Celebrating Mary, Mother of God

Sunday 1st January 2023. 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 is the octave of Christmas. That is, it is exactly eight days ago that we celebrated the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ. In truth, we are celebrating so many things at the same time today. First, we are celebrating the naming ceremony of Jesus Christ which took place exactly eight days after he was born as our Gospel passage this morning tells us. (Luke 2:21).

Secondly, we are celebrating Mary as the mother of God. In Jewish culture, the eighth day after the birth of a child is also the day to celebrate (acknowledge, thank, rejoice with) the mother of the child. The undeniable truth that Mary is not just an envelope that God used and dumped is what St. Paul asserts in today’s second reading.

Thirdly, we are celebrating a new calendar year. This third point tends to take up more attention because of the sheer euphoria of a fresh start. As the saying goes that the morning shows the day, it is believed that the first day of the year determines what would become of that year. Coincidentally, our first reading today contains blessings for us for the new year.

Fourthly, we are celebrating World Day of Peace. Today is a day for us to reflect on our commitment to ending wars around us whether on the micro or macro level. It is a day for us to examine how well we have been living as our brothers’ keepers.

Let us now consider in detail our lessons for today.

1. Why the name Jesus?

What is in a name? Why is it important to give people as well as objects names? Upon creating man, one of the first assignments God gave to man was to give names to everything He had created. Genesis 2:19-20 reads: “So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field…”

Naming points out the truth that we are not all the same. No two persons are the same; not even identical twins. Each of us has a unique story; each of us has a unique purpose in life and somehow, our names tend to reveal this purpose. Joseph and Mary would have had a hard time selecting the most appropriate name for this special child but the Angel Gabriel already revealed to Joseph in a dream: “She will bear a son, and YOU ARE TO NAME HIM JESUS, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21).

Meanwhile, according to Luke, even before the Angel Gabriel appeared to Joseph in a dream, he appeared also to Mary saying: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and YOU WILL NAME HIM JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom, there will be no end.” (Luke 1:30-33)

By giving the name “Jesus” to this special child, born not of the flesh but of the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary and Joseph proved themselves obedient to the voice of God. Not only does the name Jesus identify Him, but it also spells out His purpose on earth – the savior of mankind and the everlasting king. Dear friends, let us take some moments to ask ourselves two questions right now: “What does my name say about me?” and “What efforts am I making to live out the meaning of my name?”

2. How can God have a mother?

Recently, I saw the picture of a book with the title: “The Scandal of the Incarnation: Irenaeus Against the Heretics”. Even though I didn’t lay my hands on the book itself, the title alone was enough food for thought. How is the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ a scandal? What is scandalous about God taking our human flesh? It is the fact that God who created us could condescend so low as to become one of us and not just that, it means that God also condescended so low as to make one of us His mother. This is why the incarnation is a scandal; it is unbelievable yet true.

To celebrate Christmas is to agree that God was born a man, but then, to agree that God was born a man is to also agree that at the incarnation, God elevated a woman to the position of becoming His own mother. While it is easy for us to believe and accept the mystery of God taking human flesh, it is not so easy for us to believe and accept the mystery of Mary taking the exalted title of ‘Mother of God.’

For many Christians today, the very sentence: “Mary is the mother of God” is blasphemous, it is an insult, and it is like reducing God – humanizing God. Saying that Mary is the mother of God is, for them, giving too much praise and honor to Mary; making her look like some kind of idol dragging prominence with God. However, the simple truth is that today we are only celebrating the deeper meaning of what we already celebrated on Christmas day.

The only way we can deny Mary’s position as the mother of God is by denying the incarnation. That is to say, the only way we can prove that Mary is not God’s mother is to prove that Jesus never took flesh in her womb. To say Mary is not the mother of God is to say that what she carried in her womb for nine months is not God. But who are we to say that Jesus is not God?

To anyone who defines Mary as an envelope that God only used, I have a question for you: “Can you say the woman who bore you was just an envelope?” In other words, did she cease to be your mother after giving birth to you? Even after a million years from now, will she ever stop being your mother? We just can’t take away the glory that God himself bestowed upon this woman yet, she remains a creature of God. 

Despite being His Mother, Mary is not greater than God. She does not control or command God as our human mothers can do but as she herself said in the magnificent: “From now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me. (Luke 1:48-49)

3. Why did God choose to have a Mother?

In today’s second reading, St. Paul tells us: “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). Our adoption as sons and daughters of God rests on the fact that God was born of a woman.

