With Mary Our Mother, there is Hope for Nigeria.

(Homily for October 1, 2017).

Our opening prayer at mass this morning summarizes our reflection today. In it, we prayed: “O God, who give us the joy of honouring Our Lady, Queen of Nigeria, as mother of divine hope and communion, grant that, with the help of her intercession, we may always work for peace and reconciliation…”

In this prayer, we recognized Mary as the Mother of Divine Hope. What is hope? What does it mean to hope in a country like ours? Dear friends, on this day of our independence, hope means telling ourselves the truth – that no matter how gloomy things may be right now, God is still on our side and God who turned water into wine can still turn our fortunes around in this country.

In Nigeria, October First is our independence day; a day that marked our freedom from British Colonial Rule, a day the whole world recognised us and gave us that respect as a country capable of governing ourselves and determining our future. That was fifty seven years ago.

Today ought to be mini-Christmas of some sorts; we should all be wearing our best dresses and be going about distributing rice and stew to people around, I mean, our streets, our social centres, parks and so on ought to be bubbling with funfair but then, look around and it doesn’t seem as if we are even aware that today is our independence day. Indeed, many question if Nigeria ever got any independence at all in the first place or whether Nigerians cherish the fact that they are actually a country.

In the midst of all the challenges we face as a nation today, we can only hang on to HOPE for a better country and as Christians, knowing that we have the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of God as our principal patron, our hope is not a vain hope. If truly she is our Mother and she so helped the couple at the wedding feast at Cana when they ran out of wine, we know that she would help us because in Nigeria today, we have not only ran out wine, we have ran out of water while the seven jars have been declared missing by EFCC! 

This is why on the 12th to 14th of this month, all the Bishops in Nigeria will gather in Benin City to re-consecrate Nigeria as a whole to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This is an act of faith. We believe in the power of prayers and we have a strong hope that with God on our side through Mary’s persuasion, things would begin to change for Nigeria. This is our hope.

It is in the light of this hope that our first reading today is taken from a portion of Isaiah that speaks of a time when things would be well. It says: “On that day, there shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse…” Re-reading this passage in Nigerian terms, it would appear like this: “On that day, there shall come forth by Divine Appointment, a leader, a president, and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, a spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord… He shall not steal our money… he shall not take sides on issues… he shall decide with equity for the meek… he shall not tell us lies… righteousness shall be the belt of his waist…”

In fact, when this God appointed leader comes, the Psalmist sings: “In his days, shall justice flourish and great peace for ever.” He shall save the needy when they cry, the poor, and those who are helpless, he will not send Military men after innocent citizens, he will not go on months of medical tourism while our hospitals have become dignified mortuaries, he will not send his children to school abroad while our universities lie in shambles.

This is our hope, this is why we call on our Mother Mary to beg God to give us such a leader. A leader who will bring peace like Jesus Christ who as our second reading says, destroyed the hostility among men through the Cross. We need a leader who will not encourage division through one-sided political appointments whereby key offices are given to persons not because of what they are capable of doing but simply because of where they come from.

We are so assured that things will be well for this country Nigeria as we ask Mary’s intercession. Apart from the fact that she quickly intervened at the wedding feast at Cana, Mary is a woman who understands the meaning of hardship. Our Gospel passage today tells us how Joseph had to wake Mary up in the middle of the night just few days after she delivered the baby Jesus to run to Egypt. Mind you, Mary was already stressed up from the journey they embarked upon to take a census, they had nowhere to stay other than a manger where animals were kept and she gave birth without the help of midwives or professional medical care.

Like Mary, thousands of women in Nigeria today are forced to deliver their babies at home without even the slightest medical care and those who manage to go the hospital are faced with the constant nightmare of doctors going on strike every now and then. I believe Mary can perfectly sympathize with our situation. I believe we do not call her in vain. I believe Nigeria would be great again with her help.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, may your mother intercede for us. Amen.

*Happy Sunday. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Feast of Our Lady Queen of Nigeria. October 1st. Bible Study: Isaiah 11:1-10, Ephesians 2:13-22 and Matthew 2:13-15.19-23).*

Under the Shepherd’s Hands.

Homily for September 30, 2017

As this week comes to an end and this month comes to an end as well, the words of the Prophet Zechariah are worth holding on to. They are words of hope and encouragement spoken at a time of fear and despair. These words are a promise worth holding to even for our country Nigeria today. Zechariah says:

“Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion; for lo, I come and I will dwell in the midst of you, says the LORD.  And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in the midst of you.”

And to add to this, our Psalmist says: “The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.”

