The Most Powerful Name is the Name of Jesus Christ.

Saturday 1st May 2021. Read Acts 13:44-52, Psalm 98 and John 14:7-14 

“I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14) 

In John 14:6, Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Philip could not grasp the full weight of this statement so he asked: “Lord, show us to the Father, and we shall be satisfied.” In response, Jesus said to Philip: “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me?”

The doctrine of the Trinity; three persons in one God remains to this day a mystery. There is just no way to fully explain how we serve only God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit at the same time. When we speak of Jesus Christ as Son, there is a tendency for us to make the mistake of assuming that since Jesus is Son, He must be somehow less than the Father but this is impossible as it is just One God.

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus says to us twice: “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it… if you ask anything in my name, I will do it…” In saying “I will do it,” Jesus is telling us that He is both God and mediator at the same time.

St. Paul will throw more light on this when he said: “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” (Philippians 2:9-11). This is why we end our prayers with “through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

You might ask, why not “in Jesus’ Name?” Simple answer: There are persons who answer the name “Jesus” but there is only one “Jesus Christ.” It is important that we pray “through Jesus Christ, our Lord” that it will be clear that we are praying to God the Son and not someone who may be answering the name, Jesus.

In today’s first reading, Paul meets with stiff opposition from some jealous Jews and this paved way for Paul to direct his attention to the Gentiles. A few days ago, we read of how Peter saw a trance when God symbolically told him to minister to Gentiles as well. Peter obeyed and was surprised to see that the Holy Spirit came upon the so-called as well.

Dear friends, if we who claim to know God engage in fighting ourselves as the Jews fought Paul and Barnabas, the Gospel will go to others more deserving of it.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, increase my faith in the power of your name. Amen

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday of the 4th week of Eastertide, Bible Study: Acts 13:44-52, Psalm 98 and John 14:7-14).

The Mother Of Jesus Was There

Friday 30th April 2021. Read Acts 1:12-14, Luke 1:46-55 and John 2:1-11 

“His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5)

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. The role Mary played in ensuring the miracle is one reason we often take recourse to her when we pray to God. 

First, Mary understood the problem at hand and immediately informed Jesus that “they have no wine.” In other words, “Do something.” Mary teaches us to have faith in Jesus.

Secondly, we see that Jesus has very high regard for Mary. Jesus initially protested, “My hour has not yet come” but Mary pressed further. Mary teaches us never to give up when we pray for anything.

Thirdly, when Mary had successfully convinced Jesus to help the couple, she told the servants: “Do whatever He tells you.” (John 2:5). Mary teaches us to trust and obey God

Fourthly, after the miracle, we do not hear anything from Mary. She simply remained in the background. Mary teaches us humility. She does not beat her chest or brag like some of us do.

Mary is the definition of an intercessor. If we ask human intercessors to pray for us, we should not be afraid to ask Mary to pray for us whether we are Catholics or not. Asking her intercession is not worshipping her.

Our first reading tells us that Mary was present with the Apostles in the upper room where they devoted themselves to prayer. They took her as their mother. Anyone who acknowledges that Jesus Christ is fully human and fully God knows that Mary is not just any woman; she is not an envelope God used and dumped.

In our responsorial psalm today, Mary declares: “Henceforth, all generations will call me blessed” not because she is some goddess but because “He who is mighty has done great things for me” (Luke 1:48-49). We honour Mary because God honoured her first.

Today we celebrate the fact that Mary intercedes for Africa. When Herod sought to kill the baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph took shelter in Africa. At a time when our continent is faced with the turmoil, suffering under the yoke of neo-colonialism, we need Mother Mary’s intercession more than ever.

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

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

A Servant is Not Greater Than His Master

Thursday 29th April 2021. Read Acts 13:13-25, Psalm 89 and John 13:16-20

“Servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them.” (John 13:16)

One of the temptations Jesus faced was a temptation to pride. Satan told Jesus to jump down from the pinnacle of the temple in the presence of the people so that by so doing, God would send Angels to prevent him from crashing and people would begin to revere him assuming he jumped down from heaven.

