Christmas in the Air: So What Are We To Do Now?

Sunday 1^st December 2019. Read Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122, Romans 13:11-14 and Matthew 24:37-44)_

“For salvation is nearer to us now. Let us then cast off the works of darkness, let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” (Romans 13:11-14)

It is sad to note that many do not understand the essence of Christmas. Even amongst Christians, the whole idea of Christmas is a time for holiday; a time to catch fun, a time for excessive drinking, immorality, reckless driving, shooting knock-outs and so on. Very often Christ is completely missing from our Christmas celebration and we end up becoming spiritually worse than ever.

Perhaps, this has been your situation for these past years, God is especially appealing to you to make this year’s Christmas different. Forget about trying to catch fun and try to catch Jesus like Zacchaeus did. Make efforts to touch Jesus like the woman with the issue of blood not minding the crowd who were simply thronging around Jesus in the name of following him. As Jesus took flesh in Mary’s womb, the season of Advent provides an opportunity for us to make Christ take flesh once again in our own lives. To achieve this, our readings today provide some guidelines:

*1. It is Time to Cast Away the Works of Darkness.*

In our first reading today, we hear the Prophet Isaiah admonishing us: “O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.” St. Paul takes off from there in our second reading saying: “You know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep… the night is far gone, let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light.” St. Paul explains: No more drunkenness, no more licentiousness (anything goes), no more quarrelling, no more jealousy, no more provision for the flesh etc.

It is a serious contradiction that in the name of celebrating Jesus the light of the world, we Christians now engage in works of darkness. You do not celebrate Jesus by committing sin, you only crucify Him. Do not be surprised when you hear people preaching against Christmas, saying it is wrong to celebrate it. Why would anyone condemn the celebration of Christmas? It is because the level of sinfulness in our society increases during this period.

*2. It is Time To Forgive, Reconcile and Make Peace.*

Amongst the items St. Paul mentions as a work of darkness is quarrelling. This is not a time for quarrelling and fighting. As the Prophet Isaiah says: “they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks, nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” As a new liturgical year begins today and the calendar year gradually comes to an end, there is just no better time to reconcile and mend fences. Have you been keeping malice with someone? How do you expect Christ to be born into a bitter heart? How do you hope to celebrate Christmas in unforgiveness?

In Christmas, we celebrate the love of God towards a people who were so unworthy of that love. It was while we were still sinners that God sent His Son Jesus to die for us (Romans 5:8). Christmas is a time to show love to those completely unworthy of your love. It is not a time to fight wars or to revenge on wrongs done in the past. Christmas is a time to make peace because Jesus whom we are celebrating is the Prince of Peace.

*3. It is Time to Watch and Pray (Spiritual Alertness).*

In our Gospel passage, Jesus says: “Watch, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” Being watchful is a figure of speech that means: to be alert in the spirit; alert to temptations, alert to spiritual laziness. The Psalmist prays: “Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not turn my heart to any evil.” (Psalm 141:3-4). The book of Proverbs 4:23 hits the nail on the head when it says: “Guard your heart with all vigilance, for out of it proceeds the wellsprings of life.” Being watchful is guarding your heart so that no evil thought can enter and dwell there.

As St. Peter tells us “Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion, your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith.” (1st Peter 5:8-9). The key to being alert is prayerfulness. Advent is a time to increase and deepen our prayer lives. The more time we allocate to God daily, the more spiritually alert we become. A heart that does not create time for God is like an abandoned building which becomes a home for grasses and other creatures. To watch is to pray. How else will Christ be born again in our hearts if we do not pray?

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, make my heart a ready temple for you this Christmas. Amen.

Happy Sunday. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (First Sunday of Advent. Year A. Bible Study: Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122, Romans 13:11-14 and Matthew 24:37-44).

Jesus Tweets: “Follow Me.” Andrew Left Everything Behind.

Saturday 30^TH November 2019. Read Daniel 7:2-14 and Luke 21:29-33.

_“Immediately, they left the boat and their father, and followed him.” *(Matthew 4:22)*_

Each time I read today’s Gospel passage, I cannot but wonder how it so happened that some grown-up men would abandon their Father, their entire fishing career and what brings them money to go after a total stranger simply because he said: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men”? There must have been something so captivating about Jesus that made them leave everything behind to follow Him.