In the midst of life’s challenges, it is easy for us to be overcome by fear. What is fear? Expecting the worst to happen based on one’s reasoning about the current situation. Fear is the opposite of faith. What is Faith? Expecting the best outcome despite one’s current situation.

At times, it is important for us to take our eyes off our national dailies and turn off the television news broadcasts and just deliberately focus on the greatness of the God that we serve. It is important to remind ourselves that we are flocks under the protection of God who is our shepherd.

Even in our Gospel passage, Jesus is telling the disciples about his imminent death and how he would be delivered into the hands of men but they were overcome by fear. Even though death is something no one likes to hear, the death of Jesus was actually good news for mankind in the long run. If Jesus had not died, we would have all perished.

It takes faith to see the brighter side! It takes faith to take a news as gloomy as death and understand it as God’s means of bringing salvation to mankind. Dear friends, let us be ruled by Faith not be fear because we are under the shepherd’s hands.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, my shepherd, as this month ends, may my fears also end with it. Amen.

St. Jerome was born in Dalmatia about the year 340, he studied in Rome and was later baptized. Then he began to live a life of asceticism, went to the East and was there ordained a priest. Returning to Tome, he was secretary to the Pope Saint Damascus and began the task of translating the Bible into Latin as well as promoting the monastic life. He then settled in Bethlehem where he gave great help in the needs of the Church. He wrote many works, especially commentaries on the scriptures. He died in Bethlehem in year 420.

St. Jerome, pray for us and deepen our understanding of Scriptures. Amen.

*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday of the 25^th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study:  Bible Study:  Zechariah 2:5-9,10-11 and Luke 9:43-45).*

Fr. Abu.

The Archangel Gabriel, Raphael and Michael.

Homily for September 29, 2017

The existence of angels is a fact not easily comprehended by human reasoning. Angels form part of what St. Paul talks about when he said: “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him. 1st Corinthians 2, 9.

Though the Bible speaks about angels in many instances, there are only three whose names were specifically mentioned and that is why we refer to them as the Archangels.

In the book of Jude 1, verse 9, we read: “But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, disputed about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a reviling judgment upon him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you."

Michael is again mentioned in the book of Revelations as waging war against the devil. “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world -- he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.” Revelation 12, 7 to 9.

Even as far back as the Old Testament, Michael is mentioned as a warring prince who fights on behalf of God’s children. Daniel 10, 12 to 13 reads: “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, so I left him there with the prince of the kingdom of Persia.”

In the book of Tobit, we encounter the Archangel Raphael as a travel companion, a healer and a demon-destroyer.  Tobit 3, verse 17 reads: “And Raphael was sent to heal the two of them: to scale away the white films of Tobit's eyes; to give Sarah the daughter of Raguel in marriage to Tobias the son of Tobit, and to bind Asmodeus the evil demon, because Tobias was entitled to possess her.”

Archangel Gabriel plays the role of the messenger of good news by bringing the message of the Annunciation to Mary in Luke 1, 26 to 28 we read: “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Hail, O favoured one, the Lord is with you!” He was also the angel that announced to Zechariah that at his old age, he would have a child. (Luke 1, verse 19 and following).

The power and working of the Angels is a testimony to the greatness of God and the fact with him, nothing is impossible. As we read in the Gospel passage, Jesus said to Nathanael, “Truly, I say to you, you shall see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the son of Man.”

Angels also reveal to us the power of God at work in the midst of men. They represent a dimension of reality that reason alone cannot grasp. The Angels are pure spirits but when sent by God on specific errands, they can take the form of human beings. The simple truth is that there are Angels in our world and we often encounter them without knowing. That is why it is always good to be good to everyone we meet!

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, may I be an Angel to those around me. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Feast of Archangels. Bible Study:  Daniel 7:9-14 and John 1:47-51).

Building the Family House.

Homily for September 28, 2017

A few days ago, we read of how Jesus said that his mother and his brothers were those who hear the word of God and keep it, thereby officially making us all part of his one family. The church can be likened to a family house, it is a place where we can rightfully call home, a place to relax and connect with the people that matter most to us.

When we are able to come to an understanding that the church is more than a building or a work of art, but our very family home, then we would stop at nothing to put it in a good shape. What son would be living in a mansion in the city while his father is squatting in a mud house with leaking roof in the village?

When we read 2nd Samuel, chapter 7, we get to see how God lavished blessing on David for merely having the mind of building a house for God. Even though, God wanted his son, Solomon to build the house, God blessed David tremendously. David asked Nathan, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent?”

Just as God was so happy with David for offering to build God’s house, Haggai convinces us in our first reading today that we should have such an attitude towards building the house of God; our family house.

