Like Mary, Blessed Shall You Be This New Year.

Saturday 1st January, 2022. Read Numbers 6:22-27, Ps. 67:2-3,5,6,8, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:16-21

“But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5)

Today, being the eighth day of Christmas, we are celebrating the woman in whose womb Jesus Christ was conceived. The fact that we are celebrating the Motherhood of Mary on the first day of the New Year also teaches us how we are to approach the next twelve months. In today’s Gospel passage, Luke tells us that: “She treasured all these things in her heart.” Mary was not a noisy, gossiping woman. She was not a nagging or complaining woman, she accepted everything that came her way quietly.

Mary accepted the plan of God in her life, she took in the highs and the lows, she was ready for the joys as well as the pains. She knew her role in God’s plan and was willing to obey every detail. When the child was born, she gave the name “Jesus” in obedience to the angel’s instruction. As St. Paul says: “At the fullness of time, God sent his Son born of a woman born under the law, to redeem those under the law so that we might become sons of God.” (Gal. 4:4). We are sons, we are not slaves, thanks to Jesus, the Son of God, born of a woman, Mary.

I pray for you that this new year, you shall rise to your true position as a Son in God’s house. That you shall eat no longer remnants but real food from the golden plate of God’s word, the Bible. That you shall be a blessing to the people you will meet throughout this year. I pray that you will be light in the midst of the darkness of sin and evil in our world.

In our first reading today, Moses prayed for the people: “The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!” As Moses prayed for peace, the whole world is praying for peace today. Indeed, being the first day of January, we are also celebrating World Day of Peace. May this New Year bring you abundant peace of mind and happiness. Amen 

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, may this New Year be my best. Amen

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Mary, Mother of God – Solemnity. Bible Study: Numbers 6:22-27, Ps. 67:2-3,5,6,8, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:16-21).

Every Ending Marks a New Beginning: Wisdom Bits for 2022

Midnight Mass 31st December 2021. Read 1 Peter 4:12-19, Psalm 23 & Matthew 6:25-34 

“For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17)

This night, we shall be saying “Farewell” to one year and at the same time saying “Welcome” to another year and in this part of the world, there is no better place to do this than inside a church; a testimony to our unique religious nature as Africans. Unfortunately, this Midnight Mass, or “Cross-Over” Mass as it is now popularly known is one of the very few occasions where the liturgical books did not provide specific readings for.

Unlike Christmas where there are readings for Vigil Mass, Mass at Midnight, Mass at Dawn, and Mass During the Day, we are allowed to choose our own readings for this Mass. In my attempt to find the most suitable readings that depict the end of the year as well as the beginning of another, I went to the Bible Application on my computer to search for any verse that contains the words “begin” and “end.” Guess what? Only one verse came up: 1 Peter 4:17. When I read this verse, I felt God speaking directly to my conscience. “For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God and if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” First, what does Peter mean by the ‘household of God?’

a. The leaders of the church; that is, we the preachers. Coincidentally, this is one night where many of us would pick up the microphone to give false promises and fake prophecies to excite the people or just make them feel good about the New Year. When we fail to correct and reprove sinful behaviors in our flock when we fail to lead by example, we face severe judgment both on earth here and in heaven; judgment by the people when our fake prophecies do not come to pass and judgment by God before whom we shall give account for our failure to feed God’s flock.

b. The congregation; that is, all Christians. By household of God, Peter could be referring to everyone who makes up the Body of Christ; we who claim to be children of God. Jesus Christ said: “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister, and mother.” (Matthew 12:50, see also Mark 3:35). St. Paul even says it better when he noted: “So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” (Ephesians 2:19). St. Peter is telling us that judgment shall begin from us. Why? For our failure to live by the light despite having been privileged to have known God.

Jesus Christ warned us when he said: “And that servant who knew his master's will but did not make ready or act according to his will, shall receive a severe beating.  But he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light beating.” (Luke 12:47-48). We who profess the faith shall receive a more severe punishment than many who do not even know Christ. If you are reading this message, consider it as God calling you once again to repent. That you are alive to this moment does not mean you are better than anyone else or that you are a lesser sinner than those who did not make it, it means that God still believes something good can come out of you.

A Second Chance.

