Instead of Pointing Fingers, Look Inwards

Friday 1st July 2022. Read Amos 8:4-6,9-12, Ps. 119:2,10,20,30,40,131, Matthew 9:9-13

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’” (Matthew 9:12-13)

The famous Martin Luther’s dream was that one day his children would not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. The Good News for us today is that God does not judge us by the color of our skin but by the content of our hearts.

To everyone else, Matthew was the worst sinner in town. By merely accepting to collect tax on behalf of the Romans, Matthew was being a traitor to a people whose allegiance was to God and not the Roman colonialists. However, beyond collecting taxes, it was the common practice those days for the tax collectors to charge more than what was appropriate thereby eating from both sides and enriching themselves.

The very presence of Jesus in the house of Matthew was enough to arouse anger and condemnation from those who hated Matthew as well as those who have been defrauded by him. This encounter cast a shadow on Jesus’ moral credibility. In our day, the picture/video clip of Jesus eating and laughing with Matthew and his fellow tax collectors would go viral on all social media applications and arouse a media trial with many throwing insults at one another.

In his defense, Jesus said: “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.” Am I the kind of righteous person Jesus was referring to? Am I full of myself? Do I judge and condemn others knowing full well my own hypocrisy? Do I see myself as complete, perfect, holy, and immune from mistakes? How often do I take out time to examine my conscience? Am I willing am I to learn from other people’s mistakes or do I consider it more important to publicize these mistakes? Stop pointing fingers, start asking yourself: “If that were me, would I have done better?” 

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, you took a bold and risky step in visiting Matthew and his colleagues, teach me to welcome sinners, and use me to bring them closer to you. Amen. 

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. (Friday of week 13 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Amos 8:4-6,9-12, Ps. 119:2,10,20,30,40,131, Matthew 9:9-13)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

Why do You Think Evil in Your Hearts?

Thursday 30th June 2022. Read Amos 7:10-17, Ps. 19:8-11, Matthew 9:1-8

“When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.” (Matthew 9:8)

Jesus said to us “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” (John 20:29) With just one word, “Go” Jesus cast out demons. Today, some really good friends went all the way to bring a paralyzed man to Jesus. Matthew tells us that Jesus was moved by their faith. These friends believed completely in Jesus. Their faith was visible to Jesus.

When it comes to faith, we can never hide anything from God because He sees our hearts. While these friends were acting out their faith, there were some people who in fact doing the very opposite. You may wonder why they were part of Jesus’ crusades in the first place if they so much lacked faith in Jesus.

Not everyone who comes to Church is there to worship God. Like these scribes and Pharisees, there are many who come simply to pick our errors, to challenge the truth, to cause disaffection, and ultimately to work for the destruction of God’s work. They may even advance in God’s house but as Jesus told us, by their fruits, they are known.

In the time of Amos, there was a man called Amaziah who claimed to be a priest but in the real sense, had lost his true calling and had become merely a minister of stomach infrastructure. Since he fed on the king’s table, he no longer had the effrontery to speak the truth to power. Instead, he turned around to attack Amos.

Amaziah represents the many men and women of God who continue to attack the Church from within because their primary concern is personal wealth. These Amaziahs are the reason for the deep-seated divisions and enmity between Christians of different as well as similar denominations today.

Jesus’ question to the Scribes and Pharisees is one that deserves some pondering. Jesus did not ask, “Why are you thinking I can’t forgive sins?” Instead, he asked: “Why do you think evil in your hearts?” Lack of Faith in God is itself a great evil we must tackle in our lives. To underestimate God or to belittle God’s power and authority is just as bad as any sin we can think of.