This temptation remains forever rife among ministers of God today; it is the temptation to make ourselves appear likes gods; greater than the ordinary. It is a temptation to make people believe we are closer to God and so, therefore, higher, more important, more sophisticated, more intelligent, wiser than other human beings.

Jesus teaches us in today’s Gospel passage: “a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.” (John 13:16). To get the message Jesus was passing across, we have to read the last verse of today’s Gospel passage: “Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives Me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.” (John 13:20)

In very simple terms, Jesus is saying that if we are successful in carrying out our tasks as His ministers, the glory does not belong to us but to Him who sent us. If thousands hear the message and decide to repent and begin a new life, they did not receive the preacher, rather, they received Jesus Christ, and because they have received Jesus, they received God the Father. The preacher has no right whatsoever to boast.

In our first reading today, we hear Paul preach for the first time since his conversion. The fact that Paul who once persecuted the Church could stand boldly to proclaim the faith shows that God can use anybody. We are nothing but instruments in the hands of God. We may assume we are holy, wise and honourable but God can decide to work through those whom we look down upon.

A servant can never be greater than the Master. Let us shun every form of pride. Let us avoid taking the glory during “testimony time.” It is God who has done it, we only joined the person to pray, we are not the cause of the miracle and we dare not boast about it. Jesus says: “So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” (Luke 17:10).

It is from the lips of St. Paul (in today’s first reading) that we heard how John the Baptist concluded his ministry: “What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but one is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of the sandals on his feet.” (Acts 13:25). This is the same attitude every minister must have – to allow Jesus Christ shine rather than take all the glory. Remember, pride goes before a fall but he who humbles himself will be exalted. (Cf. Proverbs 16:18, Luke 14:11, Luke 18:14)

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, instill in me the virtue of humility and service. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin, Doctor. Bible Study: Acts 13:13-25, Psalm 89 and John 13:16-20).

The Benefits of Prayer and Fasting.

Wednesday 28th April 2021. Read Acts 12:24-13:5, Psalm 67 and John 12:44-50 

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” (Acts 13:2)

It was at Antioch that persons were for the first time called Christians. In today’s first reading, we hear more about this model Christian community at Antioch. It was not just a gathering of persons who behaved so much like Christ, but it was also a gifted community; a community of prophets and teachers. Above all, it was a prayerful community. 

Indeed, prayer is the key. Without prayer, we are powerless. Without prayer, we are deaf we cannot hear from God, without prayer we are blind we cannot see the hand of God in our lives, without prayer we are dumb we cannot speak blessings over our lives. As Jesus would say: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” (John 15:4)

As we can see from the experience of the Church in Antioch, fasting is an essential component of prayer. Prayer and fasting should go together. When we fast, we discipline the body. St. Paul would advise us: “Walk by the Spirit and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit… these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would.” (Galatians 5:16-17). 

Fasting helps in developing self-discipline. As St. Paul would say: “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable… I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:25-27).

By fasting and praying, we dispose ourselves to hear clearly from God. In Luke chapter 2, we encounter Anna, the prophetess, who never left the temple worshipping with fasting and prayer night and day. She was able to identify the child Jesus as the Messiah and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

This was exactly what happened in the Church in Antioch. While they were praying and fasting, they heard the voice of the Holy Spirit saying: “Set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work I have called them.” When we are devoted to God, we hear from Him like light shining in a dark place. In our Gospel passage today, Jesus says to us: “I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” (John 12:46).

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, teach me to discipline myself so as to hear more and more from you daily. Amen

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Wednesday of the 4th week of Eastertide. Bible Study: Acts 12:24-13:5, Psalm 67 and John 12:44-50). 

Whose Sheep Am I? Whose Voice Do I Listen to? Who Do I Follow?

Monday 26th April 2021. Read Acts 11:19-26, Psalm 87 and John 10:22-30

“My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27) 

Once upon a time, I was taking a walk along my street and I noticed a herd of cattle being led by some herdsmen approaching. The cows had taken over the entire street. I looked around and could not find any grass around nor any busy area and I kept wondering why these cows in their large numbers were out in such a busy street.

As they cows were getting closer, I became even more alert, for fear that the cows might get too close to me and the fact that herdsmen could be armed. As the cows passed by where I was, I noticed something strange that left me dumbfounded. One of the herders was literally talking to the cows and as he spoke, the cow in question nodded its head and moved in the very direction the herder ordered. I was amazed. Looking at the cow, it didn’t look like “meat” to me anymore. It seemed human.

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus says: “My sheep hears my voice and they follow me … they shall never perish, no one can snatch them out of my hand.” If a cow can understand the language of its herder and obey his voice, I wonder why it is so difficult for us full-blooded humans to listen to the voice of our shepherd, Jesus, and obey His voice. I wonder why we often consider the instructions of Jesus as burdensome.

The truth is contained in Jesus’ statement: “My sheep hears my voice and they follow me.” It is not everyone who goes to Church that is a sheep of Jesus. The sheep of Jesus are only those who have developed a close relationship with Jesus; those who hear His Voice; those who follow Him without giving excuses. There are many today who call themselves Christians but are not part of the sheepfold of Christ.

After that experience that day, I began to understand why herdsmen do not eat cow meat. I noticed the close connection (friendship) between the herdsmen and the cows; each herder knew his cows. Do you have such a relationship with Jesus?

If we are truly the sheep of Christ, we would be excited whenever we are called to join in prayers or whenever we open our Bibles to read because these are opportunities to hear the voice of our shepherd. Just as we long to hear the voice of one with whom we are in love so we shall long to hear the voice of Christ. If we are truly the sheep of Christ, our role models would not be rich and famous celebrities whose moral lives are nothing to write home about.

Our first reading today states that it was at Antioch (a gentile community) that the disciples were first called Christians. This is a fact we must never forget: that before we got the title “Christian” we are simply “disciples”. The word ‘Christian’ today has come to mean “one who attends church” instead of its original meaning as “one who is a disciple, that is, a follower of Christ.” 

Truth be told, many of us are not following Christ but we follow those we consider to be “men of God” and are more loyal to them than to Christ. We are more scared of offending the “man of God” than of offending Jesus Christ.

If we are truly followers of Jesus Christ, then we need not live in fear because as Jesus said: “My sheep hears my voice and they follow me … they shall never perish, no one can snatch them out of my hand.” We can never perish and no one can snatch us out of Jesus’ hands.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, open my ears to hear your voice and strengthen my will to follow your steps as your sheep. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Tuesday of the 4th week of Eastertide. Bible Study: Acts 11:19-26, Psalm 87 and John 10:22-30).

Am I a Shepherd or a Thief?

Monday 26th April 2021. Read Acts 11:1-18, Psalm 41, and John 10:1-10 

“The the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” (John 10:10)

Wherever animals are kept, there are always two likely categories of visitors; shepherds or thieves. A shepherd feeds the sheep, provides pasture and warmth for them, and develops a personal relationship with them; that is, he gets to know the sheep by name. 

However the thief conscious of his intention does not enter by the door, he is a stranger to the sheep, and he comes pretending to care for them but all he does is to steal, kill and destroy.

We are either shepherds or thieves. It is either we are after the wellbeing of those under us or after our own pockets. The shepherd is genuinely concerned about the welfare of the sheep but the thief only thinks of what he hopes to gain from the sheep.

In the end, the thief ends up stealing, killing, and destroying the sheep. This is what happens when persons in positions of authority misuse their power. The saying goes, power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Jesus mentioned that the thief never enters by the gate but jumps through the fence. This represents the dubious things we do just to get into positions of leadership such as electoral malpractices, joining secret societies, bribing, stealing, or even killing our fellow human beings.

The thief operates by the principle of divide and rule. The thief thrives by creating division and sowing seeds of hatred and ethnic rivalry among the sheep On the other hand, a true shepherd does not discriminate between sheep. He carries everyone along.