This Night, God is you another chance to re-live another Calendar year. 2021 is gone forever but January 1 is here again. Consider this as your second chance but let me be very honest with you, this second chance might be your very last chance. You might never get to re-live another Calendar year. At least, by now you must have learned the danger of Procrastination. Remember, there were many things you promised yourself to do or to accomplish in 2021 which you never did. There were many ‘New Year resolutions you made but never kept all because you felt there was time. Now, like a twinkle of an eye, 2021 is lost forever to history. The clock will never turn back. Whatever good you know is worth doing, just begin now. Today, this moment is all you have. 

Try Again: Practice Makes Perfect. (The Law of Wasted Effort).

Just before I began writing this homily, I read a very beautiful write-up that was circulating on social media with the title “The Law of Wasted Effort.” Do you know that “lions only succeed in a quarter of their hunting attempts? This means that they fail 75% of the time but they do not despair in their pursuits and hunting attempts - they understand the law of wasted effort… Half of the eggs of fish are eaten, half of the baby bears die before puberty, most of the world’s rains fall in oceans, most of the seeds of trees are eaten by birds. Animals, trees, and other forces of nature are more receptive of the law of wasted efforts but we humans think that our lack of success in a few attempts is failure but the truth is that we only fail when we stop trying.”

Child of God, hear this: “Success is not to have a life free of pitfalls and falls, it is walking over your mistakes and going beyond every stage where your efforts were wasted looking forward to the next stage.” In 2021, you may have tried over and over again in so many different aspects of your life and ‘failed’, now you know that you have not failed yet. Those were the wasted efforts, so go back and try again; try again and try again. Never stop at any stage of difficulty. Keep moving. Have you tried to be a better Christian and it seems you wasted your time, try again this year. Do it again. Learn from your mistakes and do things better. Let Jesus see your efforts in 2022, let your actions this new year touch the heart of Jesus like the actions of the four men who brought their paralytic friend to Him through the roof of the house where He was. (Cf. Mark 2:5, Matthew 9:2) 

Don’t Be Discouraged by Suffering.

In this part of the world, I can conveniently say that a lot of us suffered in 2021. This year, we faced terrible inflation in the prices of essential commodities such as food and water. We suffered greatly from the hands of bandits, gunmen, terrorists and even from the hands of our men and women on uniform. We suffered in the hands of our leaders whose statements in times of crisis seemed to make our situation worse. I can go on and on but the summary is this - If you made it this far in this country, consider yourself a survivor. You are one of the lucky few in a system that is bastardized by corruption, immorality, lawlessness, and poverty.

Surprisingly, we are no different from the people St. Peter was addressing when he wrote the fourth chapter of his first letter. St. Peter says: “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in so far as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.  But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or a wrongdoer, or a mischief-maker; yet if one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but under that name let him glorify God.” (1 Peter 4:12-16)

Child of God, get this message clear: The fact that things are difficult in this country today is not a justification for joining a secret society, selling one’s soul to the devil, or using another person for money rituals. There is no easy way to wealth. Do not be deceived. Jesus Christ told us clearly: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” (Matthew 6:33) 

Be Positive; Put Your Hope in God, Get Rid of all Anxiety.

This night, I choose to reflect on a part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount where He speaks about avoiding anxiety. Let us re-read His words again and allow them to sync into our minds as we approach the New Year: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25). Do you get the message? Jesus is asking us: “Is not life more than food, clothing, money, etc. etc.” Do we even take time to appreciate God just for being alive? Do we know the value of our life is much more than everything we often worry ourselves over? Gratitude for life itself is the first step to avoiding anxiety. I will not lie in the name of God that I know how 2022 will be but what I know is that if you learn to be more grateful, you will notice more of your blessings than your complaints. 

Jesus continues: “If God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith?” (Matthew 6:30) Enter this New Year as a man/woman of great faith. Believe that you serve a God who knows how to provide, how to create dry roads in the midst of rivers, how to make ways where there seems to be no way. Expect the best. Serve God not just with your lips but with your very life. Let your light shine this New Year. 

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, into your hands I commend this coming year. Help me Lord to make the best of the many opportunities that are coming my way this year. Amen 

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you.

The Antichrist and the Last Hour

Friday 31st December 2021. Read 1 John 2:18-21, Ps. 96:1-2,11-13 John 1:1-18 

“Children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come; therefore we know that it is the last hour.” (1 John 2:18)

As the year ends, St. John in today’s first reading draws our mind to the end of the world; the last hour. According to John, a sign of the last hour is the coming of the antichrist. Who is the antichrist?

In our Gospel passage, John answers this question; “The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not...” (John 1:9-11).

