St. Joseph Teaches us to Shine in Our Work.

Wednesday 1^st May, 2019. Read Acts 5:17-26, Psalm 34 and John 3:16-21

_*“And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light.” (John 3:19-20)*_

Today, being the first day of May, when the world celebrates Workers’ Day, the church earmarks this day to celebrate the Patron of Workers who is none other than St. Joseph, the hard-working husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus. We celebrate St. Joseph because he was identified as the Carpenter and from him, Jesus learnt how to work.

We celebrate this great man today who lived his life as a celibate despite his marriage to Mary and went about his duties quietly and humbly so as to highlight the Good News that work is not punishment but an opportunity given to man to transform the world cooperating with God in His ongoing creation.

St. Joseph teaches us that laziness is not the same thing as enjoyment; that he who does not work should not eat; that there is dignity in labour; that if God himself worked in the person of Jesus, we should never be ashamed to employ our creativity and time in working.

Today we pray for workers all over the world; especially workers whose rights and dignity are suppressed by the powerful; workers who are being unjustly denied of their wages; workers who face harassment in their place of work; workers who want to work but are searching for employment. May St. Joseph intercede for us all. Amen

As Jesus tells Nicodemus in today’s Gospel passage, our world today is filled with too many people who prefer darkness to light; people who will try everything possible to prevent the light of Christ from shining; people who try to cut short the life of God’s genuine messengers.

This is exactly what plays out in today’s first reading. The chief priests and Sadducees locked the Apostles in prison for preaching in the name of Jesus; for doing the work of God. But God fought for the Apostles, He sent an Angel to open the prison doors. While the court gathered to judge the Apostles, they were standing at the temple teaching the people. This miracle was a lesson for the chief priests and captains of the temple; God’s way of telling them they cannot stop the work of God.

When anyone tries to fight us for walking in the light, we should not fear because our victory is already guaranteed.

Our responsorial psalm wraps everything us beautifully when it says: “The Angel of the Lord is encamped around those who fear Him, to rescue them. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who seeks refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:9).

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, create in me a pure heart and renew my spirit within me. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter. Bible Study: Acts 5:17-26, Psalm 34 and John 3:16-21).

The Mother of Jesus was There.

Tuesday 30^th April 2019. Read Acts 1:12-14, Luke 1:46-55 and John 2:1-11

_*“When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’” (John 2:3-5)*_.

As the month of April comes to an end today, we celebrate a Feast that perfectly sets us in the mood for devotion to Mary given that the month of May is Mary’s Month. Today is the feast of Our Lady; Mother of Africa.

Our Gospel passage today captures that familiar scene of the Wedding Feast at Cana which forms the basis of our devotion to Mary. The role Mary played in actualizing the success of that wedding when they ran out of wine even when Jesus did not intend to work a miracle was truly inspirational.

First, she understood the problem at hand. Mothers have a way of sensing problems even before they become pronounced. They have a way of checking out the tiny little details, they know how to think ahead and make plans where and when necessary. This we see play out excellently in Mary.

Secondly, Mary gave a very important instruction to the servants at the wedding. Her instruction may well be considered as her Gospel. It is an instruction that remains valid for us today: “Do whatever He tells you.” All we need to be successful in life is to trust God enough and just obey His words.

Thirdly, after the miracle, we do not hear anything from Mary. She seemed to just disappear into the background. No one gave a vote of thanks to her or mentioned her name as the one who moved Jesus to perform the miracle. Life just went on at the party as usual. This tells us a lot about Mary’s personality; her humility and poverty of spirit. She always considered herself as God’s handmaid; she was never haughty or rude.

When we pray the rosary, miracles do happen but who gets the credit? God. Mary is always comfortable with her background role. She intercedes, she makes things happen and we do not worship her. She does not need our respect even, because, God has already given her the greatest honour any created being can get by making her his mother. There is nothing that we can do to take away or reduce this honour.

We are not told whether Mary was related to the couple but I guess if that was so, John the beloved who wrote this Gospel would have pointed it out. We believe that for Mary to have cared enough for this couple to ensure Jesus works this miracle, she would also care for us to ensure Jesus answers our prayers.

Our first reading points out the fact that Mary the mother of Jesus was present among the company of the disciples in the upper room where they devoted themselves to prayer. Mary was with them on Pentecost Sunday when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Church. She was there at the beginning and she remains with us today.