Let us pray: Lord God, free me from faithlessness regardless of my circumstances. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. (Thursday of week 13 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Amos 7:10-17, Ps. 19:8-11, Matthew 9:1-8)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu 

Fighting the Good Fight; Winning the Race

Wednesday 29th June 2022. Read Acts 12:1-11, Ps. 34:2-9, 2 Timothy 4:6-8,17-18, Matthew 16:13-19

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

Today, we remember St. Peter and St. Paul, the greatest names ever as far as the early history of the church is concerned. In our Gospel passage today, we see that Peter was the one to whom Jesus entrusted the keys of the kingdom of heaven as the visible head of the Church. Meanwhile, Paul was the one Jesus arrested on the way to Damascus making him a great apostle to the Gentile world.

While Peter represents tradition, authority, and unity, Paul represents grace, mercy, and humanity. St. Paul says to us today, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” These words underlie the nature of the Christian life. It is both a fight and a race at the same time.

A fight against the flesh and its craving for sinful desires, a fight against the forces of darkness,
a fight against the world that has rejected and continues to reject Christ. To win this fight against principalities and powers. St. Paul recommends that we put on the whole armor of God which includes truth, righteousness as a breastplate, the gospel of peace, faith as a shield, salvation as a helmet, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:12-17).

The Christian life is also a race that requires constant training, dedication, and commitment. As St. Paul says to us “Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Well, I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air; but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) 

Today we celebrate the ultimate victory of the Apostles for their efforts to keep the faith despite their struggles. Herod arrested Peter intending to bring him to trial so as to publicly make fun of him but that very night he was set free by the Angel of God. Even if he would eventually die for the sake of the Gospel, this very incident is proof that when we suffer for the sake of righteousness, we are never alone. 

Let us pray: Lord God, as we celebrate the two great men who fought gallantly in laying the foundation of your church on earth, help us to follow diligently in their footsteps and win the race before us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. (Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles. Bible Study: Acts 12:1-11, Ps. 34:2-9, 2 Timothy 4:6-8,17-18, Matthew 16:13-19)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu 

Little Faith; Large Fears

Tuesday 28th June 2022. Read Amos 3:1-8,4:11-12, Ps. 5:5-8, Matthew 8:23-27

“Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” (Matthew 8:26)

Behold, there arose a great storm at sea. The boat was swamped by the waves, but Jesus was asleep. Just as the disciples were shocked to find Jesus sleeping while they were facing a great storm, many of us today just cannot understand where God is in the midst of various crises threatening our lives today.

Is it possible that Jesus was not aware of the storm and the fact that the boat was at the point of sinking? No way. Jesus who could see from a distance what the disciples were facing at sea and walked towards them (Cf. Matthew 14:23-26), was fully aware of the storm even though he appeared to be sleeping. When it seems as if God is sleeping, that is precisely when we need to trust Him more because, at such moments, we are just being tested. Jesus wanted to see the reaction of the disciples; to know if they had learned anything thus far.

As St. James puts it: “Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4). From the early days of Christianity till now, Christians have always been the subject of attack, persecution, and all sorts of injustice. Jesus even said that a time is coming when whoever kills us will think he is offering a service to God. (Cf. John 16:2)

The question is not whether or not we would face trials, this is certain, the question is how do we respond in such moments? Faced with the storms, the disciples expected the worst, they cried out: “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” Jesus was disappointed with them not because they prayed but because they prayed with fear; that is, they were not expecting their prayers to be answered.

Jesus asked them: “Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?” God is not happy with us when we go down on our knees praying from morning till night, shouting at the top of our voices yet deep inside us, we are still full of fear and worry. This is why Jesus warned us against using many words in prayer (Cf. Matthew 6:7). If you do not believe in prayer, stop throwing stones at those who believe. Stop playing the devil by discouraging others from praying. If you see prayers as useless, just do what you can do to solve the problem. Stop complaining about what someone else is not doing or should be doing. You do something, you lead the way, you be the change. This is not the time for us Christians to be fighting ourselves. We have a common enemy and we all must use every means available to tackle this problem.