Put simply, the antichrist is anyone who refuses to receive Christ. Anyone who is opposed to Christ either by word, deed, or thought. Looking around us, there are a lot of antichrists who work relentlessly day and night to ensure that anything about Christ is totally removed from our society. As Jesus noted, they are more clever (shrewd, astute) than the children of light. (Cf. Luke 16:8)

St. John adds: “They (the antichrists) went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out, that it might be plain that they all are not of us.” (1 John 2:19). In other words, antichrists are within and outside the church. As Jesus noted, they are wolves in sheep clothing; pretenders, fake Christians. (Cf. Matthew 7:15).

The greatest blow against the Christian faith in our land is not coming from outside the faith. It is from within. Being a fake Christian is just as bad as being a non-Christian. Tonight, our churches would be packed full of persons who claim to be Christians but are not willing to live like Christ. They want blessings for the New Year, they want people to tell them exactly what they like to hear. Unfortunately, they would return home as antichrists. 

Let us take some time to examine ourselves today and ask sincerely: “How have I lived this year? Have I been a Christian or have I behaved like an antichrist this year?”

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, into your hands I commend my spirit. Amen 

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (7th day within the octave of Christmas. Bible Study: 1 John 2:18-21, Ps. 96:1-2,11-13 John 1:1-18).

Do Not Love the World; You Were Made for Something More

Thursday 30th December 2021. Read 1 John 2:12-17, Ps. 96:7-10, Luke 2:36-40 

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides for ever.” (1 John 2:15-17)

Our first reading today comes from the hand of St. John, who was nicknamed “the one who Jesus loved.” John describes the futility of loving the world by summing everything the world has to offer in three boxes: a. The Lust of the Flesh. b. The Lust of the Eyes and c. The Pride of Life.

According to Pope Francis, these three things correspond perfectly to the three temptations of Jesus. First, Satan told Jesus to turn stones to bread (lust of the flesh), then Satan told Jesus to bow to him so he could have all the riches and kingdoms of the world (lust of the eyes) and finally that Jesus should throw himself down from the pinnacle of the temple that people may see and worship him (pride of life).

Even Abraham Maslow would agree that these three things correspond to the needs of every person.

They are just what we want in life; bodily satisfaction, (food, comfort, pleasure), riches, (abundant wealth, security), and respect (worship from fellow humans, praises and honour).

As much as these things deliver a great deal of happiness, they remain fleeting. We are never satisfied. Our hearts are always restless because only God can bring us true satisfaction. It is pure wisdom to remind yourself constantly that you came to this world empty and you shall return empty; that you are just a sojourner on earth.

In our Gospel passage, we are told the story of Anna, the prophetess. After losing her husband, she dedicated the whole of her life to serving God never leaving the temple. Anna is a practical example of what St. John was talking about in today’s first reading; she saw the emptiness of the world and stopped loving it. She spent the whole of her life in the temple because she found inner peace being in God’s presence.

Together with Simeon, Anna knew that this child brought in by Mary and Joseph was no ordinary child. She gave thanks to God and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. Her prophecy became a reality 

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, may my love for you overcome my love for this world. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (6th day within the octave of Christmas. Bible Study: 1 John 2:12-17, Ps. 96:7-10, Luke 2:36-40).

Hatred is Blindness

Wednesday 29th December 2021. Read 1 John 2:3-11, Ps. 96:1-3,5-6, Luke 2:22-35

“He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness still. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and in it there is no cause for stumbling.” (1 John 2:9-10)

As natural as hatred may seem, St. John teaches us today that hatred is blindness. To hate a person is to write off the person. It is closing your eyes from all the good the person was in the past or could be in the future. To hate a person is reaching a conclusion about a person which is different from the way God sees the person.

No matter how bad we are or the amount of bad things we do, God never hates us. Like the prodigal Father, God continues to wait for our return and repentance. The only way we can claim to be like God is to free our hearts from any form of hatred.

St. John tells us: “He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness still... he who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

Just as one cannot walk far in the night when it is dark, we cannot go far in life with hatred in our hearts. The person you hate right now may be your saving grace tomorrow. Hatred is a sign of unforgiveness and a betrayal of our Christian faith.

In today’s Gospel passage, the baby Jesus is presented in the temple. So many people speak well about Jesus. Simeon says something to Mary about the child Jesus that a sword will pierce through her soul. This was a prophecy of the pain Mary would go through thirty-three years later when she watched her son condemned, scourged, and crucified before her eyes.

The year is coming to an end. Now, let’s face it, if you do a little retrospection, you would realize that so many persons have really hurt you this year, some of whom you are still struggling to forgive. There are those you have vowed never to forgive given the nature of their offense as well as the amount of trust you had bestowed on them before. You may have discovered in the course of this year that some of those you took as friends or business partners were worse than Judas Iscariot. There are those you have deleted their contacts and cut off ties with them; those you have sworn to revenge the hurt thy meted on you.

St. Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:26, “Do not let the sun go down on your anger.” In a similar vein, I say: “Do not enter the new year with hatred in your heart.” Even if you are not yet ready to forgive (you cannot force it), do not wish evil for the one who has hurt you, do not condemn anyone. Pray for their repentance. Pray also that God may open your eyes to see that you have also offended many knowingly and unknowingly. Pray that God may soften the hearts of those who have vowed never to forgive you for things you did or failed to do. 

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, open my heart to love as you always do. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (5th day within the octave of Christmas. Bible Study: 1 John 2:3-11, Ps. 96:1-3,5-6, Luke 2:22-35).

The Baby Jesus and the Holy Innocents

Tuesday 28th December 2021. Read 1 John 1:5-2:2, Ps. 124:2-5,7-8, Matthew 2:13-18

“Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” (Matthew 2:13)

Today we remember the Holy Innocents; the children who were slaughtered by Herod in an attempt to kill the baby, Jesus. When the wise men were being led by the star to the newly born king, they mistakenly went to the Palace assuming kings are only born in palaces. That was how Herod got to know about Jesus. He couldn’t stomach the existence of another king alive when he was still king.

There is a Herod that lives in every human being; it is called “ego”, it wants to reign, to dominate, to be worshipped by all means even to the detriment of others. The Herod in you wants to hold on to power not minding how many lives would be lost. The Herod in you is ready to eliminate, kill, and destroy others so long as it advances your self-interest.

How often have I felt so threatened by the success of others to the extent of doing all in my power to pull them down, get them out of the way, or outrightly eliminate them? What actions do I take to remain in power? As our first reading asserts, if we claim we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves but if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive our sins.

Repent. Let others shine. What belongs to you can never pass you by. Pulling others down, defaming people’s character, or blackmailing just to look good will not get you far. In the end, no matter how hard you try, you can never stop anyone from achieving their God-given potentials just as Herod could not stop Jesus.

The death of the Holy innocents casts a dark shadow on our Christmas celebration. It gives us a glimpse of the darkness that so filled the earth before Christ’s birth brought light to the world. It also gives us a glimpse of what life on earth would have been if Jesus had not brought salvation. If Jesus wasn’t born, I guess none of us would have been alive today.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, free me from the spirit of Herod. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (The Holy Innocents, Martyrs – Feast. Bible Study: 1 John 1:5-2:2, Ps. 124:2-5,7-8, Matthew 2:13-18).

St. John: The One whom Jesus Loved

Monday 27th December 2021. Read 1 John 1:1-4, Ps. 97:1-2,5-6,11-12, John 20:2-8

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life -- the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us.” (1 John 1:1-2)

Today, we are celebrating St. John the Apostle, the beloved of Jesus. John was the closest Apostle to Jesus, so close that it was to him that Jesus handed over his Mother while he was dying on the Cross.

Based on how close Jesus was to John, some of Jesus’ disciples assumed that John will live forever. In John 21:21-23, we read: “When Peter saw him (John), he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, what about this man?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If it is my will that he remains until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!’ The saying spread abroad among the brethren that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, ‘If it is my will that he remains until I come, what is that to you?’”

John had a close and personal relationship with Jesus. When he wrote his letter as contained in today’s first reading, John aimed to prove that Jesus was not simply a figment of imagination but “that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands…”

John ran faster than Peter to the tomb not because he was younger, but out of a feeling of love and devotion to a dear friend. He got there first but waited for Peter (as a mark of respect) before going in. John gave an eye-witness account of the resurrection and concluded by declaring his faith: “he saw and believed.” 

As part of our Christmas celebrations, the story of John the beloved draws us to open our hearts to love Jesus as a friend and brother. It is not enough that we eat rice and chicken to celebrate Jesus’ birth, we must also enter into personal relationships with Jesus just as John did. 