Today we celebrate the fact that Mary intercedes for the whole of Africa as a mother. We know that Mary has some affinity with Africa because this continent acted as a shelter and a safe haven when the life of Jesus was under threat from Herod. There have been so many recorded apparitions in Africa to prove the point that this continent remains dear to Mary’s heart; one of which took place at Aokpe here in Nigeria.

At a time like ours when our continent is faced with the turmoil of various sorts and proportions, at a time like ours when we are still suffering under the yoke of neo-colonialism, whereby Africa continues to serve as the economic life-blood of the so-called developed countries, while her people suffer from untold hardship, injustice, insecurity and malignant ignorance, we need Mother Mary’s intercession more than ever.

We have run out of wine in Africa; people are dying, Christians are being persecuted; churches are burnt down, our highways have become kidnappers’ den, terrorists are everywhere disguising as uniform men, herdsmen and security agents. We need to return to our rosaries, we need Mary’s intercession.

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

Happy Month End. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Feast of Our Lady, Mother of Africa. Bible Study: Acts 1:12-14, Luke 1:46-55 and John 2:1-11).

Set on Fire for the Gospel.

Monday 29^th April 2019. Read Acts 4:23-31, Psalm 2 and John 3:1-8

_*“And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31)*_  

Today, our first reading continues the story of how the Pharisees, the chief priests and religious leaders of the day tried to stop Peter and John from proclaiming the Gospel after the cripple had been healed. As soon as Peter and John were released and were united with their friends, the whole company of believers gathered to pray so much so that the ground in which they stood was shaken.

Anytime we reflect on the earliest Christian communities as we have it in the Acts of Apostles, we cannot but feel sad at the situation of things in our churches today. The principle at work by back was: “when one member suffers, all suffer with him or her.” Does this principle still operate in our churches today? Do we still gather to pray for ourselves? Or have we become too busy to pray? Do we still have faith in the power of prayers?

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus hints Nicodemus on some of the secrets of the spiritual life. “Unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God…. Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God, that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” This means that it is either we are living in the flesh or in the spirit.

When we living solely in the flesh, spiritual things do not make so much sense to us. We may call ourselves Christians or even church-goers but so long as the flesh rules us, prayer becomes difficult for us. We need to sincerely ask God to revive us and reawaken us spiritually just like these early Christians who were practically set on fire for the Gospel.

Today, we remember St. Catherine of Siena, though this great woman lived for only 33years, she is proclaimed as one of the doctors of the church. Her life is a clear testimony that there is no limit to what God can do in a soul that makes itself completely available to God. As the song goes: “Great things happen when God mixes with men.”

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, revive my drooping spirit, fill me with the Holy Spirit that I may continue being an instrument of your service. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Monday of the 2^nd  Week of Easter. Bible Study: Acts 4:23-31, Psalm 2 and John 3:1-8).

God is Mercy; Mercy is God.

Sunday 28^th April 2019. Read Acts 5:12-16, Psalm 118, Revelations 1:9-19 and John 20:19-31

 

_*“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so, I send you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’” (John 20:21-23)*_  

Today, all our readings at mass as well as our prayers are pointed at just one word: Mercy. Today is the day that Our Lord Jesus Christ revealed to St. Maria Faustina as the day we should celebrate the Divine Mercy of God. In truth, thousands of years before Jesus revealed this day as Divine Mercy Sunday, our Gospel passage narrates how Jesus Himself on this very day performed the greatest act of Mercy when He appeared to the Eleven disciples and gave them the power to forgive sins; thereby establishing the Sacrament of Confession. There are so many lessons for us today.

*Peace and Forgiveness Go Together.*

One great lesson Jesus teaches us today is that there is an intrinsic connection between peace and forgiveness. Do you notice how restless you are when you cannot forgive? Can you sincerely wish peace to those who hurt you deeply? By saying “Peace be with you” and repeating it again, Jesus was essentially saying “I forgive you and I forgive you completely.”

Are you finding it difficult to sleep at night? Do you seriously lack peace of mind? Then please examine your heart thoroughly to find out if there are persons you are yet to forgive, find out what are those negative memories and feelings you have refused to let go. Jesus is teaching us today that without complete forgiveness, we can never find inner peace.