But then, if you still believe in the power of prayers, that is, if you still have faith in God, then this is time to increase your prayers. God has rescued his children from worse things than what we are facing today. It may seem as if God is sleeping but we know that He cannot sleep. Let us pray until something happens. Let us pray until Jesus gets up to say to the storms around us: “Be Still.” Let us pray like that woman who kept going back to the judge demanding justice until she got an answer. (Cf. Luke 18:1-8). Let our faith be large enough to swallow our fears. 

Let us pray: Almighty when I fear, teach me to be calm and expect the best. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. (Saint Irenaeus, Bishop, Martyr. Bible Study: Amos 3:1-8,4:11-12, Ps. 5:5-8, Matthew 8:23-27)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu 

Never forget the Cries of the Poor

Monday 27th June 2022. Read Amos 2:6-10,13-16, Ps. 50:16-23, Matthew 8:18-22 

“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20)

In a capitalist society like ours where money has become the god of many, human beings are bought, sold, and exchanged like slaves. I saw a viral video of a lady paid to be a dog. There now exists the business of harvesting and sale of human organs and many are lured into it by persons promising to give them a better life abroad. Human life has become reduced to a pair of sandals. Just as it happened in the time of Amos, it is happening before our eyes.

When last did you consciously decide to seek out the poorest of the poor in your community or around your neighborhood? Do you consider the poor as a nuisance; a disturbance or just dirt that needs to be taken out of your sight? Think twice. As long as someone is going to bed without food this night in your area, you are not safe.

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus is not ashamed to be associated with poverty. To the scribe who opted to follow him, Jesus said: “Foxes have holes, birds have nests but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” It was necessary for Jesus to explain to the scribe the level of difficulty involved in ministry and the absolute necessity of detachment from the things of this world.

Jesus lived his entire life on earth as a poor man. He was born in a manger and buried in a borrowed tomb. He was so hungry one time that He and His disciples had to go into a corn field to pluck heads of grain and eat even though it was a Sabbath. Jesus was often invited to dine in the homes of the rich but He never sought to enrich himself.

For instance, in the case of Zacchaeus, Jesus did not demand tithe from him but made Zacchaeus repent from the business of defrauding others. Meanwhile, in the case of Matthew, Jesus turned him into one of his disciples. It was while in the house of a Pharisee that Jesus’ feet were anointed with an expensive ointment by a woman who didn’t have a good reputation in town. Jesus went to the home of Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, and raised his daughter to life yet in all of these, Jesus did not have a place to lay his head.

As a minister, there would be countless opportunities of meeting with the creme de la creme of society. As a minister, it is very easy to have best friends from among the rich and powerful and the temptation is there to forget that we are meant to bridge the gap between the rich and poor in society. Like a blocked pipe, some of us collect but fail to allow it to flow to the poor. Some even go as far as displaying material wealth as if they were in some sort of competition with each other which is not right at all. 

Let us pray: Almighty ever-living Father, give me a heart that is soft enough to remember those who cannot afford what I waste daily. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. (Monday of week 13 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Amos 2:6-10,13-16, Ps. 50:16-23, Matthew 8:18-22)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu 

The Call to Ministry and the Battle of the Flesh

Sunday 26th June 2022. Read 1 Kings 19:16,19-21, Ps. 16:1-2,5,7-11, Galatians 5:1,13-18, Luke 9:51-62 

“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)

On this thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, we are invited to reflect on the call to ministry, the challenges of responding to the call of God, and the expectations of God from those who are called. While our first reading presents the miraculous circumstances surrounding the call of Elisha, our Gospel passage shows us that there are others not called who decide to offer themselves. There are a lot of lessons powerfully conveyed in our readings today:

1. Why the Call?

Why does God still call people? The same reason He became flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary. God had the power to save mankind without becoming a man but He chose to be one of us still. In the same way, God incarnates Himself to mankind through His ministers. God desires that through His ministers, we are able to encounter Him in flesh and blood. Hence, as Elijah’s time was drawing to an end, God told him to anoint Elisha to avoid a vacuum.