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, make me open my heart to you just like John did. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saint John, Apostle, Evangelist – Feast. Bible Study: 1 John 1:1-4, Ps. 97:1-2,5-6,11-12, John 20:2-8).

How to Make Your Family Holy

Sunday 26th December 2021. Read 1 Samuel 1:20-22,24-28, Ps. 128:1-5, Colossians 3:12-21, Luke 2:41-52

“When they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.’” (Luke 2:48)

The Christmas holiday has so far provided an opportunity for family members to gather together. As such, there is no better time other than this moment to talk about the family. Today, being the last Sunday of the year 2018 and the only Sunday within the octave of Christmas, we are celebrating the Solemnity of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Our readings today contain so many lessons we must apply to make our families great and holy.

 1. Never Leave Jesus Behind.

Mary and Joseph went with Jesus to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. When the ceremony was over, they probably got caught up with so many normal distractions that they forgot their twelve-year-old baby behind. One of the sicknesses affecting our families today is that we have left Jesus behind. When prayer becomes scarce in the family, when Jesus is not allowed to speak; when the Bible is never read or shared, things begin to fall apart. Remember that song: “When Jesus is in the family, happy happy home, happy happy home…”

 2. Children Must be Loved as GIFTS from God.

In our first reading, we read the story of Hannah who was childless and suffered ridicule as a result. It was with tears that Hannah came to the temple to pray for a child. During this season of Christmas, we saw how God made the Virgin Mary conceive, we also saw how the old Zechariah and Elizabeth had a child. What does this teach us?

One, there is nothing God cannot do. Are you currently childless, trust me, the God you serve is more than capable of blessing you when He deems fit. Let nothing dampen your faith. Two, it is not what you possess in your body that produces children. Just as God can make a virgin conceive, God can also delay conception to a perfectly healthy couple for a reason.

This implies that as parents, we must learn to see our children as gifts, not properties, persons entrusted to our care by God to whom we shall give account on the day of judgement. Children deserve to be loved. It is very sad to see parents rain curses or insults on their children, treat them as burdens or make them feel their coming to life was by mere coincidence.

3. Let Love Reign in Your Family.

Without love for one another, a family becomes a mere combination of strangers living together just because they have nowhere else to go. The uniqueness of the family is that you never get to choose the people you call family, God does that divine arrangement but too often, we act as if God made a mistake in choosing these persons for us. Your family members are your best friends, your confidants, your most trusted advisers NOT your competitors. God gave us family because he looked at the man he made and said: “It is not good for him to be alone.” Family members are companions, they support each other, sacrifice for each other, help one another to grow, they bring out the best in you. It is sad when family members try to outshine one another.

The family should never be the last resort to turn to when all else has failed, it should be the first place to turn when we desire love, warmth and a sense of direction. The mistake we often make is that we look down on our family members and begin to find love outside. Sadly, we don’t even trust our family members at times. As we saw in today’s Gospel passage, “he (Jesus) went down with them (Mary and Joseph) and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them.” Jesus was willing to follow his parents back home because of the love that existed in that family.

There are some family members who never see eye to eye. There are some families that have lost the hope of ever gathering together under one roof simply because love for one another has vanished from their hearts. Could this be the case in your family? There is hope. The work begins with you, forgive, mediate, let the past die, make the first move for reconciliation, show love and you are more likely to get love back. Become your family’s bridge-builder, peacemaker, heart mender, love designer. This may look like hard work but with God, all things are possible.

 4. Bring Family to Church and Church to Family.

Hannah fulfilled her vow to God by bringing the boy Samuel to the temple where he was to remain for the rest of his life. Yesterday, we read how Mary and Joseph brought the child Jesus to the temple for the rite of purification. Today, they bring Jesus to Jerusalem for the annual feast of Passover. Nowadays, some parents leave their children at home and come to church, some do not care about the type of clothes their children wear to church, some do not even care that their children never enter the church but hang around outside. It is very sad that Parents do not make efforts to bring their children to church for catechism classes but would be quick to blame the devil when their children eventually leave the church claiming to have seen the light elsewhere.

In truth, if we do not let our children see the light here, if we act as if religion is not important, our children will grow up without a personal relationship with God and this may just be the beginning of a life of crisis. The family is the first church. What happens in the church building is only a larger picture of what should happen in each family. They say the best time to shape a piece of clay is when it is still wet. If by our bad examples, we fail to teach God to our children, we literally set them up for destruction.