God could have decided to come in another way without but because He wanted us to have a physical flesh-and-blood connection with Him, He took flesh in the womb of a woman. This is to say, God became a son of man so that man can truly become the son of God. God chose to have a mother to show us how close He is to us. God wants us to have that feeling of warmth in His presence to see ourselves not just as slaves but as His children.

St. Paul says: “You are not slaves anymore but heirs of God.” There is a whole world of difference between a slave and an heir. The slave wants to be free from the Master but the child knows that all that the Master has belongs to him. Some Christians today relate to God as slaves; they want to be free from God – that is, they want God to just settle them so they can bounce. Their mentality is “give me, give me, give me” and once they get it, they begin to live as if there is no God.

Dear friend, you are a child of God, stop being so concerned about what you can get from God; love God instead. Love God even if you don’t get what you ask for; after all, everything that belongs to God is yours. Love God even if you are blessed. Let your light shine.

4. The humility and Silence of Joseph and Mary.

In today’s Gospel passage, Luke describes how Mary and Joseph were visited by the shepherds just moments after Jesus was born. The shepherds told them what the Angels said confirming the dreams that Joseph had and the apparition of Angel Gabriel to Mary. I tried to put myself in the shoes of Mary and Joseph at this point and I wonder how they were able to contain their excitement and wonder. They knew that they were now carrying God in their arms yet, they did not go about announcing themselves to the world. Mary and Joseph were not loud and this is something we must learn.

Luke (having interviewed Mary before writing his Gospel) tells us that Mary “treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.” Our world is gradually losing a sense of silence. We make a lot of mistakes today because we hardly reflect. We surround ourselves with a lot of noise all day in the name of entertainment, and we never give ourselves a quiet space to meditate on what God is doing for us at the moment. St. James would say: “You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak.” (James 1:19)

If God has blessed you, learn to be quiet. Learn from Mary to treasure things in your heart. Yes, you have to thank God but there is no need to make everyone else feel little around you. Blessings come with responsibilities. It is one thing to carry God as a child but another thing to be able to raise that child not to become wayward, another thing to protect that child. Who would have believed that only a few days after this, Mary and Joseph would find themselves running like fugitives from Israel? On the other hand, even if God has not blessed you learn to be quiet as well. There is power in silence. 

5. Happy New Year to You

Congratulations, you are one of those who made it into 2023. To God be the glory. 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. 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.

Finally, let us join our psalmist today to pray: “O God be gracious and bless us.” It is good to receive powerful prophetic utterances on this first day of the New Year but today should not be your last day of stepping your feet into the church this year. The blessings you receive today are not different from the blessings of every other day. Jesus taught us to pray for our daily bread – not our yearly bread. That is to say, Jesus wants us to pray every day. Continue to pray, don’t stop.

Let me be honest, I did not receive any vision about 2023 and I can not tell who will be our next president or whether or not there would be elections but all I know is that Jesus said we should pray with faith and whatever we ask God in his name, we would get. So I pray the words of our psalmist and in faith, I trust that God would be gracious to us, that He would not let us see calamity or destruction; that 2023 will be better than 2022. Amen.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, may this New Year be my best. Through Christ our Lord. 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).

 Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

Am I For Christ Or Anti-Christ?

Saturday 31st December 2022. Read 1 John 2:18-21, Ps. 96:1-2,11-13, John 1:1-18

“As you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. From this, we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us.” (1 John 2:18-19)

Whenever the word “Antichrist” is mentioned, our minds tend to go directly to the devil but a better understanding of that word is in the context it appears in today’s first reading. The antichrist is not necessarily the devil himself but anyone who claims to profess faith in Christ yet brings about division and distortion of the truth among Christians.

According to John, “So many antichrists have come; therefore, we know that it is the last hour.  They 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…. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and know that no lie is of the truth.” (1 John 2:18-21). 

From what John says, it is either we are Pro-Christ or Anti-Christ. We cannot be both at the same time. It is either we are promoting Christ in our life or we are giving the wrong message about Christ to the world. In Christ, there is no division, anyone who is championing division in the Church is not for Christ.

Six days ago, we celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ into the human race. Why was Jesus born among us? To bring us life and this life is the light and this light entails that we live above sin in a world that has been so crippled by darkness.

If we call ourselves Christians, then our lives ought to shine like bright stars in the world, that is, there has to be a difference in our pattern of life. However, from the way many Christians live today, from the way they pretend to be in the light while full of darkness inside, we can only conclude that there are more Antichrists in the church than there are true Christians.

Jesus himself told us that it is by their fruits that we would know the antichrists. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits… “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:15-21). 

John says in our Gospel passage: “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. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave the power to become children of God.” (John 1:9-12).

Have I fully received Christ? Am I a wolf in sheep's clothing? Do I outwardly claim to be for Christ yet act against him in private? And finally, as a child of God, what are my New Year's resolutions? 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing me to the end of the year, may my life be a reflection of your love. Through Christ our Lord. 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)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

Family is the First Church

Friday 30th December 2022. Read Eccles. 3:2-6,12-14, Ps. 128:1-5, Matthew 2:13-15,19-23 

“And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt have I called my son.’” (Matthew 2:14-15).

Today we are celebrating the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Today, we celebrate the fact that God took flesh and lived within a human family. In today’s Gospel passage, Joseph, acting on information received in a dream woke Mary at night and in obedience, she picked up the baby and a few of their belongings and they fled to Egypt. There is no such thing as a perfect family; there is no family without its own challenges and difficulties.

So, the question is: How do we make our families like that of Jesus, Mary and Joseph regardless of our challenges? In other words, what are the secrets of the Holy Family? 

1. Respect for Parents.

When we honour (respect and obey) our parents and make them happy, there are several blessings we receive. _a. Forgiveness of Sins:_ “Whoever honours his father atones for sins.” (Sirach 3:3) “For kindness to a father will not be forgotten, and against your sins, it will be credited to you… as frost in fair weather, your sins will melt away.” (Sirach 3:14-15) _b. Riches and Prosperity in Life:_ “Whoever glorifies his mother is like one who lays up treasure. (Sirach 3:4) _c. Fruit of the Womb:_ “Whoever honours his father will be gladdened by his own children. (Sirach 3:5) _d. Answers to Prayers:_ “When he prays he will be heard. (Sirach 3:5) _e. Long Life:_ “Whoever glorifies his father will have a long life.” (Sirach 3:6) 

2. Cherish Parents when they are old.

Old age ordinarily is a blessing, we all pray to live old. But how we enjoy old age depends on our children, if they abandon us, old age becomes hard. Don’t grieve your parents when they are old as Sirach says: “O son, help your father in his old age, and do not grieve him as long as he lives; even if he is lacking in understanding, show forbearance; in all your strength do not despise him.” (Sirach 3:12-13) 

3. Fear of God.

When you fear God, this is what will happen in your family: “You shall eat the fruit of the labour of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.” (Psalm 128:2-3). 

4. Forgive One Another.

Without forgiveness, there cannot be a holy family. Recall how Jesus stayed behind in the temple at age twelve, causing Mary and Joseph so much grief and extra stress in making the two-day journey to search for him? It is true that the Bible says “Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.” (Proverbs 23:13) It is also true that sometimes forgiveness works more magic than the rod. 

Forgiveness also applies to husbands and wives. It is not possible that husband and wife will not offend each other. If your love is to last, you must forgive one another repeatedly; seventy-seven times seven times. As St. Paul says: “Forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you.” (Colossians 3:13) 

Conclusion

Achieving a Holy Family is not a matter of luck, it is hard work. Everyone has a role to play. A family that prays together stays together. Pray as if everything depends on God but work as if everything depends on you. 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, sanctify our families, repair broken homes, bring us joy and peace, heal our wounds and help us to love one another as you have loved us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (The Holy Family – Feast. Bible Study: Eccles. 3:2-6,12-14, Ps. 128:1-5, Matthew 2:13-15,19-23)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

Hatred is Blindness

Thursday 29th December 2022. Read 1 John 2:3-11, Ps. 96:1-3,5-6, Luke 2:22-35 

“Whoever says, ‘I am in the light,’ while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness.” (1 John 2:9)

Hatred is often considered a natural response to our enemies – people who offend us, harm us or act as obstacles to our well-being and progress in life. Hatred begins with anger which then festers into a feeling of pain. When anger is never quelled and the bitterness it evokes is left unforgiven, the result is hatred. 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 to reach a conclusion about a person which is different from the way God sees the person.

No matter how bad we are or the number 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.

Is there someone you hate? Hold on to his or her image and allow these words to ring a bell in your heart: “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. This world is a small place, smaller than you can even imagine.

Hatred is a sign of unforgiveness and a betrayal of our Christianity because as John says in today’s first reading: “He who says “I know him” but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him... By this we may be sure that we are in him: he who says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

What did Jesus command? To love our enemies. How did Jesus walk? He forgave his killers right on the cross. How are we to know we are in Christ Jesus? By loving and forgiving others.

In today’s Gospel passage, the baby Jesus is presented in the temple. So many people speak well of 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.

Despite all that happened, Mary found space in her heart to forgive hence her many apparitions to mankind. Imagine a world where no one ever forgives and each person is carrying hatred about and I give you a picture of hell fire. Love, don't hate.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, open my heart to love my neighbor as myself. Through Christ our Lord. 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)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

The Baby Jesus and the Holy Innocents

Wednesday 28th December 2022. Read 1 John 1:5-2:2, Ps. 124:2-5,7-8, Matthew 2:13-18 

“Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled because they are no more.’” (Matthew 2:17-18)

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 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.

Herod instructed the wise men to find out about the child and return news to him so that he too could go and do the child homage. This was a trick. He wanted by all means to eliminate the child. As God would have it, Herod realized that his trick failed when after two whole years the wise men never returned. In a rage, Herod commanded the killing of all the male children two years old and younger. Herod did this as an act of war; an attempt to protect his kingship. What Herod never realized was that Jesus was not an earthly king interested in worldly power.

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 makes advances your self-interest. The Herod in you, for instance, supports abortion and is ready to kill others just to avoid the shame of the public. The Herod in you does not care about others.

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? If we were to be very sincere with ourselves, we are guilty of even worse crimes than Herod himself on a daily basis. 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 potential 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.

As to why God allowed these children to die instead of giving Herod a knock, we do not know, we cannot question God’s ways. All we know is that we serve a God who will always protect us by warning us ahead of danger just as He did by sending an Angel to warn Joseph. 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, free me from the spirit of Herod. Through Christ our Lord. 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)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

St. John: The One whom Jesus Loved

Tuesday 27th December 2022. Read 1 John 1:1-4, Ps. 97:1-2,5-6,11-12, John 20:2-8

“So, she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’” (John 20:2)*

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. The life of St. John the Apostle speaks a compelling truth: that Jesus Christ took our human flesh; that He grew up like us; that He had close friends; that He loved real people, and had human feelings.

Was it necessary for Jesus to have had a best friend? Wasn’t he supposed to love everybody equally? Our human experience already shows us that no matter how we try to love everyone, there would always be some very dear ones. John was that special one. Everyone knew how close John was to Jesus. As our Gospel passage tells us, it was John that Peter asked about who was to betray Jesus. Jesus confided in John saying that his betrayer was the one to whom He gave the bread dipped in wine. (John 13:23-26).

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 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.”

Now, where do all these lead to? 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 a personal relationship with Jesus just as John did. 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, make me open my heart to you just like John did. Through Christ our Lord. 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)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

What St. Stephen teaches us About Christmas

Monday 26th December, 2022. Read Acts 6:8-10,7:54-59, Ps. 31:3-4,6,8,16-17, Matthew 10:17-22

“But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” (Acts 7:55-56)

Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:21-22) Year after year, I never cease to wonder why the feast of St. Stephen is placed side by side with Christmas. What a sharp contrast! Just hours after celebrating the birth of Jesus, here we are talking about the stoning of a man to death.

Our morning prayer today says: “Grant Lord, we pray that we may imitate what we worship, and so learn to love even our enemies, for we celebrate the heavenly birthday of a man who knew how to pray for his persecutors.” That is to say, today’s feast is in the spirit of our birthday celebrations; yesterday was that of Jesus and today is St. Stephen.

What was Stephen’s offense that led to his stoning? A false accusation by persons who tried but could not defeat him in mere theological arguments. Stephen’s death was fuelled by envy and jealousy, inspired by lies against him and orchestrated by ignorance from a mob who could not stand it when Stephen revealed his vision of heaven with Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

What is so unique about St. Stephen is that even while he was being stoned to death, he refused to allow bitterness and hatred to becloud his mind. By the example of his death, St. Stephen imitated Jesus Christ who while on the cross prayed for his persecutors: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34.

Our celebration of St. Stephen just a day after Christmas is a sharp reminder that Christmas is not all about eating and drinking. It is a celebration of the SACRIFICIAL LOVE of God for us. If God so loved us, we too must love one another. If God so loved us even when we were His enemies due to our sinfulness, we too must love our enemies; we must love those who persecute us, we must pray for them and ask God to forgive them even when we keep receiving their stones.

We may have spent time yesterday with the special persons in our lives. We have invited our close friends and family members, and we have shared food, clothes, drinks, and even money with our loved ones. Today, still in the spirit of Christmas, we are invited to become like St. Stephen; to pray for and show love to those who hate us.