As Elijah made Elisha follow him, Jesus called followers so that through them, the people of God would always experience God’s presence in their midst. The minister embodies God yet does not take the place of God. He speaks and acts on God’s behalf but at the same time, remains completely human. “Every priest is chosen from among men and appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God.” (Hebrews 5:1)

2. God Calls; He Never Forces Anyone

St. Paul begins our second reading by saying: “For freedom, Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1) In our Gospel passage, we see how Jesus was rejected by the Samaritans which made James and John so angry that they wanted to call down fire from heaven on them but Jesus simply turned and went to another village. God who created us free does not force us to accept Him.

When God calls people into ministry, He does not force them but allows them to choose whether or not they would respond. When a young man said to Jesus “I will follow you wherever you go,” Jesus quickly reminded him of the hardship involved in ministry: “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Luke 9:58). Jesus was saying to this man if you choose to follow me, know it is not going to be an easy ride. Anyone prepared to answer the call must deny himself, pick up his cross daily and follow Jesus. (Matthew 16:24)

St. Paul says: “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh.” (Galatians 5:13). Anointing does not remove human freedom, I may be God’s General but if I do not cooperate with God, my anointing could become an opportunity for the flesh. 

3. God’s call demands total commitment.

God demands total detachment from material pursuits (vow of poverty), family responsibilities (vow of celibacy), and pride or self-adulation (vow of obedience). You cannot serve both God and riches. (Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:13). To the seventy-two He sent out, Jesus told them “Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff. (Matthew 10:9-10)

Another one said to Jesus: “I will follow you but let me first say farewell to those at home,” Jesus said to him, “No one who has put his hand to the plow and looks back is fit the kingdom of God.” The exact same thing plays out in our first reading. When Elijah put his mantle on Elisha, he wanted to return home to say goodbye to his father and mother but Elisha could see that that was not an option. He slaughtered the whole yoke of oxen, served the people, and followed Elijah.

Anyone who is not willing to do what Elisha did is like a person who has put his hand on the plow and continues to look back. Jesus says such a person is not fit for the kingdom of God. Once upon a time, a young man wanted to know how to inherit eternal life and Jesus asked him to sell everything he has and give the money to the poor. The young man went away sad. (Cf. Luke 18:18-23). 

4. Children of God, Do Not Gratify the Desires of the Flesh

In today’s second reading, St. Paul explains the battle raging within us: “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other.” (Galatians 5:17). If you read further, St. Paul goes on to explain what he meant by the desires (works) of the flesh: “fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. (Galatians 5:19-21) These things are not expected from a Christian talk less one who has accepted the call to ministry.

But as St. Paul admits, as long as we remain flesh and blood, we are constantly going to be engaged in this battle. In his letter to Timothy, St. Paul notes: “But as for you man of God… aim at righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith…” (1 Timothy 6:11-12). Fighting this good fight means living in the Spirit and dying to the cravings/desires of the flesh. I must admit this is not an easy fight but it is one that must be fought to the grave.

Conclusion

The purpose of our calling as Christians and especially as God’s ministers is to incarnate Christ in our world. As Elijah handed over to Elijah, even the strongest among us would need to be replaced someday. Let us encourage our young ones to respond positively to God’s call. How dark would our world be if there are no ministers or no authentic Christians anymore?

However, the truth is that God will never force his calling on anyone. We must also avoid forcing our children into the seminary just for the sake of making a name for our family. It has to come from them. Anyone who has agreed to respond to God’s call must learn to trust God completely and no longer depend on material provisions. This is the symbolic meaning of Elisha’s decision to sacrifice the entire oxen he was working with. 

And finally, we all have been called to live by the spirit rather than gratifying the desires of the flesh. The minister who fails to practice bodily purity is nothing short of a scandal to the Christian faith preaching one Gospel on the pulpit but preaching something different by his actions.

Let us pray: Almighty ever-living Father, may I not cause one of these little ones who believe in you to stumble. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. (13th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: 1 Kings 19:16,19-21, Ps. 16:1-2,5,7-11, Galatians 5:1,13-18, Luke 9:51-62)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu 

Mary’s Immaculate Heart.

Saturday 25th June 2022. Read Lamentations 2:2,10-14,18-19, Ps. 73:1-7,20-21, Luke 2:41-51

“He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them, and his mother kept all these things in her heart.” (Luke 2:51)

Yesterday, we celebrated the Sacred Heart of Jesus, today we are celebrating the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ. What are the characteristics of her heart?

1. Humility. Mary was never proud. Mary acknowledged she was just a handmaid of God and she never went about seeking praise and exultation from her fellow women like the Pharisees who loved to be greeted obsequiously in the marketplaces.

2. Silence. As we see in today’s Gospel passage, Mary treasured everything in her heart. She practiced the act of Contemplative Prayer which some saints have described as the most perfect form of prayer. In contemplation, we do not use words but simply center ourselves in the presence of God pondering in our hearts what he says to us.

3. Righteousness. Mary had a PURE heart. It is as a result of Mary’s outstanding sinlessness that we refer to her heart as IMMACULATE. It was this purity of heart that made God so fall in love with her as to choose her to be his mother. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave us a secret; “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8). Only a heart so pure can contain God as Mary did.

As we reflect on
Mary’s Immaculate Heart, let us look at our own hearts. Is my heart like that of Mary? What efforts am I making to guard my heart against all defilements of evil? Is my heart clean enough to accommodate God? Am I willing to listen to the truth and change my ways?

Let us pray: Almighty ever-living Father, cleanse my heart from all impurity and sinfulness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. (The Immaculate Heart of Mary. Bible Study: Lamentations 2:2,10-14,18-19, Ps. 73:1-7,20-21, Luke 2:41-51)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu 

The Sacred Heart of Jesus: A Heart of a True Shepherd

Friday 24th June 2022. Read Ezekiel 34:11-16, Ps. 23, Romans 5:5-11, Luke 15:3-7

“There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7)

As we know, the word “heart” can be used either literally or figuratively. In its literal sense, the heart refers to a physical organ in the body that is responsible for pumping and distributing blood across the body. Blood provides the body with oxygen and nutrients, and also assists in the removal of metabolic wastes. The function of the heart is so central and so important that it can be said to be the single most important organ in the human body. It is to a human being what an engine is to a vehicle.

Given the ultimate importance of the heart physically, the word ‘heart’ is often used figuratively to refer to the essence of a person; the inner being. From the language of scripture, we can decipher that there are different types of hearts. For instance, in Ezekiel 36:26 we read: “A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you, and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Of course, Jesus’ heart was not a heart of stone.

Today we celebrate the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We celebrate that which propelled Jesus to become man and save us like a shepherd who sacrifices everything to rescue a lost sheep leaving the ninety-nine behind (Luke 15:4). We celebrate that which moved Jesus to love us so much to the point of dying on the cross on our behalf not considering the fact that we did not even deserve it. As St. Paul says in our second reading today. “God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). 

The heart of Jesus is first sacred because it is the heart of God. It is also a typical shepherd’s heart, a heart so full of love and concern for the good of humanity who are His Sheep. From this heart, we hear God speaking through the prophet Ezekiel in today’s first reading: “I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered... And I will bring them out from the peoples, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land, and I will feed them on the mountains… I will feed them with good pasture, … they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on fat pasture, they shall feed” (Ezekiel 34:12-14). This is exactly what God desires for us His children.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus represents true love for us. In our devotion to the Sacred heart, our prayer is that God may make our hearts like the heart of Jesus. 

Let us pray: Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have Mercy on us, Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. (The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus – Solemnity. Bible Study: Ezekiel 34:11-16, Ps. 23, Romans 5:5-11, Luke 15:3-7)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

John the Baptist and the Rest of us

Thursday 23rd June 2022. Read Isaiah 49:1-6, Ps. 139:1-3,13-15, Acts 13:22-26, Luke 1:57-66,80

“And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said, “Not so; he shall be called John.” (Luke 1:59-60)

Today happens to be the birthday of Saint John the Baptist. Birthdays are always great days; they give us some time to reflect on the life of the celebrant, how he or she came to be born, and the impact of their lives upon humanity.

From the life of John the Baptist, we can see that no human life comes into existence by a mere random act. God is the one who brings human beings to life and long before we come out of our Mothers’ wombs, God already has a plan for our life.

John the Baptist was not yet born before God sent an Angel to Zechariah his father telling him how he would have a son despite his old age who will prepare the way for the Messiah. Long before John the Baptist was formed in the womb, he already existed in the mind of God. This is what the Prophet Isiah relates in our first reading: “The Lord called me from the womb, from my mother’s womb he named my name…”

Each time we commit or consent to Abortion, we commit a very grave sin! Abortion is the greatest act of man’s inhumanity to his fellow man. By killing an unborn baby, we deny him or her the chance to live out the plans God already has for them. God will never allow a baby to form in the womb if He does not have plans for the baby. It is an act of extreme wickedness to destroy precious human life in the womb.

Names are not merely means of identification; names are spiritual. A person’s name can affect his or her life. Our Gospel passage today is a record of the naming ceremony of John the Baptist. The people were planning to call him Zechariah after his father or “Junior” because they felt he would re-live his father’s life. But Elizabeth and Zechariah knew that this child had a destiny different from that of his father so they both opted for “John” instead.

We must be careful of the kind of names we give our children. Names mean a lot. Notice that it was only after naming the child that Zechariah’s speech returned. And guess what, Zechariah who used to complain and doubt a lot became a changed person; he sang the Benedictus, a song of praise to God, a song similar to that of Mary when she visited Elizabeth.

The people wondered: “What will this child turn out to be?” This is the same question we should ask ourselves each time we come across little children. Every child deserves respect, care, and love because you can never know what the future of that child would be.

Our second reading sums up the life of John the Baptist. He fulfilled his destiny. He prepared the way for Jesus. He drew people’s attention only to end up saying: “I, am not he. No, but after me, one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.” The moment John the Baptist said that he had reached old age. He had finished his work and was now prepared to bow out.

Let us pray: Almighty ever-living God, increase my respect for the life of the unborn. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. (The Birthday of Saint John the Baptist. Bible Study: Isaiah 49:1-6, Ps. 139:1-3,13-15, Acts 13:22-26, Luke 1:57-66,80)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

Those Who Say Lord, Lord!!!

Thursday 23rd June 2022. Read 2 Kings 24:8-17, Ps. 79:1-5,8-9, Matthew 7:21-29 

“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 7:21)

The words of Jesus in today’s Gospel passage are quite blunt and direct. Who are those Jesus is referring to as saying ‘Lord, Lord’? We, the prayer warriors; the preachers, the apostles, the evangelists, we who prophesy, speak in tongues, cast out demons and so on; we who do mighty works in God’s name.

We are the ones who would not allow our neighbours to sleep at night when we use loudspeakers even during all-night service. We are the ones who would never miss church. The question is, what happens after these mighty prayer sessions? What happens after all the shouting of “Amen, I receive it”? What happens in those secret places we go to? Do we continue letting our light shine?

As Jesus puts it: “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.’ (Matthew 7:22-23)

We may be prayer warriors, miracle workers, but so long as we allow sin fester within us, we run the risk of being kicked out of heaven on the last day. Don’t just listen to the Word, practice the faith. “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock.” (Matthew 7:24).

Avoid shallow Christianity. Be a doer of the word. Let it not be that the only reason you are a Christian faith is simply to receive miracles, breakthroughs and prosperity. If this the case, you will not be able to withstand the rains, floods and winds that would come your way. If you are simply an Amen-I-receive-it-Christian, you would soon fall away when trials and difficulties come.

In today’s first reading, we see the story of king Jehoiachin who despite becoming king at a very early age continued to walk in the abominable ways of his predecessors. Rather than surrender to God, Jehoiachin thought he would be safe by surrendering to Nebuchadnezzar. It was his worst mistake. Trust in God, not in human beings.

Let us pray: Almighty ever-living God, give us the grace of authenticity in our worship. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. (Thursday of week 12 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: 2 Kings 24:8-17, Ps. 79:1-5,8-9, Matthew 7:21-29)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

By Their Fruits, You Shall Know Them

Wednesday 22nd June 2022. Read 2 Kings 22:8-13,23:1-3, Ps. 119:33-37,40, Matthew 7:15-20

“

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15)

The difference between a good tree and a bad one is not its shape, size, age or colour, rather, it is the fruits they produce. A tree may appear very nice on the outside but if it bears rotten fruits, it is a rotten tree. Two thousand years ago, Jesus already knew there would be false prophets.

I am guessing that perhaps, during His life, there were already false prophets going about deceiving people by pretence. On one occasion, Jesus' disciples saw a man casting out demons in the name of Jesus even though he was not even a member of the twelve. (Cf. Mark 9:38, Luke 9:49). Jesus had not even been crucified yet and there were already signs of breakaway churches. It is also possible that by “false prophets”, Jesus was referring to the scribes and Pharisees who He described as whitewashed tombs that appear good on the outside but are full of dead men’s bones and all kinds of uncleanness inside. (Cf. Matthew 23:27).

It is not a secret today that there are many false prophets. In fact, social media is agog with the deeds and misdeeds of men and women of God. Jesus is teaching us today to avoid the error of categorizing everyone as the same. The fact that you discover a tree with rotten fruits does not mean there are no trees with good fruits. The fact that one priest or one pastor has misbehaved does not mean that we are all the same. You can always tell the difference by each person’s fruits.

Jesus wants us to be wise, to look before we leap, to realize that it is not everyone who addresses himself as a prophet that is there for our good. Some are agents of the devil sent to wreak havoc on gullible Christians. Jesus even said that on the last day many would come claiming to have worked miracles in His name but He would say: “I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!” (Luke 13:27). Shine your eyes, there are workers of iniquity out there. Watch out for their fruits.

In our first reading today the book of the Law was discovered while the workers were restoring the temple. It was a moment of revelation for the king and the people. They realized that God had earlier warned them through the prophets whom they ignored and that their present problems were a result of their neglect of God’s words. Child of God, do you still remember where your Bible is? At the beginning of the year, many of us resolved to finish the whole Bible but we have long abandoned it. It is not too late. Go and continue from where you stopped.

Let us pray: Almighty ever-living God, free me from self-deception and pretence. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. (Wednesday of week 12 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: 2 Kings 22:8-13,23:1-3, Ps. 119:33-37,40, Matthew 7:15-20)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

The Narrow Door of Faith

Tuesday 21st June 2022. Read 2 Kings 19:9-11,14-21,31-36, Ps. 48:2-4,10-11, Matthew 7:6,12-14

“For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:14)

Our first reading today contains the miraculous defeat of the Assyrian army which was led by King Sennacherib. Trusting in his armory and fighting power, King Sennacherib, in a letter to King Hezekiah boasted: “Do not let your God on whom you rely deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, destroying them utterly. And shall you be delivered?” (2 Kings 19:10-11) 

See how Hezekiah responded. He took the letter from the messengers and went up to the house of the Lord, spread it before the Lord, and prayed: “So now, O Lord our God, save us, I beseech thee, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou, O Lord, art God alone.” (2 Kings 19:19) When we display such faith and confidence in God, He always responds. As Jesus would say: “even the hairs of your head are numbered, do not be afraid of those who can kill the body but fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Cf. Matthew 10:28,30).