5. Let God’s Commandments Guide Your Family.

Every family has both written and unwritten codes. There are Do’s and Don’ts. Without discipline, the family falls apart. Our economy is bad, so bad that gone are the days when either parent stays home takes the job of grooming the children. Nowadays, both parents are forced to go all out and work for the money thereby leaving children to grow physically sound but morally deformed. The toughest, yet most rewarding job on earth is human formation.

Yes, the bills must be paid, the school fees must be paid but one thing that does not require money is the time you commit to building your children’s character. The bitter truth is that our schools today are nothing other than mere business centers out to make money without real concern for the integral education of the child. Hence, while the school imparts knowledge, the family must impart morality. The commandments of God must become the written codes in our family.

As our second reading today explains, our failure to keep God’s commandments puts a question mark on our claim to be children of God. It says: “All who keep his commandments abide in him and he in them.”

Conclusion: Our Families Can Be Holy Again.

No matter what may be the situation in your family right now, bear this in mind: first, there is no such thing as a perfect family out there just as there is no perfect human being. So stop comparing your family to another. Secondly, no matter how bad things are right now, you can still change them. Revive the daily family prayer, reawaken love for one another, bring family to church and church to family, apply discipline by first showing good examples. Sing: “My lifetime… my family… I give God my family….”

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, make my family holier than it is right now. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Feast of the Holy Family. Bible Study: 1 Samuel 1:20-22,24-28, Ps. 128:1-5, Colossians 3:12-21, Luke 2:41-52).

Jesus Christ: God’s Word to Humanity

Christmas Day, Saturday 25th December 2021. Read Isaiah 9:2-7, Psalm 96:1-13, Titus 2:11-14 and Luke 2:1-14

“In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son.” (Hebrews 1:1-2)

Finally, here comes the day we have all been waiting for, the one day that always stands out from all other days in the year, the birthday of Jesus Christ. There is no better way to celebrate Jesus Christ than to gather in His House to pray, to listen to Him, to sing, to dance, to worship, and very importantly, to share the Eucharistic banquet.

The book of Hebrews today tells us that in many and various ways, God spoke to our Fathers through the prophets but in these lasts, God has spoken to us by a Son. In other words, by giving us His Son Jesus Christ, God has spoken to Humanity in a rather concrete and definitive manner. As John explains in today’s Gospel passage, Jesus Christ is that Word of God that was with God in the beginning “and without him was not anything made that was made.” (John 1:3) and this Word, Jesus Christ eventually “became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth…” (John 1:14).

If by giving us Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, God spoke, the question we ask ourselves now is what was the message? What is God trying to say to us by incarnating Himself in our human flesh? 

a. I LOVE YOU. In Jesus, we can hear God saying to mankind: “I care deeply about you and I am ready to do anything for your sake.” St. John puts it very beautifully when he wrote: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17).

Christmas is such a wonderful love story. God’s own way of vocalizing “I Love You” was by giving us the greatest gift ever; the gift of His Son; Jesus Christ. It doesn’t end there; God did not give us Jesus as some pet or doll to look at, God gave us Jesus Christ to die for us. Could there be any better way of saying: “I Love You.”?

b. I AM REAL. In Jesus, God is saying to mankind: “Look at me. You can touch me, hold me, and talk to me. I am not just a figment of your imagination. I am for real.” In Jesus, God shows His Face to mankind. It is not easy to believe in the existence of a God that is invisible and seems to be so far away from our planet. Thomas doubted but he saw with his own eyes, he exclaimed: “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28). In today’s Gospel passage, St. John says: “No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.” (John 1:18).

At Christmas, God speaks to us saying: “I am not far away, I am here, I am real and I rule over the world.” This is exactly what the prophet Isaiah conveys in today’s first reading: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’” (Isaiah 52:7)

c. I AM GENTLE, HUMBLE, AND ACCESSIBLE. By choosing to come as a baby (not a warrior with an army) and by choosing to be born to poor people under poor circumstances (not in a palace of gold), and by making Himself so vulnerable (such that Joseph had to flee at night with the baby Jesus for safety from Herod), I think God was concretely saying to mankind: “Love me, don’t be so frightened about me, I am close to you.” Jesus drives home the point better when He says: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest… learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29). 

In Christmas, God is saying to us: “Come to me as you would come to a baby, I will not hurt you.” Perhaps, you cannot remember the last time you prayed. Start today. Start to talk to God again. Don’t be scared. Carry this child in your arms and talk to Him. 