This was the experience of Peter in the first reading today. In a vision, he was made to understand that the mission of evangelization was never intended to be limited only to the traditional Jews but the Gentiles as well. Before God, all men are equal and a good shepherd knows this.

St. Paul would later add in Galatians 3:27-29 “As many of you as were baptized into Christ has clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.”

What kind of leader am I? Do I know my sheep by name? Am I concerned about their welfare or is leadership just a job for me (an opportunity for self-aggrandizement)? Do I show favouritism to a section of my sheep?

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, shepherd of my soul, give me a heart that welcomes rather than discriminates my fellow sheep. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Monday of the 4th week of Eastertide. Bible Study: Acts 11:1-18, Psalm 41 and John 10:1-10).

Follow Jesus the Good Shepherd; Avoid Hirelings

Sunday 25th April 2021. Read Acts 4:8-12, Psalm 118, 1st John 3:1-2 and John 10:11-18 

“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in mortals. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.’” (Psalm 118:8-9)

Christianity in our land has become polluted by the influx of questionable characters claiming to be “men of God” whereas, in truth, they are nothing other than “men of the devil.” Due to the quest for economic prosperity and instant miracles, devil worshippers today hide under the guise of “church” to tap into the gullibility of the poor and suffering populace.

As though speaking of the Christians of our day and time, God said to Hosea “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” (Hosea 4:6). Indeed, it can be said that the Christian faith as practiced today may just be responsible for the multifaceted social, moral, and economic crises in our society.

Before anyone can run a hospital (practice medicine, treat patients, perform surgeries etc.), he or she must have passed the requisite training and obtained a need a license from relevant authorities. The same goes for the Law profession, the teaching profession, the engineering profession, and so on. However, when it comes to Christianity, it appears to be a free-for-all situation. Wherever there are no regulations, there are bound to be abuses and these abuses tend to rob off on the genuine ones.

We have not only been very bad shepherds ourselves, we have also failed woefully to regulate the activities of these charlatans who open churches like the way people open beer parlours. Our silence and inaction at the excesses of these hirelings make us accomplices of their evils. I cannot blame anyone who has made up his or her mind not to have anything to do with Christianity anymore.

For many, Christianity has lost its taste and if we do not retrace our steps, we shall be trampled underfoot. The question is, where do we begin from? On this fourth Sunday of Easter, being Good Shepherd Sunday, our readings provide adequate answers to this question.

1. Stop Following “Man of God”, Start Following Jesus Christ.

Today’s Christians are like the people of Lystra. Paul and Barnabas went to their town to preach about Jesus Christ. Acts 14:8-15 reads: “In Lystra, there was a man sitting who could not use his feet and had never walked, for he had been crippled from birth. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. And Paul, looking at him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said in a loud voice, ‘Stand upright on your feet.’ And the man sprang up and began to walk.”

Verse 11 reads: “When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, ‘The gods have come down to us in human form!’ Barnabas, they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. (These people considered Paul and Barnabas as gods just as today’s so-called Christians do. We scarcely believe in Jesus Christ but we flock around miracle workers and healers. We are so moved by their “powers” that we give them titles and nicknames. By our behaviour, we literally empower them and make them popular; we even wear their pictures on our necks as scapulars and we are ready to fight anyone who dares to speak of them as mere humans).

Verse 13 reads: “The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates; he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifice. When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, ‘Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.”

Do you notice the reaction of Paul and Barnabas as they were being worshipped by the unbelievers? Now, can you compare it with our so-called powerful men of God today whose pictures parade their church signboards, who go on social media to announce and broadcast their greatness? The easiest way to know a true shepherd from a mere hireling is their level of humility; that is, their willingness to direct attention to God rather than to themselves. When the man of God begins to beat his chest and speak as though he is more powerful than Jesus Christ, please run for your lives.

Our Psalmist today says: “it is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.” Children of God, it is better to worship God than to worship the man of God.

2. Run Away From Hirelings Who Cannot Sacrifice for their Sheep

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd and He immediately qualifies what He means by goodness. “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Jesus further clarifies that there are hirelings who pretend to be shepherds but as soon as they notice the wolf coming, they would flee, they do not care about the welfare of the sheep because they are simply hirelings; farm workers – the sheep do not belong to them, they are only being paid to look after the sheep.

To know if someone is a true shepherd or a mere hireling, you should ask: “what sacrifice is he or she making for my sake?” or “what sacrifice would he or she be willing to make for me?” On a good day, will my priest (pastor, evangelist, prophet etc.) be willing to lay down his life for my sake? Will he even pick up his phone when I am in trouble?

Hirelings are everywhere running churches today; their primary concern is their pocket, they even compete among themselves with luxurious mansions, cars, private jets, gold and silver, designer clothes, just name it. They brag like there is no tomorrow. They use convoys and employ military officers to guard them and give an air of superiority over their flock. It is all about their comfort, not your salvation.

3. Church is Not a Solution Centre; it is the House of Worship.

At the beginning of this reflection, I noted: “Due to the quest for economic prosperity and instant miracles, devil worshippers today hide under the guise of ‘church’ to tap into the gullibility of the poor and suffering populace.”

Who told us that it is by coming to church that we can make instant miraculous riches without having to work? Who told us that babies are created in the church or that life partners are found in the church? Who told us that it is when we come to church that we can get automatic job opportunities even without submitting our C.V or that we can pass examinations without having to read? Who told us that when we are sick, we should not go to the hospital or take drugs? Who told us that holy water or anointing oil can take the place of personal hygiene and common sense?

The truth is that these abuses we find today occur because men of God have found themselves under the pressure to perform. We pastors have told the people that we can do it all but the truth is that we cannot! God has given us powers to work miracles but God did not nullify the powers He gave to medical doctors to cure diseases and illness nor the powers He gave to farmers to plant and grow crops (this applies to all other professions).

St. John in today’s second reading tells us: “We are God’s children… the reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him…” Have you forgotten that you do not belong to this world? Do you see the damage that has been done to us with to the Gospel of prosperity; Christians today are so worldly-minded that it is now from the pulpit they learn about business and investing, it is from the pulpit they know about the richest people on earth. We hear principles of financial success and no one is talking about principles of avoiding laziness, lust, marital infidelity, stealing, lying, and so on.

Conclusion: Don’t Throw out the Baby with the Bath Water.

Our first reading today presents a classic scenario of how bad shepherds (hirelings) could become so intermingled with good shepherds that it may be very hard to distinguish between the both.

Peter and John had gone to the beautiful gate to pray and there they noticed a man who was cripple begging for alms. Peter felt in him power to cure this man because as a good shepherd Peter was truly concerned about the welfare of the cripple. This very action of Peter became the reason for the religious authorities to persecute him. In fact, it even landed Peter and John in prison. Later on, they were brought before the council, flogged and warned never to preach in the name of Christ again.

It is not the case that there are no good shepherds among our pastors. The truth is that the good ones are most persecuted and if you dare to be good, you are not going to have many friends. Our world does not like good people but never stop being good. Wherever you notice darkness, just shine your light. Go to Church to worship God, not the man of God.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, my shepherd, work in me and through me to shepherd those under my care. Amen

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (4th Sunday of Easter. Bible Study: Acts 4:8-12, Psalm 118, 1st John 3:1-2 and John 10:11-18).

Lord, To Whom Shall We Go?

Saturday 24th April 2021. Read Acts 9:31-42, Psalm 116 and John 6:60-69

“When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’… Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Do you also wish to go away?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go?’” (John 6:60, 66-68) 

The words of Peter in today’s Gospel passage calls for some deep reflection. When it comes to God, do we really have a choice? Is there an alternative to God? Where else can we find salvation for our souls? Dear friends, if we cannot find happiness following the footsteps of God, where else can we turn to? 

The people walked away from Jesus and stopped following him because he told them he was going to give them his own flesh and blood. Like those who walked away from Jesus, there are many times we walk away from God when our expectations are not met. How? We stop taking prayers seriously, we become less fervent with our devotional activities, or we turn aside from following our conscience.

Dear friends, no matter the reason why we may want to turn our backs on God, the truth is that THERE IS JUST NO ALTERNATIVE. St. Augustine said: “You have made us for yourself O God and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” We are made by God and made of God and made for God. Following God is not easy but it is the best option we have.

Do you notice that the same Peter who spoke in today’s Gospel passage is the one we see in today’s first reading working miracles in the name of God? Imagine if Peter had walked away from Jesus during that moment of shock when Jesus said they would eat his flesh?

We cannot always understand God, yet God deserves all our trust. Don’t quit on God. Don’t give up your prayers. Don’t drop that cross. It may look like Good Friday now but your Easter Sunday will come. No matter how dark the night is, the daylight must surely come.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, please give me the courage to remain when I feel like giving up on you or quitting the race. Amen

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday of the 3rd week of Eastertide. Bible Study: Acts 9:31-42, Psalm 116 and John 6:60-69). 

Hear These Words And Have Faith For “He” Lives In You.

Friday 23rd April 2021. Read Acts 9:1-20, Psalm 117 and John 6:52-59 

“Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” (John 6:56) 

While going through our readings for today, I couldn’t help but remember the lyrics of one song from my favourite cartoon movie (The Lion King). It was a song by Diana Ross titled: “He lives in you.” 

Night and the spirit of life calling

Oh, oh, iyo mamela oh, oh, iyo

And the voice with the fear of a child answers

Oh, oh, iyo iyo mamela

Wait! There's no mountain too great

Hear these words and have faith

Oh, oh, iyo

Have faith

Hela hey mamela, hela hey mamela

Hela hey mamela, hela hey mamela

 

He lives in you, he lives in me (hela hey mamela)

He watches over everything we see

Into the waters, into the truth

In your reflection, he lives in you

In today’s Gospel passage Jesus tells us: “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” In other words, when we eat the body and drink the blood of Jesus in Holy Communion, we become a part of Jesus and He lives in us.

To apply the words of Diana Ross, Jesus lives in you so you need not fear nor worry over anything. Jesus who lives in you watches over everything. There is no mountain too great, nor height too high for Jesus. Just have faith: feel His presence inside you.

When Saul was on his way to persecute the Christians in Damascus, he didn’t realise that it was Christ he was persecuting; he didn’t know that Jesus lives inside those who eat His flesh and drink His blood. Saul was struck down with a bright light from heaven which blinded him. Jesus asked him a very passionate question: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

This episode is a solemn reminder to us Christians that God is never far from us his children. He sees, feels and understand whatever we are going through and He knows how to fight for His children. It is a confirmation that when we receive Jesus in Holy Communion, we are no longer ordinary human beings but God-carriers. 

To abide in Jesus and have Jesus abide in you is the greatest wealth and the strongest protection anyone can ever have. Since no one can fight Jesus, no one can fight him who receives eats His flesh and drink His blood.

For those who do not eat the flesh and drink the blood of Jesus, they are missing so much. As Jesus puts it, they do not even have life in them; they are walking-dead. “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” (John 6:53).

What is stopping you from receiving Jesus today? The more you stay away from Holy Communion, the weaker you become not just spiritually but even physically.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, may I always be conscious that you live in me. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Friday of the 3rd week of Eastertide. Bible Study: Acts 9:1-20, Psalm 117 and John 6:52-59).

When the Student is Ready, the Teacher Appears.

Thursday 22nd April 2021. Read Acts 8:26-40, Psalm 66 and John 6:44-51 

“He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over to this chariot and join it.’” (Acts 8:27-29) 

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus says: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him…” (John 6:44). That means it is God who draws us to Himself. In the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch, we see this play out perfectly; God had already prepared the heart of the Ethiopian Eunuch to receive the Good News. God also drew Philip to his chariot to explain more details and offer him the sacrament of baptism. 

It wasn’t just by coincidence that Philip met the Ethiopian Eunuch. There was a divine hand at work. It is not by coincidence that you are Christian today, neither is it by coincidence that you are reading this right now. God is the Master planner who never stops drawing us to himself in our day to day activities.

All we have to do is to say “Yes” to God like the Ethiopian Eunuch who gladly accepted Philip into his chariot. In fact, his “Yes” to God began with his decision to read the Bible that day. The Ethiopian Eunuch was ready for God and God actually showed up. Truly, when the student is ready, the teacher appears.

The question is: “Am I really ready for God?” In other words, am I ready to get closer to God more than ever before? Am I willing to break free from my addictions and old ways? Like the Ethiopian Eunuch, have I decided from this day to start flipping through the pages of the Bible? Do I even have a Bible plan? And when I read, do I ask God for understanding? Dear friends, if we are ready for God, God will immediately be ready us. All we have to do is to open the door because he is standing at the door of our hearts knocking. (Revelations 3:20)

Finally, in today’s Gospel passage, Jesus drops a bombshell by reveal to the crowd in clear terms that He himself is the bread that comes down from heaven; that for us to have life, we must eat His flesh and drink His blood. Jesus did not say: “it is like my flesh” nor “symbolic of my flesh.” No, Jesus meant in unequivocal terms that he was going to give us His very flesh to eat and His blood to drink.

Furthermore, Jesus adds that anyone who eats his flesh will never die. “This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (John 6:50-51). Do you believe that by eating the flesh of Jesus and drinking His blood, you will live forever? Do you still believe that it is Jesus’ flesh and blood you receive in Holy Communion?

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, I am ready; come fill my heart and draw me closer to you. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Thursday of the 3rd week of Eastertide. Bible Study: Acts 8:26-40, Psalm 66 and John 6:44-51).

Have Faith in God; Don’t Give Up.

Wednesday 21st April 2021. Read Acts 8:1-8, Psalm 66 and John 6:35-40 

“That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria.” (Acts 8:1) 

Some time ago, someone asked me a question: “When you pray very hard for something with deep faith and trust in God and yet, God does not answer you, what should you do?” As I raised my head, I saw the Crucifix hanging on the wall and I immediately remembered that the Bible is filled with stories of persons who prayed and God did not grant their prayers. One of them was Jesus Christ.

Our first reading today begins by telling us how great persecution arose against the church following the death of Stephen. These Christians must have prayed very hard, but their prayers did not stop the Roman swords from slicing their throats. 

God did not prevent their deaths but as we see, what began on a sad note ended on a very joyful note. Consider the last line of our first reading: “So there was much joy in that city.” (Acts 8:8).

God doesn’t always answer prayer but He sure knows how to write straight on very crooked lines. This is why God deserves our complete trust. He may not give us exactly what we want but in the end, we realize that even those events or circumstances we labelled as negative ultimately turn out for our good.

But for the persecution, Philip might not have left Jerusalem. Maybe he would not have known he had the gifts of preaching and healing to work great signs. Like food that has to be cooked, I believe God allows hardship and crisis in our lives to cook us so that our true value comes out.

Jesus categorically stated that following Him entails carrying a cross: “You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death; you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance, you will gain your lives.” (Luke 21:16-19).

When we juxtapose both our first reading and our Gospel passage together, this is the picture we get: Trials and hard times would surely come our way as long as we continue to serve God, we may even lose our lives due to such trials but even if we die, Jesus will raise us up on the last day.

Jesus assures us today: “This is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:40).

Like an athlete running with the pole to take the high jump, we must trust God completely even in very difficult moments knowing that when we go up so high to jump, a very soft landing awaits us.  Endure! “Sorrow may last in the night but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, save me from all forms of discouragement and despair. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Wednesday of the 3rd week of Eastertide. Bible Study: Acts 8:1-8, Psalm 66 and John 6:35-40).