Haggai says: “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?  Now therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider how you have fared. You have sown much, and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages earns wages to put them into a bag with holes.” Haggai 1:4-6.

Note that it is one thing to have the means and still refuse to build the house of God. It is a different thing altogether if we do not have the means. God will not hold anyone responsible if he or she truly lacks the means to build. We should not give out of fear but out of sincere gratitude.

It is only when we have the means to build that the words of Haggai can apply to us.

Above all, we must not forget that just as it is important to build the family house (the church) physically, it is equally important that we build the spiritual house in our hearts and keep it clean daily by censoring our thoughts. Let God have a space in your mind always. Do not be like Herod trying to see Jesus only because he wanted to see miracle.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, teach me how to reverence the church and bless me as I build for you. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Thursday of the 25^th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study:  Haggai 1:1-8 and Luke 9:7-9).

Instruments of God’s Power.

Homily for September 27, 2017

In our Gospel passage for today, Jesus summons the Twelve Apostles and GAVE them POWER AND AUTHORITY over all demons and to cure diseases. He then SENT them to PROCLAIM the Kingdom of God and to HEAL the sick.

As Christians, our relationship with God makes us instruments of God’s power. The closer we are to God, the better the flow of this power through us to God’s people. Basically, we are intercessors for the people, like Ezra, our basic duty is praying for God’s people.

We make sacrifices on their behalf and take on vows such as celibacy, obedience and poverty so that we can be in good standing with God, have time for God and be less distracted by the world for his power to flow through us.

However, the fact that we have power and authority over demons and diseases does not make us magicians. We recognize that power comes from God not from ourselves and that answers to our prayers depends entirely on God.

Also, as instruments, we do not consider ourselves higher or better than the people so we never do anything to make them worship us. For instance, stepping on people’s heads or jumping on their backs in the name of healing is completely wrong.

Moreover, there is a sense of poverty that has to accompany the work of ministry. In the time of Jesus, he told his disciples not to carry a spare tunic, nor staff, nor bread, nor money and so on. This would translate today as not allowing money or material comfort become the central focus or primary objective of ministering to others.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, use me till there is nothing left. Amen.

Saint Vincent de Paul, Pray for us.

*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Wednesday of the 25^th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Ezra 9:5-9 and Luke 9:1-6)*

Fr. Abu.

I belong to Jesus’ Family; I Cannot Hide.

Homily for September 25, 2017

Nothing gives as much joy to us humans as having a sense of belonging. This is why we value our family ties. Family is a place where we are always welcome, a place where we are perfectly understood, a place where we can rest our head knowing that we are never alone. That is why we long to be home every day and when work takes us far away, we long with nostalgia to be home again.

Jesus, today makes us understand that apart from our physical family, there is another family we belong to by virtue of our HEARING and ACTING on the WORD of God. As he says to us, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” Luke 8, 21.

Our deepest motivation for keeping God’s commandment should be the understanding that we are part of this beautiful family of Jesus. This accounts for the feeling of restlessness we encounter each time we commit a sin. Our greatest source of happiness as Christians is knowing that we are at peace with God and our conscience is clear whenever we come before his presence. No wonder the Psalmist sings: “I rejoice when I heard them say, let us go to God’s house.”

The church is more than a mere building. It is our home. We should go to church to relax. As Jesus says to us in Matthew 11, 28 to 29, “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Whenever you feel burdened and troubled, please go home to church. Talk to Jesus, your brother, ask Mary your mother, consult with the saints, they are your family. Never make the mistake of going to a beer parlour, never try to seek solace in sinful relationships, internet, television, worldly music or destructive media, such things never get you relaxed but only increase your sorrow and multiply your pain in the long run. Like the case of the Prodigal son, such things are pig-food at their very best.

If your brother is the Governor of a state, your manner of movement and public behaviour, and even what you say becomes somewhat restricted. You don’t talk anyhow lest you start making headlines. So it is with this special family where Jesus is our brother and God is our father.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, help me to appreciate my identity as a member of your family and live accordingly finding rest only in you. Amen.

Saints Cosmas and Damian, Pray for us.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Tuesday of the 25^th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Ezra 6:7-20 and Luke 8:19-21)

I am a Light; I Cannot Hide.

Homily for September 25, 2017

In the words of Jesus, “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to the light.” Luke 8:16-17

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus said: “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16.

Mind you, in the days of Jesus, electricity had not been discovered. The type of light in this analogy was the oil lamp. For those who have seen an oil lamp or the modern day kerosene lamp used along the road by traders at night, you would agree with me that an attempt to hide the lamp without first quenching it could be fatal.

Jesus wants us to understand that as Christians, as his followers, we are just like that lamp. We cannot hide. There should be no skeletons in our cupboards. Whatever we would not be proud of disclosing to others, we should not even partake of at all. There is no secret that ever remains a secret forever. One day, it will be exposed.

Whenever we are faced with a temptation, it will do us well to repeat this phrase to ourselves over and over again: “I am a light; I cannot hide.” Indeed, as St. Paul concludes in our second reading yesterday, the safest way to live is to “live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Philippians 1:27.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, help me to remain ever conscious of my identity as a lamp. Amen.

*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Monday of the 25^th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Ezra 1:1-6 and Luke 8:16-18)*

Fr. Abu.

Life is Not All about Competition; it is a Matter of Collaboration.

Homily for September 24, 2017)

There is a story I came across on social media recently. A lady asked her boss for permission to attend her sister’s wedding and he shouted: “Who will clear the files, who will do this and do that, you cant go…” She felt very sad but important.

Few weeks later, they lost a staff in the office and the boss called for a meeting. He told them to observe a minute silence and in less than 30 seconds, he broke the silence and said they could all go back to work. So she asked: “But who will clear the files, who will do his job and so on” the boss quickly responded: “Someone will resume tomorrow morning to take over his duties.”

Dear friends, this story not only introduces us to the theme of today’s homily, it also invites us to think seriously about life, about how we see ourselves and how important we think we are. There are two lessons we learn from this story:

One, NEVER LOOK DOWN ON OTHERS no matter their level in life and

Two, NEVER ENVY OTHERS, no matter how highly placed they seem to be in life.

As Jesus explains in today’s Gospel passage with the parable of the Generous Landowner, at the end of life, we shall all discover that none of us is more privileged than another. We don’t all have the same gifts but somehow we also do not all have the same challenges. I believe, God has a way of balancing the equation.

At the end of the day, those who started working earlier did not get a higher pay than those who came late. Perhaps those who started working earlier looked down on those who came late, they must have oppressed them, shouted and even laughed at them thinking they were more privileged.

In the same way, those who came late must have felt so intimidated with those who came earlier. They must have looked down on themselves wishing they were that lucky to have been selected for the work earlier. At the end of the day, it was clear that they were all equals.

As Christians, we must learn to grow above the notion of being BETTER than others. Once we begin to think we could be better than anyone at all, pride sets in, we then make ourselves little gods and as the Bible says: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18.

Again when we assume we are BETTER than others, we lock up our access to personal happiness. Yes, we cannot be happy when we indulge in competition with others. Do you notice a similarity between the reactions of the elder brother who refused to go into the house when the prodigal son returned and the men in today’s parable who were angry after being paid the agreed amount?

When we are so concerned about outshining others, when our spirituality is driven by a desire to prove to the world how good we are or how better we are than others, we end up just as bitter as these men or as the prodigal son’s elder brother. At the end of the day, we would be shocked and surprised that we are getting the same treatment as those we once condemned, judged and insulted in our hearts.

There is a story of a monk who resented the vow of celibacy but practised it diligently. When he died, he got to heaven and looked around only to find some of the people who lived so recklessly (morally speaking) in heaven. He was so angry that he approached God requesting for permission to return to the world to make proper use of his complete faculties.

The point, my dear friends is to keep God’s commandments, love God; serve God with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your soul. Avoid sin not because you want to prove to others you are holy but because God said so. It is not about others. It should never be about others. Life is not a competition. On the last day, we shall all stand one by one before God.

Stop looking up to others as a yardstick for your spirituality. If people are not living right, help them live right by first living right yourself. As St. Paul would say in our second reading: “Christ will be honoured in my body whether by life or by death… let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ.” Preach with your life.

Never condemn others, be humble enough to realize that your holiness does not even depend on your power but on the GRACE of God. As to what would become of the so-called bad guys, the Prophet Isaiah today reminds us that “for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” We only have one duty to “seek the Lord while he may be found, call on him while we shall have the opportunity.”

Do you feel deep down within you that you have not been faithful to God? Are you depressed and seriously ashamed of your past? Do you feel you have gone too far from God or too deep in sin? My dear, let today’s message be your consolation. It is not how far but how well. If you heed the words of Isaiah today and repent, God will forget your past at once, give you a clean slate and who knows? You may get to heaven before me.

The Psalmist says: “The Lord is close to all who call on him.” What are you waiting for? It may be the last hour of the day but God like the generous land owner is still willing to recruit you into his vineyard. It is never too late to repent. If today you hear his word, harden not your heart. Don’t wait till tomorrow.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, rid me of my pride and envy and use me as your instrument in winning souls for you. Amen.

Happy Sunday. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A. Bible Study: Isaiah 55:6-9, Philippians 1:20-24.27 and Matthew 20:1-16)

Different Hearts, One Gospel.

Homily for September 23, 2017

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus gives us a parable of a sower who went out to sow seeds which eventually fell on different kinds of soils. It didn’t seem as if the sower in the parable did any form of clearing, digging or tilling before he began to sow, it was like he just went out with the seeds and allowed them to fall from his hands freely.

This parable of the sower reveals the carefree attitude that God has towards us his children. He does not select an audience, he does not have any favourites, he allows the seed of his word to fall freely into our hearts regardless of whether or not we have the capacity to accept his word and allow it bear fruits in us.

Our hearts represent the soil in which the seeds of God’s words are sown. And honestly, when we look at the variety of ways people respond to God’s word, we can see that there are indeed different types of soils.

There are some people who receive God’s words with so much enthusiasm especially when they are in the church, they become so emotional about the word of God but the moment they step out of the church, they turn into something else. They never practice what the word of God says. It is like the birds come and steal the word even before it takes root in their hearts.

There are some people who find it difficult to understand or believe God’s words. Their hearts are made of stone. They smile when they hear it and deep down within themselves, they tell themselves that it is IMPOSSIBLE to put it into practice. They have no roots in them, they are like seeds that fell on rock.

Again, there are some people who listen to God’s words with a sincere intention to practice it but they find themselves at crossroads given their deep seated quest for material prosperity. The desire to be rich by all means becomes an obstacle to them and prevents them from ever growing in the spiritual life. These are seeds that fall among thorns.

Finally, there are some who hear God’s words and allow it to take deep roots in them. They not only apply it to the last detail, they also set an example by their life thereby winning souls for God. Through them, a lot of people become converted to the faith. To this category belongs the Saints, an example of which is St. Padre Pio who we remember today.

Now, I must ask myself: Which category do I belong? Is it not possible for me to change? Do I sincerely aspire to sainthood or do I consider some other things more important than achieving heaven? What is it that prevents me from putting God’s word into practice in my daily life? Can I not lay those things aside?

Before St. Padre Pio received the stigmata, he was a sincere seeker of holiness and never played with his prayer life. Indeed, it was while he was praying one day that he personally asked God to give him a share in the sufferings of Christ; a prayer which God gladly answered to his surprise. During his life, Padre Pio attracted millions of persons to conversion and deeper walk with God.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, help me cultivate a better soil in my heart for your word that it may bear fruits in my life. May I be an instrument of evangelization. Amen.

St. Padre Pio of Pietrecelna, pray for us.

*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday of the 24^th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study:  Timothy 6:13-16 and Luke 8:4-15)*

Fr. Abu.

The Love of Money and the Root of Evil

Homily for September 22, 2017

As popular as today’s first reading may be, it is important to bear in mind that when Paul was writing these lines, he was speaking directly to a young man, Timothy who had just become a Bishop. Paul is warning Timothy against persons who have sought to indulge in the ministry for the sake of making money.

Paul says that such persons “have a morbid craving for controversy, and for disputes about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions … imagining that godliness is a means of gain.” How else can one explain the fact that there are thousands of new worship centres opening up every day?

As much as God has not stopped calling as many people as possible into ministry, as much there are a lot of genuine ministers who are doing a lot to bring people closer to God, St. Paul is writing to discourage us from placing a priority in money.

The mere desire to be rich should never be the sole objective of entering into ministry. This is because according to Paul, “those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.”

When we compare the lifestyle of some of today’s ministers with that of Jesus (who as our Gospel passage this morning acknowledges), depended on the substance of certain women who accompanied them, we see a whole world of difference.

Mind you, St. Paul did not say money by itself is evil. What is so terribly evil is the DESIRE or LOVE for Money as the Psalmist says: “Do not set your heart on riches even when they increase.” Psalm 62:10. There is grave danger in making money a priority in our lives. “But as for you, man of God, shun all this; aim at righteousness, godliness, faith love, steadfastness and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of eternal life.”

How are we going to succeed in not allowing money control us? The answer is CONTENTMENT. As a minister, never long for that which you do not have, always remember that we all brought nothing into this world and we shall all leave taking nothing out of the world.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, may I never be ruled by money but continue to serve your people in sincerity and truth. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Friday of the 24^th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study:  Timothy 6:2-12 and Luke 8:1-3)