The call of the disciples in so many ways reflect on our own call as Christians. The essence of being a Christian is to follow Jesus. The Christian life is all about discipleship. You cannot be a disciple without an interior sense of detachment. You must leave something precious behind to freely walk with Jesus. Even Jesus would tell us that “no servant can have two masters.” (Luke 16:13).

Anyone who is attached to worldly riches will always have a hard time being a true disciple of Jesus. Anyone who _*loves*_ riches more than God will find it very difficult to worship God. (Cf. Matthew 19:24, Mark 10:25 and Luke 18:25). As Andrew left everything else behind, we are called to leave everything else to follow Jesus. We are called to deny ourselves (deprive ourselves of something), take up our daily cross to follow Jesus. (Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34 and Luke 9:23).

Have you been a Christian for so long? What have you left behind for Jesus’ sake? What do you plan to leave behind so as to freely follow Jesus’ footsteps?

While Matthew’s Gospel presents Andrew as one of the fishermen Jesus called alongside Simon Peter, John’s Gospel tells us that Andrew was one of the two disciples of John the Baptist who left him to follow Jesus after he identified Jesus as the Lamb of God. As John states:

“The next day again John (the Baptist) was standing with two of his disciples; and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus… They came and saw where he was staying; and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah.”

In other words, Andrew had stayed a whole day with Jesus and based on his conviction that Jesus is the Messiah, he then introduced Jesus to Simon his brother. After this, not much is heard about Andrew other than the fact that he introduced more people to Jesus. In John 6:8, Andrew was the one who told Jesus that there was a boy in the crowd who had five loaves and two fish. This is what prompted the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. Also in John 12:20-23, Andrew went to Philip to tell Jesus about the Greeks who came into Jerusalem for the feast and were demanding to see Jesus.  We may conclude that Andrew was fond of introducing people to Jesus.

This is precisely the reason the season of Advent begins on the nearest Sunday to the feast of St. Andrew. Andrew basically introduces the whole Church to the season of Advent; to begin our preparation to commemorate the events of the incarnation of God among the human race.

Dear friends, have you been a Christian for so long? How many people have you introduced to Jesus? Andrew stayed a whole day with Jesus and went on to convince Simon about Jesus. How much do you do about Jesus? Could this be the reason why you have never successfully introduced anyone to Jesus?

St. Paul in today’s first reading says: “How beautiful are the feet of one who brings Good News.” As they say, bad news sells quickly and easily but Good News takes time. We find it very hard to talk to someone about Jesus but we have no problem spending a whole day gossiping about the faults of others? We are so quick to share stories about the scandalous behaviour of others on social media but simply gloss over spiritually edifying messages? May St. Andrew inspire positive change in us. Amen.

You never can tell what God would do in a person through your message. Just be an Andrew today: talk to someone about Jesus.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, use me like St. Andrew to bring people to you. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Feast of St. Andrew. Bible Study: Romans 10:9-18, Psalm 19 and Matthew 4:18-22).

A King Whose Reign Lasts Forever.

Friday 29^TH November 2019. Read Daniel 7:2-14 and Luke 21:29-33.

_ “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. *(Luke 21:33)*_

In our first reading today, Daniel narrates the contents of his dreams; the visions of the night. When we look closely at this passage, we would discover that bulk of our imagery of God comes from this vision of Daniel.

When we think of God, we consider God to be masculine (based on Daniel’s use of the masculine pronoun), one who is very old (ancient of days), with very long beards (his raiment was white as snow), with some sort of scary demeanour (his throne was fiery flames) and with lots and lots of angels and saints serving him (thousand thousands served him and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him).

Daniel spoke in human language. He tried to describe what he saw using analogies that we can understand. As such, if we simply take Daniel’s vision at face value, we would only have a very imperfect image of God. God is simply beyond our imagination, God is greater than what words can express.

Daniel’s vision can be likened to a blind man trying to describe an elephant by touching one part of its body. God is beyond scientific observation or explanation. God is Father, Son and Spirit. God is Love. In fact, don’t try to intellectualize God, just worship Him.

The other aspect of the vision corresponds perfectly with an image of Jesus Christ. He is the “one who came like a son of man.” Jesus himself in the course of his earthly life referred to himself ‘Son of Man’ several times. “And to Him was given dominion… his dominion is an everlasting dominion… one that shall not be destroyed.”

In speaking about Jesus, St. Paul confirms: “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11).

God is a king that can never be destroyed. He is greater than anything we can ever imagine or think of. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the one who made us and sustains our life. As Jesus assures us today, “Heaven and earth may pass away but my words will not pass away.” Let us renew our faith and confidence in him every day casting off our fear of evil spirits, as we know, no one is greater than God.   

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, increase my love and devotion to you every day and may I serve you as my king and Lord all my life. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Homily for Friday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study:  Daniel 7:2-14 and Luke 21:29-33).

Celebrating Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe.

Sunday 24^th November 2019. Bible Study: 2nd Samuel 5:1-3, Psalm 122, Colossians 1:12-20 and Luke 23:35-43.

“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43)

Since the beginning of this liturgical year, we have been celebrating specific aspects of the life of Christ. In Advent, we prepared for the birth of Christ. In Christmas, we celebrated the incarnation of Christ amongst mankind. In Lent, we prepared recall Christ’s saving action on the Cross of Calvary. At Easter, we celebrated the resurrection of Christ. During the period of Ordinary Time, we dwelt deeply on the teachings of Christ in the Gospels picking one them after another.

Having come to the end of this liturgical year, today’s Solemnity is the concluding statement of all our celebrations thus far: This Jesus that took flesh in the womb of Mary, lived amongst us, preached and worked several miracles, carried the cross, died and rose again on the third day, ascended to the Father and sent the Holy Spirit amongst us is the KING OF THE WHOLE UNIVERSE.

In this part of the world, our celebration of the Christ the King is usually accompanied by processions around our streets with a whole lot of singing, marching, dancing, clapping and public veneration of Christ the King in the Blessed Sacrament. This aspect is beautifully illustrated by our Psalmist today: “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.” Today, we re-live the joyful welcoming of Jesus into the City of Jerusalem. As we proceed with today’s liturgy, there are some vital points to guide our reflections.

*1. Christ is King. Yes, but is Christ Your King?*

The rulers scoffed at Jesus, the soldiers mocked him, the crowds jeered at him, the same people who sang “Hosanna to the Son of David” shouted: “Crucify Him, Crucify Him.” With face disfigured and blood dripping across his wounded body, Christ dragged his cross across the streets of Jerusalem to the point of crucifixion. The inscription on the cross was just a mockery. “How can this man be a king? … A king without an army? … He saved others, yet, he can’t save himself.”

The shocking reality is that even today, Christ is still being mocked, scoffed at and insulted painfully, by those of us who claim to be Christians. Today, we move around our streets shamelessly singing and dancing, rubbing ourselves on the ground in exultation of Christ but what happens when we return home? Do we allow Christ to reign in our living rooms, in our business places, in our sense of fashion, in our daily interactions with others? When we do not get answers to our prayers, when the miracles we expect do not come, when life is tough, when we face persecution, do we still honour Christ as our King?

*2. Christ is King. For Him, Nothing is Impossible.*

While others were mocking Jesus, there were some who were not moved by the seeming “defeat” of Christ on the Cross. In fact, there was one man who had eyes to see that Christ is truly the King of the Universe, the second thief. Not only did he rebuke the other thief for mocking Jesus, but he also showed sincere contrition for his life of sin and turned to Jesus to plead: “Remember me when you come into your kingly power.” Jesus was so impressed by this man’s faith that He offered him an instant ticket to paradise. Jesus forgave his sins at once and answered His prayer. The thief wasn’t asking to come down from the cross as others, he was asking for something more precious; eternal life because he knew that his death was not the end. How is your prayer life? Do you ask with faith?

*3. Christ is King: Therefore, we are Princes and Princesses.*

In today’s second reading, St. Paul explains the implications of the Kingship of Christ. By our union we with Christ the King, we are not ordinary persons, we are royalty; we have been delivered from the dominion of darkness, we walk in light, we receive forgiveness of our sins, we are members of the body where Christ is the Head. As Jesus would say: “Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Mark 3:35). Anyone from a royal family knows that there are certain rules which guides their behaviour. In Christ’s kingdom, there is only one rule: LOVE. As we see, Christ on the Cross does not hate even those who were killing him; He loved everyone to the end. He forgave them and prayed for them. we disgrace Christ when we don’t live by this principle of Love.

*4. Christ is King: His Kingdom is Forever.*

Earthly Kingdoms come and go but Christ is so powerful: His Kingdom remains forever. Check out the history of the world and tell me if there is any kingdom that considered itself a world-power which did not eventually fall? Our first reading today brings our mind to that of David. As great and glorious David was, his kingdom was only a foretaste (or preparation) of God’s kingdom that was to come in the person of Christ. All earthly power is fleeting, contingent and constantly under threat but the Kingdom of Christ is forever.

*In conclusion*, as we go out today to show the world our faith, many who do not understand would think we are idol worshippers. They would mock us, insult us and even try to obstruct us. Don’t be distracted. Focus only on Jesus. On the other hand, many would stand and stare, some would want to know what is happening. This is an opportunity for us to spread the faith. Whatever the case, know that what becomes of your life after today would testify for or against you by this procession.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, King of the Universe, set me free from slavery to sin that I may render your Majesty service and ceaselessly proclaim your praise. Amen.

Happy Sunday. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Solemnity of Christ the King. Year C. Bible Study: 2nd Samuel 5:1-3, Psalm 122, Colossians 1:12-20 and Luke 23:35-43).

God is Not Dead. He Never Sleeps. Wickedness Never Lasts.

Saturday 23^rd November 2019. Bible Study: 1 Maccabees 6:1-13, Psalm 9 and Luke 20:27-40.

“And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.” (Luke 20:37-39)

If you want to understand something thoroughly, you must break that thing into its several parts and very often breaking it also means destroying it. Simply put, the best way to understand life is to look at death. When we know what becomes of us at death, we are then able to know what living is all about.

Death teaches us a lot of lessons: that we are not merely animals, we do not just have a body, we also have a soul which cannot die, that this soul in us is a clear evidence of the existence of God, that when our physical body dies, our soul continues to live in union with God after depending on how well we have lived here. The life of perfect union with God is defined as the resurrection of the dead.

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus explains to the Sadducees the resurrection to the Sadducees who had composed a very ridiculous question to logically prove that there is no such thing as the resurrection of the dead. If these Sadducees were modern-day Christians, I guess they would have asked Jesus to show them where it is written in the Scriptures that the dead rise to life.

Their question revealed their limited understanding of the spiritual life as well as the existence and working of the soul. For them, we are nothing more than mere physical bodies and to rise from the dead means to re-live this present life again. Jesus explains that in the resurrection, we are not going to retain our physical bodies. We are going to be like the Angels, we are going to be pure spirits; only our souls will remain. And the soul does not have to marry, eat or drink or be subjected to any physical constraints.

Jesus also quoted from the Scripture to support his point. He referred them to the passage of Moses in the burning bush. The Sadducees were conversant with that passage but it never occurred to them the full implication of Moses referring to God as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Every time you pick up the Bible to read, always pray for the gift of understanding to look beyond the words and grasp the inner meaning. Don’t be content only with memorizing passages from scripture.

Yes, God is Not Dead. He is not a God of the Dead but of the Living for all live to Him. This statement of Jesus perfectly explains today’s first reading which concludes for us the story of the evil King Antiochus Epiphanes. The man died in shame with tears and sorrow for all the atrocities he had committed. In his own words: “I remember the evils I did in Jerusalem… I sent to destroy the inhabitants of Judah without good reason. I know that it is because of this that these evils have come upon me, and behold, I am perishing of deep grief in a strange land.”

According to Patience Ebele Jonathan: “There is God oh!” Let anyone who is doing evil not assume he or she will last forever. As to why God even allows evil people to succeed at all, we do not know but what we know is that there comes a day of reckoning, there comes a day when God would arise and all His enemies would scatter, there comes a day that the evildoers must expire and give way to light. God is patient with the sinners, He keeps giving second chances to repent but if we fail to heed his voice in the voice of conscience, we must pay for our deeds.

Our Psalmist today sings: “For the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor the hopes of the poor ever perish.” When it seems as if evil people are succeeding, don’t worry, just keep trusting in God, don't give up hope, don’t stop being good. These evil people you see prospering today, you will live to see their end. “Behold, the storm of the Lord! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked. The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intents of his mind. In the latter days, you will understand it clearly.” (Jeremiah 23:19-20). Do not take the mercy of God for granted. He may appear quiet but He never sleeps.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, when I feel like giving up because of the many evils around me, strengthen me to move on. May I remain faithful to you till death. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: 1 Maccabees 6:1-13, Psalm 9 and Luke 20:27-40).

The Double Assurance of Victory.

Friday 22^nd November 2019. Bible Study: 1 Maccabees 4:36-59, 1 Chr 29 & Luke 19:45-48.

_“Behold, our enemies are crushed; let us go up to cleanse the sanctuary and dedicate it. So all the army assembled and they went up to Mount Zion.” *(1 Maccabees 4:36-37)*_

Anyone who sets out to fight for truth, righteousness and holiness always wins in the end. The victory of Judas and his brothers which we read about in today’s first readings over the evil king Antiochus is a victory that assures us of God’s great hand of support when we fight for Him.

There is a song we sing often: “Who can battle with the Lord? Who can battle with the Lord? I say nobody. I say no-body.” Can anyone destroy God? The book of Proverbs 18:10 says: “the very name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run to it and they are safe.”

When it comes to fighting, King David is one great example of a man who fought wars and defeated giants even from his very childhood. David revealed his secret in 2nd Samuel 22:2-4 when he said: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my saviour – from violent men you save me. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.”

However, unless we fight the enemy within, we cannot fight the enemy outside. According to Sir Thomas Browne in his book “Religio Medici” written in 1639, “Every man is his own greatest enemy, and as it were his own executioner.” The first battle we must fight is the battle within us; the battle against sin. The Good News is that once we are ready to fight this inner battle, God is so overjoyed that He joins forces with us and rewards our efforts. “There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over the ninety-nine who have no need for repentance.” (Luke 15:7)

In our Gospel passage, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive those who had turned it into a market of some sort. Jesus referred to them as robbers meaning their trade was not only illegitimate but also detrimental to the people. This had been going on for years and the people saw nothing wrong with it. The chief priests and scribes and the principal men (who were benefiting from the robbery) sought to destroy Jesus but they couldn’t do anything.

The state of the temple was a direct reflection of the state of the temples of their own heart. They had driven God out and replaced Him with money. What efforts do I make on a daily basis to cleanse my heart and ensure that God remains at the centre of my life? If you are not moved by evil, if you are not fired up like Eleazer, like the seven brothers and their mother, like Matatthaias, like Judas and his brother or like Jesus who boldly cleansed the temple, then there is something seriously wrong somewhere. There is a lot of evil going on in our society, do something! Make an impact. Change the narrative. Fight for morality, fight for truth, fight for justice, fight for the Christian faith. Let it not be that the only thing you care for is making money.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, set me on fire for you daily that I may not sit down and watch evil thrive. Cleanse me inside out. Amen. St. Cecilia, pray for us.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Friday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: 1 Maccabees 4:36-59, 1 Chr 29 & Luke 19:45-48).

The Holy Anger.

Thursday 21^st November 2019. Bible Study: 1 Maccabees 2:15-29, Psalm 50 and Luke 19:41-44.

“When he had finished speaking these words, a Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice upon the altar in Modein, according to the king's command. When Mattathias saw it be burned with zeal and his heart was stirred. He gave vent to righteous anger; he ran and killed him upon the altar.” (1 Macc. 2:23-25)

There is such a thing as holy anger. It is a strong feeling of dislike and aversion for something that is entirely sinful and bad. Anger in itself is not sinful when properly channelled. For instance, in John 2:13-15 we read: “Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple, he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers at their business. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all, with the sheep and oxen, out of the temple; and he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.” Sometimes, there is just no need to be diplomatic about certain issues.

Perhaps, Jesus might have tried to persuade them but in this situation, the best sermon was action! This incidence is one that convinces me beyond every doubt that Jesus was completely human and completely God. Jesus was angry. (Even today’s Gospel passage tells us that Jesus cried). Nevertheless, even in his anger, Jesus never committed sin. Anger is actually very good when it is directed at something intrinsically evil. We need to be angry enough at the devil to avoid even negotiating with him. We need to be angry at our sinfulness and bad habits so that we can summon enough courage to repent.

In today’s first reading, officers from the evil king Antiochus Ephiphes arrived at the city of Modein to enforce apostasy against the Jewish religion. After they had gathered the city, they requested that Mattathias, being a leader in the city be the first to perform the sacrifice to idols. Mattathias initially tried to be diplomatic, he tried to speak to them calmly but while he was still speaking, a Jew (out of fear) came forward to offer the sacrifice.

It was at this point that Mattathias knew this was not talk a talk-talk issue. He burned with zeal (the same word used in John 2:17 with reference to Jesus for cleansing the Temple) and was moved by a fit of righteous anger. He ran and killed the Jew instantly. He also killed the king’s officer and tore than the pagan altar. The death of this Jew fulfils what Jesus would say: “if you try to save your life, you will lose it but if you lose your life for the sake of God, you will keep it for eternity.” In a panic, he went to offer the sacrifice thinking that would put him in good terms with King Antiochus not knowing that would be his last act on earth.

Mattathias knew he had crossed a line. There was no way he would reconcile with King Antiochus so instantly, he gathered an army of zealous men and women and they retreated into the wilderness for military training as well as spiritual preparation to fight the devil’s incarnate: Antiochus Epiphanes. You do not engage in a battle without first strategizing and backing yourself up with prayer.

In a moment of temptation, you don’t negotiate with the devil, you don’t try to be diplomatic, you act instantly. One reason why we are stuck in our sins is that we are yet to summon enough hatred against the devil. Secondly, we try to engage the devil with bare hands, we don’t take out time to prepare, we barely retreat, we do not recollect and meditate beforehand. This is why after repenting over and over again, we still open our doors to the same time.

In today’s Gospel passage Jesus wept over Jerusalem. This cry of Jesus would materialize in the year AD 70 when the city would be brought down and not one stone in the Temple would be left standing. Apart from anger against the devil, we should learn to weep over our sins because they deserve hell.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, fill me with zeal for truth, righteousness and holiness. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Thursday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: 1 Maccabees 2:15-29, Psalm 50 and Luke 19:41-44).

The Craze for Riches and Parental Upbringing Today.

Wednesday 20^th November 2019. Bible Study: 2 Maccabees 7:1-31, Psalm 17 And Luke 19:11-28.

_“Do not fear this butcher, but prove worthy of your brothers. Accept death, so that in God's mercy I may get you back again with your brothers.” *(2 Maccabees 7:29)*_ 

Yesterday, we read about how Eleazer the scribe was killed for his refusal to condescend to idol worship even when he was given an option to pretend about it. Today we are presented with another gory account of persecution under the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes. Seven brothers and their mother were arrested for their refusal to partake in idol worship. One after the day, they were killed before their own mother. When six of them were gone, Antiochus moved by shame at the courage of the boys decided to lure the youngest of them with riches and political power.

The craze for riches has become the bane of our youths today. Listen to our popular music; it is all about making billions (wanting to hammer), spending it on women, (money fall on you, cassava fall on you), driving the latest cars, buying houses for mama, and so on. Many of our Christian youths have sold their souls to the devil. Cultism is so rampant today. Their mantra is: “get rich or die trying.”

Not too long ago, a lady who partook of the Big Brother Show was evicted. Nigerian billionaires (our own King Antiochus Epiphanes) who will never spend a kobo to lift a hungry child out of poverty were donating millions like it was child’s play. They were splashing millions on her to say “Thank You” for her indecent behaviours, exultation of immorality, corruption of children and lack of shame on television. She even got more money than the winner of the show. We need to understand that exactly what happened in the time of Maccabees is happening again in our day.

When the king saw that the young man was not going to bow to his offer of riches, he turned to his mother hoping she would convince him better. The king was right, no child can say No to his mother. (Not even Jesus Christ). What the king failed to realize was that this mother brought up her children to fear God. To say that parents do not have a role in the moral decadence of our youths today is to tell a black lie. An apple never falls far from its tree.

The mother turned to the boy and spoke to him in her native language saying: “Do not be afraid of this butcher. Do not disgrace your brothers. Accept death.” With this great boost from the mother, the youngest son said to the king: “What are you waiting for? Go ahead. You can kill me but I will not obey you.” As a mother, would you be able to advise your children like this? Would you teach them not to steal or would you share in their loot? Would you encourage your children to dress modestly or would you clap them for being slay queens? Would you teach your children to be content with what is theirs or would you teach them to sell their bodies for money? Would you discipline them thoroughly or would you fight with their teacher for flogging them in school?