*In Confession, God Forgives Our Sins in the Person of the Priest.*

Just after declaring peace upon the disciples, Jesus breathed on them and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit,” then He proceeded to give them the power to absolve or retain sins. It is very important to remember that the disciples did not have power on their own to forgive sins except by the Power of the Holy Spirit. Just as God breathed on Adam at creation thereby giving him life, Jesus breathed on the disciples thereby giving them extraordinary power to do something only God can do. For me, this is the greatest act of the mercy of God upon mankind as a whole.

Dear brothers and sisters, when we go for confession, the priest who has been empowered by the grace of this breath is able to absolve us completely from every single stain of sin. By creating the sacrament of confession, Jesus made the mercy of God cheap; such that it is now possible for anyone to walk up to a priest and receive forgiveness of his or her sins not minding the weight of what he or she has done. Trust me, when the priest says: “I absolve you from all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” God himself wipes every stain of your sins completely. It is as though, you never committed any sin. You become a completely new creature, white and spotless and God remembers your past no more.

This is the work of the Holy Spirit; it is the mercy of God at work in our lives. We should never miss an opportunity to confess our sins because by so doing, we also receive strength from on high not to go back to those sins anymore. This sacrament is our Easter Gift; it is God’s own way of practising what He teaches us to do; to forgive not just seven times but seventy-seven times seven times. If you believe in God at all, then you should believe in the power of confession to wipe away your sins. Do not be like Thomas who wanted to see before believing.

*If we Receive Mercy, We Too Must Give Mercy.*

In the mind of the world, justice is only served when we retaliate a wrong done. In fact, pick any movie you know, you are almost going to find the same storyline; someone is offended, treated badly and almost killed only for that person to return with full force to retaliate, then the movie ends. Just as the world does not know God, it does not know Forgiveness. In truth, a huge part of spreading the Gospel today is teaching the world how to forgive. Forgiving others is our unique mark as Christians following the footsteps of Christ who prayed for forgiveness right on the cross for those who killed him.

In today’s first reading, we see how great signs and wonders were worked among the people at the hands of the apostles such that even the very shadow of Peter cured the sick and even those who came from outside Jerusalem were all cured. This is again the mercy of God at work. Like Peter and the other disciples, we are called today to be agents of God’s mercy by praying for others, caring for them in times of sickness and bringing God’s word especially to those in the hospital.

Great things always happen whenever we dispose ourselves to be used by God. It only takes faith on our part to not to look down on ourselves but believe that for God nothing is impossible. Just as God revealed great things to John as we see in our second reading today, God continues to reveal Himself to all those who create space for God in their hearts.

*In Conclusion…*

On this Divine Mercy Sunday, our worship will not be complete if we do not go out today to practically forgive those who may still be held prisoners in our hearts. As Jesus brought Peace to his disciples who fled during his arrest, we too are to bring peace today to all those we meet by first letting go of all our hurts and pains. Above all, we must approach the confessional regularly with faith as a fount of mercy knowing that it is not the priest but God Himself who forgives our sins. Remember God is mercy and mercy is God.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, help me to be merciful like your father is merciful. Amen.

*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Divine Mercy Sunday. Year C. Bible Study: Acts 5:12-16, Psalm 118, Revelations 1:9-19 and John 20:19-31).

Do Not Let Anyone Silence You.

Saturday 27^th April 2019. Read Acts 4:13-21, Psalm 118 and Mark 16:9-15

_*“Peter and John answered them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.’ And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them.’” (Acts 4:19-21)*_ 

From the very beginnings of Christianity, there has always been opposition to the Gospel message. Our first reading today narrates how Peter and John were practically threatened not to preach in the name of Christ again. Even today, the spreading of the Gospel continues to face stiff opposition both from within and outside the Church.

We live a world that seems to have gotten too used to hearing about God, a world that behaves as if it does not need God, a world where even those who claim to profess the faith live contrary to what the Gospel teaches. In truth, the world has never been in dire need of the Gospel message as it is today.

Take social media for instance; consider the millions of people who click on secular jokes, worldly music and immoral shows on YouTube and compare that number with those who click on religious messages and you will be alarmed at how unpopular it has become in our world today to talk about Jesus. To be honest, I get very discouraged when I see the number of views on our YouTube channel.

Again, consider the level of persecution Christians face all over the world today both those we see on mainline news media and those happening in the hidden corners of our cities and villages. For instance, see how innocent souls were killed in a Church in Sri-lanka on Easter day.