In our Gospel passage today, Jesus says: “Beware of men…” People can be very wicked, heartless, and cruel. By saying we must beware of men, Jesus is not saying we should avoid all human company, He wants us to be wise in our dealings with others and to expect the worst especially when we stand for God.

However, the last line of our Gospel passage contains a message of hope: “He who endures to the end will be saved.” No matter how bad people are to you, don’t give up on God, and don’t give up on goodness even when things become tough, salvation awaits ahead. 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, grant me the courage of Saint Stephen. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saint Stephen, the first Martyr – Feast. Bible Study: Acts 6:8-10,7:54-59, Ps. 31:3-4,6,8,16-17, Matthew 10:17-22)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

Jesus Christ: God’s Word to Humanity

Christmas Day December 25th, 2022. Read Isaiah 52:7-10, Ps. 98:1-6, Hebrews 1:1-6, John 1:1-18 

”Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 52:9)

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, listen to Him, sing, dance, worship, and very importantly, 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? 

1. 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.”? 

2. 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)

3. 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 heavily 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).

At 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.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, may your coming as man change my life completely. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

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)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

God has Visited and Redeemed His People

Saturday 24th December 2022. Read 2 Sam. 7:1-5,8-12,14,16, Ps. 89:2-5,27,29, Luke 1:67-79 

“When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.” (2 Samuel 7:12)

In our Gospel passage today, we come across that beautiful song that Zechariah sang in thanksgiving to God for the release of his speech after he had named John the Baptist. It is a song that apart from praising God for his work of redemption also prophesies what exactly would become of John the Baptist.

There is a line in that Canticle of Zechariah which I found worth reflecting upon. Zechariah said: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people.” Indeed, considering the fact that Jesus lived for just thirty-three years, we cannot but realize that Jesus’ life was a visit to mankind.

Just as Christ visited us, we too are called to visit one another this Christmas. Let us remember that we are the hands and feet of Christ. Wherever you go during this period, do not be concerned about eating and drinking, bring peace, joy, forgiveness, and love. Begin that visit with prayer, talk about Christ and ensure you end the visit also with prayer.

One person who visited in the Old Testament was David. He went to Nathan the prophet and discovered that the Ark of God was still in a tent. David said: “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” Although God told Nathan that David was not the one to build, God blessed David for merely expressing his desire to build God a more befitting house.

Part of this blessing was that Jesus Christ would eventually be identified as the Son of David. David did not build God a house but for having the mind to build at all, God chose to be born of the house of David when he was coming to visit and redeem mankind. Indeed, the kindness shown to God always comes with a reward. 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, visit me today and always that wherever I visit I may bring you along. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

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

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

Refining our Hearts for Christmas

Friday 23rd December 2022. Read Malachi 3:1-4,23-24, Ps. 25:4-5,8-9,10,14, Luke 1:57-66 

“He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God.” (Luke 1:63-64)

As much as Christmas can be a time for external enjoyment, it is also, and more importantly a time for inner purification. This is the message of Malachi in today’s first reading: “Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me… he is like a refiner’s fire, or like the fuller’s lye. He will sit refining and purifying silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the Lord.”

To make our Christmas worthwhile, we need to enter the REFINERY OF EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE. It is not enough that we go for confession, it is important that we follow up with our resolutions afterward. Zachariah was helped by God to repent. He did not believe what the Angel told him and as a result, his lips were shut.

Zachariah’s nine-month silence gave him enough time for reflection – he basically entered a refinery of sorts. When his power of speech returned, Zachariah became a totally different person. He could now count his blessings. He realized that in all things, there was always the need to give thanks. Zachariah’s song of praises is very similar to the songs of Mary and Hannah.

Are you currently unhappy? Do you think life hasn’t treated you fairly? Was this year a tough one for you? Why not do a silent retreat. Put down the phone, shut down every media device, and try to remain quiet even if for a few hours. Silence does a lot of wonders for us.

Silence helps to refine our hearts. For instance, we tend to listen more when we are silent, we tend to hear more and understand life better, we get to see the bigger picture and we get to look beyond our immediate problems. If God forced Zachariah to be silent, how much more would we profit if we decide to embark on silence voluntarily.

The people wondered: “What will this child turn out to be?” This is a question that none of them could answer. As the saying goes: “No one knows tomorrow.” If we humans had the power to see the future of each child, I guess we would drop down on our knees and bow to these little ones. Respect children. They may appear noisy, unimportant, unserious, irresponsible, etc. but God who brought them to life has great plans for them. 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, cleanse my heart and make me new. Through Christ our Lord. 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. 25:4-5,8-9,10,14, Luke 1:57-66)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu