peter asked him: “How often shall I forgive my brother who sins against me?” Peter was expecting to hear a specific number but according to Jesus, forgiveness should be infinite.

Jesus wants us consider the fact that forgiveness is required of us because we too have been forgiven by a God who never counts or keeps record of our offences.

Compared to what we owe God, that which others owe us is nothing! Think of the worst thing anyone has done to you for which you strongly believe he or she does not deserve to be forgiven. Does it occur to you that God has already forgiven you for a greater offence than that?

Forgiveness like Prayer demands faith. The more we believe in God’s mercy, the more readily we are prone to forgiving others no matter how serious the offence may be.

Today’s first reading gives us an idea of what we are capable of doing when we are in close connection with God in prayer. God spoke directly to Joshua giving him specific instructions on how they were to cross the River Jordan. They walked through as though it was dry land.

No amount of technology or money or social influence or political power could have possibly made this happen. As Joshua said to the people: “…this is how you will know that there is a LIVING GOD in your midst…”

It is sad that today, we Christians often do not realise that what we stand to achieve by an active prayer life is far greater than anything the world can provide.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, increase my faith that I may learn to forgive and forget. Amen

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Thursday of the 19^th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Joshua 3:7-17 and Matthew 18:21-19:1).

Settling Disputes.

Homily for August 16, 2017

As long as humans live together, there are bound to be moments of friction, disagreement, misunderstanding and tension. Most times, disputes begin unintentionally like little sparks of fire but when not properly managed, they begin large balls of fire capable of bringing down whole communities.

At the bottom line of most of our quarrels are:

1. Pride.

This is the natural tendency in every human being to refuse to accept that he or she is wrong. Yes, I may be right but I need to consider the fact that from the other person’s perspective, I may be wrong as well. It is not a matter of knowing who is wrong, but a matter of humbling myself to accept that I am not perfect.

2. Anger.

Anger is a type of disease. I call it a dis-ease not in terms of a medical condition but in that when one is angry, he or she is no longer as ease. Anger is a natural defence mechanism which is triggered when the body senses danger, oppression or disrespect.

Anger leads to hatred and a strong desire to make the other person sad but then the more we try to take away the happiness of others consciously and unconsciously, we only succeed in reducing our own peace and happiness.

3. Attachment to Material Things.

It is difficult to hear people quarrel over purely spiritual things. Most of our quarrels are fuelled by our extreme love for the things of this world for instance money, possession, property, rights or privileges. We fight to get back what others have taken away from us forgetting that we brought absolutely nothing to this world.  

4. Refusal to Forgive.

Forgiveness is very strong medicine. Like most medicines, it is very bitter and could even involve piercing oneself with a needle (injection), but the effects are wonderful. We often withhold forgiveness because we feel justice has not been served or because the other person is yet to apologize. The truth is that the longer it takes us to forgive, the longer our healing waits.

In all of this, Jesus Christ himself gives a solution to solving quarrels and disputes. He said, the first step should be to go to the person who has hurt us ONE on ONE. Matthew 18:15. This first step is often the most difficult to do. People get to hear what others have done to us long before we even summon courage to approach the person who offended us.

It is only when the one on one encounter fails that we can now involve one or two others. Take note, Jesus said, one or two others not the whole community immediately. And this one or two should be persons well respected capable of brokering peace without bias; person who are not afraid to tell us the truth if we are the ones wrong.

It is only after the one or two cannot solve the problem that it then becomes a community affair. And I am very sure, Jesus meant this as a last resort. By this time, it becomes clear that the person involved has actually refused to let go of the quarrel.

Jesus then goes on to talk about prayer which is basically our human attempt to involve God in the matter. Jesus says: “When two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20. Let God be involved in the matter. There is no judge as wise or as impartial as God himself. Allow God to settle the dispute by putting the whole matter before him in prayer while you relax and watch events unfold.

In conclusion, the keys to settling disputes are humility (putting yourself in the shoes of others), letting go of Anger, letting go of attachment to material things, consciously deciding to forgive and above all following the 3-step plan of Jesus which culminates in prayer.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, give me wisdom to handle disputes and quarrels. Amen

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Wednesday of the 19^th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Deuteronomy 34:1-12 and Matthew 18:15-20).