Why does the world hate Christ so much? Jesus answers this question by saying: “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.” (John 15:18-20)

Dear child of God, if you really want to obey the mandate of Jesus in today’s Gospel passage, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:150), do not expect an easy ride. You are always going to find yourself swimming against the current. Do not be surprised when people begin to fight you.

Peter was not afraid of challenging the authorities who tried to silence him from preaching the Gospel. Our world today needs men and women with this kind of boldness and determination to really preach the Gospel in a way that will positively affect the lives of people who are living in darkness today. Do not let anyone silence you.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, use me as your instrument of evangelization. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Easter Saturday. Bible Study: Acts 4:13-21, Psalm 118 and Mark 16:9-15).

That Night, They Caught Nothing

Friday 26^th April 2019. Read Acts 4:1-12, Psalm 118 and John 21:1-14

_*“Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, have you any fish?’ They answered him, ‘No.’” (John 21:3-5)*_

In our Gospel passage today, we see how Simon Peter even after the resurrection of Jesus could not resist the temptation to return to his fishing career out of which Jesus had initially called him.

This temptation is well and alive today among God’s ministers; the temptation to return to or establish a business venture alongside the work of God. Like Peter, many men and women of God find themselves at a crossroad, not knowing whether to give themselves entirely to their calling (thereby having to cope with poverty; not having enough) or to venture into business which eventually becomes a second Master dragging for space and attention.

Peter’s experience was quite unique. God blessed him with failure that night as a reminder that his true calling was not fishing but the salvation of souls. This was the second time now that Peter and his team would toil all night only to catch nothing. This was the second time Jesus would instruct him to let down the nets only to catch a great multitude of fish.

In fact, this particular time, John gives the precise number of fish caught as “a hundred and fifty-three” the number of the nations of the world as at that time. Basically, Jesus used this experience to re-echo what He had earlier said to Peter: “Henceforth you will be catching men.” (Luke 5:10).

Jesus invited the disciples to have breakfast. By sharing a meal with Him, Jesus practically communicated his forgiveness of them as well as reassure them once again that He was not just a ghost but fully alive with flesh and blood. This experience would have such a lasting effect in the minds of the disciples especially on Peter who never for once ventured back to fishing.

In today’s first reading, we see Peter fully rising up to his call. He was no longer having two minds about the work of God. He was now prepared to suffer whatever comes his way for the sake of preaching the Gospel. Peter stood up to address the rulers and elders and scribes who were gathered in Jerusalem concerning the cripple who was cured by the Beautiful Gate. Peter made them understand that this was by the power of Jesus whom they had crucified.

Peter ended his message by saying: “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). Having sought salvation from material pursuits and failed, Peter was truly speaking from experience. In truth, we can never find salvation in anyone else other than in Jesus Christ.

Dear friends, it is not easy to depend entirely on God to provide one’s need especially when you know you have all it takes to work or do business and succeed. This is the challenge of living under the vow of poverty for the sake of God’s work. It only takes faith to realize that God knows what you need and God is capable of providing it in His own way.

For the rest of us who may not be in the shoes of Peter or the disciples, this experience also teaches us that without God, we cannot succeed in anything whatsoever. We should never depend on our strength alone but learn to always call on God whenever we go out to labour for our daily bread.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, deepen my trust in your Divine Providence. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Friday of Easter Octave. Bible Study: Acts 4:1-12, Psalm 118 and John 21:1-14).

Be Humble, Worry Less, Preach the Gospel.

Thursday 25^th April 2019. Read 1^st Peter 5:5-14, Psalm 89 and Mark 16:15-20

_*“And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18)*_

Today is the Feast day of St. Mark. One thing that stands out about this great man was that he was a close assistant of St. Peter. He not only accompanied Peter in his missionary journeys, but he was also his secretary. St. Mark, being learned was the first person to write down the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This Gospel was basically what he heard from St. Peter whenever they went on missionary outreaches.

It is not surprising that today’s first reading comes from a selection of the first letter of Peter where he even refers to Mark as a son. In the same letter, we find some of the best advice for the Christian life which Peter must have taught Mark:

One; Humility. Never assume you are better than anyone else. You are only different.

Secondly; Worry Less. St. Peter says: “Cast your anxieties on God for he cares about you.” Trust that God knows and for God nothing is impossible.