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus told a parable to those who were expecting the kingdom of God to come immediately. For many even in Jesus’ time, the coming of God’s kingdom would mark the end of the world. Through this parable, Jesus teaches us that the world is sure to end, but in the meantime, God has deposited great treasures in us. We cannot sit down idle (bury our talents) in the name of waiting for the end like some Thessalonians did. We must get busy using all that God has deposited in us to spread God’s kingdom here on earth. We shall be judged on how we used our gifts and abilities on the last day.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, teach me to love you above all things on earth. Free me from the lure of riches especially if it requires compromising my faith. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Wednesday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: 2 Maccabees 7:1-31, Psalm 17 And Luke 19:11-28).

The Danger of the Middle-Way.

Tuesday 19^th November 2019. Bible Study: 2 Maccabees 6:18-31, Psalm 3 and Luke 19:1-10.

_“Such pretence is not worthy of our time of life,” he said, “lest many of the young should suppose that Eleazar in his ninetieth year has gone over to an alien religion.” *(2 Maccabees 6:24)*_ 

In our first reading this morning, we are presented with the story of Eleazer, a Jewish religious leader who was held in high esteem by the people. Given his position as a man who could influence the people, Eleazer was captured in the course of the persecution of King Antiochus Epiphanes. He was asked to either eat meat sacrificed to idols publicly or face the death sentence.

The men told him: “Sir you don’t have to eat the actual meat dedicated to the gods, just bring your own meat from your house and come and eat it in our presence.” In other words, “just act drama, pretend so that the king will see you. He would not know that it is your own meat you are eating. And again, when your people ask you why you committed sin, tell them it was your meat and not that sacrificed to idols.”

They offered Eleazer an easy way out; a middle ground so to say. By eating his own meat in the public arena, he wouldn’t be offending God literally, yet at the same time, he would be misleading many who look up to him as a role model because he would never get the chance of explaining to them where the meat came from. Like these men, satan specializes in offering us middle grounds; satan always suggests how we can eat our cake and still have it; how we can attempt to worship God and still blend with the world. In the end, we are neither hot nor cold.

Most of us Christians have become specialists in pretence. Prayer warriors during the day time and specialists in immorality at night. We are neither here or there. We crave for a Christianity that is without the cross; we desire to serve God and at the same time, we strive to please the world. We are ashamed of wearing the rosary publicly or dressing decently so we go naked just to blend with our peers claiming that holiness is in the heart. We fail to understand that by so doing, we are contributing to the destruction of souls and increasing immorality in society.

It is so bad that even in church, we sing worldly music. We are moody when traditional hymns are taken but as soon as the choir intones a melody from a popular worldly musician, it is like our spirits are set on high. We start to dance like tomorrow forgetting that the rotten, immoral lyrics of that song stick more to our brains than verses of the Bible. we keep saying: “it is not bad now, it is not bad” but we don’t realize we are falling easily into the devil’s hands. Comedians now handle microphones in our churches, musicians are invited to “perform.”

Eleazer had an option of pleasing the king without technically committing sin but he was not that type of person. He had not been living in pretence. He couldn't afford to put a dent on the sacrifices he had been making all his life. He was convinced that it is better to die gracefully than lead a single person astray. He knew the shame and guilt would eventually kill him. He did not wait for the men to rough handle him, he went by himself to the rack spitting out his flesh. He died declaring his faithfulness to God. this is an example of a man who is hot for God.

Dear friends, stop sitting on the fence. If you wish to serve God, then give God everything but if you do not wish to serve God, stop trying to eat from both sides. Revelation 3:14-17 reads: “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write:… I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot!  So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”

Are you like Zaccheus, on a treetop, trying to catch a glimpse of Jesus because you like Jesus yet you lack the courage to renounce your sinful ways once and for all? Jesus himself is now the one saying to you: “Come down for I must eat at your house today.” Receive Jesus into your house, your inner secret chamber, into your private corner. Jesus is not ashamed to come in if you let Him. Allow Jesus today and stop trying to compete with or please the world.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, take my heart, my body and my mind. henceforth, it is for you alone that I live. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Tuesday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: 2 Maccabees 6:18-31, Psalm 3 and Luke 19:1-10).