Merry Christmas.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Christmas Day - Mass during the Day. Bible Study: Isaiah 52:7-10, Ps.98:1-6, Hebrews 1:1-6, John 1:1-18).

The Blessing of Thanksgiving

Friday 24th December 2021. Read 2 Samuel 7:1-5,8-12,14,16, Ps. 89:2-5,27,29, Luke 1:67-79 

“And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people.’” (Luke 1:67-68)

In our Gospel passage today, we come across a beautiful song which Zechariah sang in thanksgiving to God for the release of his speech after he had named John the Baptist. Zechariah who did not believe it was possible for him to be a father at his age had to confess that indeed there is no one like God when he saw with his own eyes the son that was born to him. 

Zechariah’s song of Thanksgiving is also known as the Benedictus. It is a song that incorporates the entire history of the chosen people of God, a song that points God out as a promise keeper, a miracle worker, a mighty warrior, a God who delivers us from the hands of our enemies, a God of righteousness and holiness. This is the song we sing every day as part of our morning prayers in the breviary. No matter what you may be going through, sing this song of Zechariah and your confidence in God will surely be reawakened.

There is an aspect of the song of Zechariah which connects us with our first reading. Zechariah declares that God has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation in the house of his servant David. Who is this David? He is that same young man whom God took from being a shepherd boy to the position of King of Israel.

David was willing to build the best of the best temple for God not because he had the resources, but out of his humility and in thanksgiving; in acknowledgment of what God had done for him (raising him from nothing to glory).

Dear friends, what matters is not what you give to God, but the very fact that you acknowledge God and your willingness to give thanks. Jesus was impressed with the widow because, rather than complain about her obvious poverty, she still joined in the thanksgiving with the little she had. God was impressed with David not because he wants to build God’s house, but because he expressed his unhappiness about the state of God’s house.

As we celebrate Christmas, let us join Zechariah to sing songs of thanksgiving to God, let us join David to express thanks to God for all that God has done for us. In whatever way we can, let us end this year not on a note of complaining but on a note of thanksgiving. Let the song of Zechariah be our chorus.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, may our mouths never be used for gossiping, complaining, and evil talk. Grant us wisdom to seal up our own lips when its contents are not in consonance with the reason why you created it. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (24 December, Bible Study: 2 Samuel 7:1-5,8-12,14,16, Ps. 89:2-5,27,29, Luke 1:67-79). 

His Name is John

Thursday 23rd December 2021. Read Malachi 3:1-4,23-24, Ps. 25, Luke 1:57-66 

“And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And they all marvelled. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.” (Luke 1:62-64)

News goes around the neighbourhood that the “barren woman” has given birth. Many who have laughed and mocked a while come to see things for themselves. What name would this child be called?

Surely, it would make sense to name him “Zechariah” after his father. Zechariah once doubted and for this, he lost his power of speech. The Angel Gabriel was quite clear: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.” (Luke 1:13).

If despair had made Zechariah doubt, would he allow pride to make him disobey? In his silence, he must have thought carefully on the choice he was about to make. In the meantime, Elizabeth his wife spoke up: “Not so; he shall be called John.” (Luke 1:60)

This was a Patriarchal society. They were going to ignore Elizabeth and hear from Zechariah himself. So they gave Zechariah a writing tablet. Note: Zechariah’s power of speech did not return once Elizabeth conceived, his speech did not return for nine whole months of pregnancy, his speech did not return upon the baby’s delivery. It was only after Zechariah wrote “His name is John” that he regained his power of speech.

What does this teach us? Perhaps, if Zechariah had chosen to disobey Angel Gabriel’s instruction, he probably would have remained dumb. Let us learn to swallow our pride and obey God’s instruction even if we do not understand.

Once he gained his power of speech again, Zechariah knew this was no ordinary child. He knew at once that this was not merely a product of his body but the work of God. He knew immediately that this child was the one spoken of by the prophet Malachi as the “messenger to prepare the way before me.” (Today’s first reading). Zechariah opened his mouth to sing a song of thanksgiving. 

There may a lot of things to complain about in your life, you may have a lot of reasons to be angry with God but remember that if you still have the power to speak, use your lips to praise God. 

Let us pray: God our Father, give us the grace to obey you more and more. Amen

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (23 December, Bible Study: Malachi 3:1-4,23-24, Ps. 25, Luke 1:57-66).