Thirdly; St. Peter says: Be on Guard; be sober (opposite of drunkenness) and watchful. Stand up against the devil. Resist him, firm in your faith. Do not fall asleep in your spiritual life.

The life of Mark teaches us the virtue of humility in service. Mark served Peter as a son would serve his father. This is unlike many of us today who soon grow tired of answering: “yes sir, yes sir.” We want to be served but we find it difficult to serve.

Another lesson we learn from Mark is that he was quick to commit the Gospel he heard to writing. Start keeping a journal today. God speaks to your heart daily and you often assume these to be mere thoughts. Don’t let them slip away, write them down. It may be beneficial to someone else.

Above all, let us be humble, cast our worries to God, be vigilant in prayers and continue to spread the Gospel message. Today, we read the concluding part of Mark’s Gospel which particularly emphasizes the fact that God worked with the Apostles confirming the message they preached with signs and wonders. Ours is to obey the command of Jesus: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel,” while God does the confirmation with signs and wonders.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, use me like St. Mark in any way possible to spread the Gospel. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Feast of St. Mark. Bible Study: 1^st Peter 5:5-14, Psalm 89 and Mark 16:15-20).

Stop Asking for Alms, Ask for God Instead.

Wednesday 24^th April 2019. Read Acts 3:1-10, Psalm 33 and Luke 24:13-35.

_*“Peter said: ‘I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’” (Acts 3:6)*_ 

The encounter between Peter and the lame man at the Beautiful gate speaks a lot of volumes to us. The lame man begged for alms – he just wanted what would give him the next meal; he asked for what would ensure his survival for the moment. Is this not our story? Too often we get into our knees praying; begging God with tears in our eyes for alms; we ask for money; we ask for things we can see. And how sad we become when we don’t these material things.

Peter honestly did not have money but he knew he had God. He was not ashamed of his poverty because he knew he had something more than money. “Silver and gold I do not have but what I have, I give to you. Rise up and walk.” Peter was the opposite of today’s men of God who brag with their riches and make a show of their charities (giving just to attract attention).

Peter knew what he had and he valued it above anything else. He was not enticed with gold and silver. It is this same Peter who would say to Simon the Magician who had offered him money to receive the power of the Holy Spirit: “Your silver perish with you because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!” (Acts 8:20).

The question for us today is: As a child of God, do I really know what I have? What value do I place on my relationship with God? Why do I envy the rich so much?

In our Gospel passage today, we read about the two disciples who were walking away from Jerusalem in utter disappointment. They were expecting that Jesus was going to take over power from the Romans. Their discipleship had been based on their hope of political power. These disciples are not too different from us who go to church with a purely materialistic mindset.

For instance, someone wrote a mass intention for me stating that (I quote): “God should put fire in the heart of my helpers… disturb them so that they would not have rest till they locate me…” How am I supposed to offer this type of intention to God? Dear friends, for anyone who worships God solely for the things of this world, he or she would always be disappointed like these two disciples.

Jesus met them on their way to Emmaus and like Mary Magdalene, they did not recognize Jesus taking him as just an ordinary passer-by going their direction. When our hearts are too preoccupied with material pursuits, we not only find it difficult to pray, we find it very difficult to recognize the presence of Jesus.

Jesus then took his time to explain to them the necessity of suffering in a homily which made their hearts burn within them. Jesus made it clear to them He had not come as a political messiah. Jesus did not come to free us from poverty. To Judas Iscariot, Jesus said: “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. (Matthew 26:10-11). You see, Jesus did not come simply to give us silver and gold. Jesus came to bring us something money can never buy; the salvation of our souls.

Let us sing: You take the whole world and give me Jesus. You take the whole world and give me Jesus. You take the whole world and give me Jesus, I am satisfied, I am satisfied.

Stop asking for silver and gold, ask for faith instead; the kind of faith that Peter had. Stop trying to store up treasures for yourself on earth, they will never last no matter how hard you pray. Store up treasures instead in heaven where no thief can break in and steal and no moth or rust destroy. (Luke12:33).

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, open my eyes to really see what I have. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Wednesday of Easter Octave. Bible Study: Acts 3:1-10, Psalm 33 and Luke 24:13-35).

Stop Living in Regret, God Wants to Work Through You.

Tuesday 23^rd April, 2019. Read Acts 2:36-41, Psalm 33 and John 20:11-18)_

_*“They were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’ And Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ…’” (Acts 2:37-38)*_

Today’s first reading is the concluding part of a sermon given by Peter; the same Peter who denied Jesus a few days earlier gave a sermon that produced 3,000 converts in one sitting. It was such a moving sermon, not the type that makes listeners run towards the altar to drop money but the type that made them run towards the altar to give their lives completely to Jesus.

Luke tells us that the audience was “cut to the heart.” The word of God that Peter spoke did exactly what the book of Hebrew says: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12). The people had to ask Peter, “What are we to do?”

The trend we see these days among preachers of the word is really disturbing. The idea of having people run to the altar to drop money as well as valuables while shouting “I receive it” only to return home still hooked in sinful lifestyles goes to show that religion today has become a means of survival rather than an avenue to worship God. The truth is that any Preacher of the word who aims at converting souls (rather than people’s pockets) would seriously discourage this trend.

When the People asked Peter what they are to do, he did not ask them to sow seeds, he did not ask them to buy blessed mantle or handkerchief, Peter simply said: “Repent and be baptised in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” Going further, Peter added: “Save yourself from this crooked generations.”

It seems to me that our modern day preachers have idolized riches, placing physical and material prosperity over and above righteousness. Those who have made it are treated like Saints while those who are poor are made to feel unwanted. Today’s popular preachers are on a mission to free people from poverty not to preach repentance as Jesus himself commanded.

Both Peter and Judas offended Jesus but while Peter dried his tears, Judas hanged himself. If only Judas had come to Jesus to beg forgiveness, and to repent, I believe he would have become a great preacher like Peter or like Paul who once persecuted the Church. For God, our past does not matter as much as our potentials.

There comes a time in our own lives when we have to stop crying over our past faults and mistakes. There comes a time when we have clean the tears in our eyes so that we can see clearly the image before us. Mary Magdalene obviously could not recognize Jesus because of the tears in her eyes. Judas Iscariot cried so much that he failed to see the loving gaze of Jesus extending his hands towards him even after his betrayal.

Your past may have been a mess, you may have done worse than Judas or Peter or that thief who was crucified with Jesus. Stop crying today. God wants to work through you. Only Repent and give your life to Christ.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, create in me a pure heart and renew my spirit within me. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Tuesday of Easter Octave. Bible Study: Acts 2:36-41, Psalm 33 and John 20:11-18).

Do not be Afraid; Go and Tell The World that Jesus is Alive.

Monday 22^nd April 2019. Read Acts 2:14-33, Psalm 16 and Matthew 28:8-15

_*“And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.’” (Matthew 28:9-10)*_  

When Jesus appeared to the women, the first thing he said was: “Do not be afraid…” The simple truth is that we cannot preach Christ by word and example unless we grow above our fears. So long as fear lingers in our hearts, we cannot convince the world of our faith.

Fear pulls us down. Fear is that second voice that makes a mockery of our Faith. Fear is responsible for our double-mindedness at times when it comes to the things of God. Fear prevents us from speaking the truth thereby making us tools in the hands of the evil ones.

The soldiers who witnessed the resurrection went to the chief priests to report what had happened but rather than spreading the message to the whole world, they were silenced with money. Just as Judas betrayed Jesus because of money, the soldiers who guarded the tomb, the first witnesses preferred money to speaking the truth.

The soldiers could not spread the truth because of money. Could it also be the case that our love for money acts as an obstacle in preventing us from spreading the message of Christ? Could it be the case that I am not able to tell the world about Jesus because I am too afraid of losing money?

In our first reading, we saw how Peter got up to give an address on the day of Pentecost, this was the same Peter who was too afraid to own up before a little maid that he was one of Jesus’s disciples, the same Peter who denied ever knowing Christ. Fear is truly a weapon satan uses against us.

Dear friends, let nothing stop you. Jesus is no longer in the tomb, He has triumphed over death. Let nothing frighten you, not even a death threat should prevent you from speaking boldly about Christ. Go and tell the world that Jesus is Risen.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, give me the courage to face my fears especially those preventing me from serving you wholeheartedly. Amen.

*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Monday of Easter Octave. Bible Study: Acts 2:14-33, Psalm 16 and Matthew 28:8-15).*

Fr. Abu.