As soon as Hezekiah finished praying, the Spirit of the Lord roused the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, and everything he said came to pass. That night an Angel of God struck down one hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians. King Sennacherib woke up the next day to see that nothing was left of all he had trusted. With great shame, he retreated into exile to the land of Nineveh.

When faced with threats from enemies of the faith, let us learn to surrender completely to God as Hezekiah did. Do not panic. Just pray, surrender, and let God do your fighting for you. Unfortunately, most Christians today do not believe God is capable of protecting them. A larger majority of Christians have lost faith in the power of prayers and this explains the loud calls for us to take up arms to fight rather than trust in God’s protection.  

Do you firmly believe that with prayers, we can solve the problem of insecurity bedeviling our nation? If you do, then you are among the very few still following the narrow path of salvation that Jesus spoke about in today’s Gospel passage. Sure, it is not easy to be different in a world like ours. It is not easy to genuinely let your light shine in a world so full of darkness. As Jesus would say: “the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to salvation.” Don’t get tired of the difficulties you are facing in your walk with Jesus. It was never meant to be a smooth ride. Do not give up.

Let us pray: Almighty ever-living God, when I am afraid, teach me to call upon you with deep faith and trust. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. (Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious. Bible Study: 2 Kings 19:9-11,14-21,31-36, Ps. 48:2-4,10-11, Matthew 7:6,12-14)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

The Speck and the Log

Monday 20th June 2022. Read 2 Kings 17:5-8,13-15,18, Ps. 60:3-5,12-13, Matthew 7:1-5

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye but does not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3)

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus asks a very fundamental question, one which I must point to myself. Why do I notice the speck in my neighbor’s eye but do not notice the log in my own eye? The answer is simple: I can’t see the log.

Until we are able to tell ourselves the ugly truth, until we get to see the log as it is, we would never move an inch to remove it. We only repent of our sinfulness when we come to admit the truth about our darkness. The day the drunkard calls himself a drunkard, he would stop drinking. But so long as he believes he is okay, the bottle will never depart from his lips.

I guess you may have heard the saying that “if you want to catch a thief, employ a thief.” Only a very good thief knows the mindset of a fellow thief. In the unconscious realm, that which you are trying to fight in someone is only a reflection of your own dark side.

Jesus is not saying we shouldn’t help others take out the speck in their eyes. Jesus is not saying we should make efforts to correct people. He is only saying: “first things first, remove your log so that you can see clearly to help someone remove his speck.” This is very instructive. If we do not see clearly, we run into the danger of passing pre-mature judgment on others.

It is easy to judge people when we are not in their shoes (when you do not understand or have never experienced their situation). So easy to condemn a footballer when you are not the one wearing the jersey and handling the ball before a crowd of 45,000 persons plus millions watching all over the world. So easy to condemn a politician for stealing public funds when you are not the one in a position with such easy access to a lot of money.

When next you feel a strong urge to correct someone, post a condemnatory video on social media, cry out about an act of injustice, or even gossip about someone to a friend, please examine your conscience thoroughly. Examine your heart, correct yourself, point the torchlight inwards so you can see the log, then remove the log first before you go ahead to judge or criticize.

Maybe, while removing your log, you will discover why it has been so difficult for others to remove their specks. Maybe, the lessons you learn will help to refine how you condemn. Maybe, in the end, you will realize there is just no need to condemn anyone at all but to simply begin to do that which you desire to see in others. 

Let us pray: Almighty ever-living God, open my eyes to see my logs, to admit the truth about myself so that I can change for the better. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. (Monday of week 12 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: 2 Kings 17:5-8,13-15,18, Ps. 60:3-5,12-13, Matthew 7:1-5)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu