Celebrating The Great Multitude of Saints in Heaven

Tuesday 1st November 2022. Read Rev. 7:2-4,9-14, Ps. 24:1-6, 1 John 3:1-3, Matthew 5:1-12a

“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.” (Matthew 5:12)

Some time ago, a friend of mine asked me: “Why do you pray to dead people? The Bible teaches us that it is wrong to call on a dead person. In 1^st Samuel Chapter 28, Saul consulted the spirit of Samuel through a medium at Endor and in fact, the outcome was not palatable.”

In my conversation with my friend, the first point I raised was that even though she refers to the saints as “dead people” our faith makes us believe that these are souls in heaven. In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus concluded by saying, “for your reward is great in heaven” How else could we explain the reception of a reward in heaven if death makes a permanent end to one’s existence?

We know that when we die, our bodies are buried, and with time, it decays completely but we also know that there is something within us that cannot die; our soul. It is this soul that would either be rewarded eternally in heaven in God’s presence or end up in hell if we reject God.

Today, we are celebrating that great uncountable multitude of souls who are in God’s presence. We cannot simply call them “dead people” just as we cannot refer to the multitude in our first reading today as dead people. They must be more than just dead people if they can cry out and sing praises to God.

This brings us to the next point in our conversation: We do not pray to the saints rather we simply ask them to pray on our behalf. We only pray to God because He alone has the power to grant our requests but just as we ask our fellow humans (friends, colleagues, pastors, parents, etc.) to pray for us, we also ask the saints to pray for us. These prayers may be addressed directly to the saints but that does not make the saints equal to God neither does it mean we now worship the saints.

Again, asking the saints to pray for us is completely different from the action of Saul who consulted a medium (a person who is considered to be a channel between the earthly world and a world of spirits) to invoke the spirit of Samuel. In fact, we are doing the very opposite of what Saul did, because rather than consulting someone to help us connect with the saint, we are talking to the saint directly.

Also, bear in mind that Saul’s action happened in the Old Testament, that is, prior to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. As such, Saul sought to wake Samuel’s spirit, today, we do not wake anyone’s spirit because we know the saints are alive in heaven. Jesus has now opened the way: “In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:2-3)

Our celebration today is premised on this fact; that Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us, that He wasn’t lying when He said that where He is, there we would be also; that in that place, there are so many Saints who are now enjoying forever. Our celebration today serves one purpose, to make us think of heaven and thereby increase our longing for heaven. Just as Peter, James, and John felt encouraged after the transfiguration experience, our celebration today is designed to encourage us to keep running the race knowing that where it leads is sure.

I guess that by now, some of us would be wondering: “When I die, would I also be celebrated as a saint?” Like Jesus said to the mother of James and John, “as for seats in my right and left, these are not mine to grant but would you be willing to drink of the cup that I am to drink?” In other words, it is not in our place to wonder whether others would remember us, all we must do is to ensure that we follow the path Jesus has traced for us; that we live according to the beatitudes contained in today’s Gospel passage; that we wash our robes clean – clean of sin, clean of pride, clean of selfishness; that we love our neighbor as ourselves. 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, as we remember the saints today, grant that we may so walk in your light as to be counted among the redeemed in heaven. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (All Saints – Solemnity. Bible Study: Rev. 7:2-4,9-14, Ps. 24:1-6, 1 John 3:1-3, Matthew 5:1-12a)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

The Sin of Self-Interest

Monday 31st October 2022. Read Phil. 2:1-4, Ps. 131, Luke 14:12-14

“When you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:13-14)

Have you noticed that food tastes differently when eaten alone? Do you sometimes ask yourself why the same amount of food when shared with others fills your stomach faster than when you eat alone? Are you surprised at this saying: “When you want to walk FAST, walk ALONE, but if you want to walk FAR, then walk with SOMEBODY.”

However, the great economist Adam Smith once said: “self-interest is the first law of nature.” As much as we know the importance of looking out for the interests of others over that of ours, in practice, we only think of others when we stand to gain something in return from them.

Jesus went to the house of a leading Pharisee to eat, but upon noticing the caliber of people who had been invited, he said to his host: “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

How difficult it is for us to invite poor people to our celebrations? Or those who do not have what it takes to invite us in return. How difficult it is for us to stretch out a helping hand to people who may never help us in the future?

Christianity is not about living a normal life, it is about being a super-human; it is about going beyond what everybody will do; it is about helping people you stand to gain nothing from.

The challenge is set before us today to go out and be GOOD. The world is a small village. We can make the world a better place to live if we live according to the principle of helping one another.

As St. Paul says to Philippians 2:1-4, “If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. DO NOTHING FROM SELFISH AMBITION OR CONCEIT but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.”

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, cleanse my heart from all forms of selfishness knowingly and unknowingly. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Monday of week 31 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Phil. 2:1-4, Ps. 131, Luke 14:12-14)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

To Win a Sinner to God, Begin with Love

Read: Wisdom 11:22-12:2, Ps. 145:1-2,8-11,13b-14, 2 Thess. 1:11-2:2. Luke 19:1-10

“Today salvation has come to this house since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:9-10)

Last Sunday, Jesus told us the story of two men who went to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee who considered himself righteous but ended up praying to himself. The other was a tax collector who couldn’t lift his eyes to heaven but stood at a distance and beat his chest saying: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” As the Psalmist sings: “The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17).

Jesus told us that the tax collector went home justified because he humbled himself and was sorry for his sins. In today’s Gospel passage, we see another example of a man who humbled himself before God. Apart from acknowledging his sinfulness, he went on to promise a fourfold restitution. Truly, God pays attention to the humble. There are so many lessons for us to learn today.

1. We Serve a Merciful God.

There is no human being that is beyond the mercy of God. Our first reading today teaches us that God is merciful to all; he overlooks our sins and does not hate what He has created. For Zacchaeus’ confession and repentance, Jesus said: “Today, salvation has come to this house.” Indeed, God takes “no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live.” (Ezekiel 33:11).

There is more joy in heaven over a repentant sinner than over ninety-nine who have no need of repentance. God is happy when we repent. Knowing that we serve a merciful God, we must avoid judging others like those who were already condemning Jesus for going to the house of Zacchaeus to eat. Learn to look inward rather than pointing fingers at others.

2. Love Comes First.

St. Paul told us: “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal… if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

From His encounter with Zacchaeus, Jesus teaches us today that in winning a soul for God, love must come first. Jesus showed Zacchaeus so much love and honored him by going to eat in Zacchaeus' home. In this way, even without preaching a single verse from the scripture, Zacchaeus was moved to repentance. In truth, the best sermons are not preached with words. Without first loving a person, there is no amount of preaching that can convert that soul to God.

3. God Wants to See Your Efforts.

The saying is very true that “Grace builds on nature.” In our journey to repentance, God is always very interested in seeing our efforts. As one great saint puts it, “the God who made you without your permission will not save you without your cooperation.” Zacchaeus made an effort to see Jesus; knowing that he was a short man and this was an obstacle for him, he ran on ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree. Jesus saw his effort and rewarded it by deciding to stay at his house. Indeed, when the student is ready; the teacher appears. God wants to see your efforts.

Do you aspire to sainthood? Then be like Zacchaeus, apply some common sense, examine yourself, find out your deficiency (obstacles blocking you from God), and locate and climb your sycamore tree. Climbing the sycamore implies making up for your deficiencies, it implies going for confession, and it implies cutting off from your life whatever leads you to sin.

As Jesus says: “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out … And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell. (Matthew 5:29-30). Stop blaming anybody or anything for your sins. Stop making excuses and start making efforts.

Another important lesson we learn from Zacchaeus is the importance of restitution. It is not enough to say I have sinned, we must make efforts to return, to restore, and to repair the damage caused by our sins. Repentance is not just a feeling of being sorry, it requires restitution.

4. Learn to Listen to Your Conscience.

Our first reading from the book of Wisdom perfectly defines conscience in this way: “For your immortal spirit is in all things. Therefore, you correct little by little those who trespass, and you remind and warn them of the things through which they sin, so that they may be freed from wickedness” (Wisdom 12:1-2). In every human being, no matter how bad he or she may be, there is always that tiny voice that never stops speaking; reprimanding us when we have done wrong and praising us when we do right.

This was the voice in the mind of Zacchaeus until that fateful day when Jesus entered the city of Jericho. In our ever-busy world today, we tend to act before we think and we never create time for silent meditation. We may have grown used to not listening to it but the truth is that conscience never dies.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, be merciful to me a sinner, and cleanse me from the blindness of pride. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (31st Sunday in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Wisdom 11:22-12:2, Ps. 145:1-2,8-11,13b-14, 2 Thess. 1:11-2:2. Luke 19:1-10)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

Pride Goes Before a Fall

Saturday 29th October 2022. Read: Phil. 1:18-26, Ps. 42:2-3,5, Luke 14:1,7-11

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)

A simple way of understanding the meaning of pride is giving ourselves credit for that which is not ours. To be proud is to assume that we are what we are by our own power or that the Grace of God is no longer responsible for our goodness. One way to know if you are proud is going for an occasion and assuming you are more important than others.

The moment we begin to see ourselves as better than others, the moment we begin to talk badly about others as “good-for-nothings,” God does teach us a lesson. He humiliates us before their very eyes.  Like the host of a party, God politely asks us to step aside and he does it in so many ways.

The so-called good-for-nothing now becomes your helper. The one you taught would amount to failure now becomes crucial to your own success. The one you considered to be poverty-stricken who used to come to you to beg suddenly become richer than you. We see these things happening every day.

As one musician sang: “Life is turn by turn.” Don’t ever assume that others do not or will never have what it takes to make it big as well. That you are “somebody” today does not give you the right to call a fellow human being a “nobody.”

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, cleanse me from the blindness of pride. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday of week 30 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Phil. 1:18-26, Ps. 42:2-3,5, Luke 14:1,7-11)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

Your Life is Not a Mistake

Friday 28th October 2022. Read: Ephesians 2:19-22, Ps. 19:2-5, Luke 6:12-16 

“So, then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” (Ephesians 2:19)

As we celebrate the Feast of two out of the twelve great apostles, Simon and Jude, our readings challenge us to reflect on the concept of our election and choice before God. First and foremost, we must understand that nothing happens to us by chance. There is no such thing as mere luck or “random selection”

We are products of a God who is purposeful, a God who prepares things beforehand, a God of whom Jeremiah spoke about as saying: “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Jesus did not do guesswork in his choice of the apostles. He didn’t select them according to their good looks or merely according to their line of trade. He spent a whole night in prayer, consulting with God who has plans, before making his choice. Like every good parent, God has plans for us his children.

No responsible parent brings a child into the world without first making certain plans on how to ensure the future of that child. In fact, parents already have ideas of what they want their children to become even before they are born. It is in this light that St. Paul tells us in today’s first reading that we are not just strangers or foreigners to God, we are his children; citizens of God’s household.

As long as we continue to pray the lines of “Our Father,” which states, “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we continue to remind both God and ourselves that we are not strangers, we are his children and we want his plans for us to come to pass in our lives.

God wills the best for us, but there are times when our own will, runs contrary to the will of God. There are also times, we tell God out rightly, “I know what you want for me, but God, let my own will be done instead.” Every sin is a deliberate attempt on our part to reject the will of God for us. And you know what? God does not force his way on us.

That is why we should not be surprised that having spent a whole night in prayer, having asked for discernment over the choice of the twelve men who would carry on the message of salvation to the rest of the world, Jesus, being God, in all his wisdom still chose Judas Iscariot, the very guy who would betray him. As much as the twelve were equally tempted, only Judas gave in to it. He had a chance like Simon and Jude to fulfill God’s will in his life as well.

So, we celebrate Simon and Jude today because they COOPERATED with God. They were chosen, but they also worked hard, they strove to live above temptations, they carried out Jesus’ instructions and they proclaimed the Gospel to millions.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, help me to fulfill your plans for my life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen 

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles – Feast. Bible Study: Ephesians 2:19-22, Ps. 19:2-5, Luke 6:12-16

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

We are Soldiers!

Thursday 27th October 2022. Read: Ephesians 6:10-20, Ps. 144:1-2,9-10, Luke 13:31-35 

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” (Ephesians 6:10)

“We are soldiers, soldiers of the Lord, we are soldiers, fighting for the Lord, in the name of Jesus, we shall conquer…” Every Christian is a soldier. We fight, not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. We fight against that thief who “comes only to steal, to kill and to destroy.” (John 10:10)

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus, after being told that Herod was planning his assassination, refers to Herod as a fox. No matter how good we are, we would have enemies who would hate us not for the good we do, but because they have been won over by the thief – the deceiver whose only goal is to destroy.

After killing John the Baptist for preaching the truth, Herod was hungry again for the head of Jesus. What did Jesus do to Herod? Believe it or not, your goodness is a threat to certain persons and if they cannot bring you down by destroying your name and reputation, they would try to attack you physically. St. Paul tells us that in this battle, we must be fully dressed for action and our attire should consist of the following:

1. THE BELT OF TRUTH. Honesty, sincerity, and integrity are powerful weapons. The devil is scared of those who would never compromise or bear false witness.

2. THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. Another powerful weapon is living above sin. Jesus told us to be perfect as God in heaven is perfect. Living a holy life is not a burden, but something that gives us an edge over the kingdom of darkness.

3. SHOES OF EVANGELISM. Jesus said that those who are not for him are against him. (Matthew 9:38, Luke 9:49). This means if you are not consciously and deliberately spreading God’s kingdom, you are literally working for the devil. Talking to people about Jesus is a weapon.

4. THE SHIELD OF FAITH. Truth be told, trials (negative circumstances) are part of life. Faith is a weapon, one that is needed to conquer the devil during moments of trials. You should say: “O devil, I will not bow to you, even though I am walking through a valley of darkness right now, I know God is with me, even though I can’t see anything now, I will not follow you”

5. THE HELMET OF SALVATION. Another great weapon is the sacraments. Have you been anointed with the oil of salvation in Baptism, Confirmation, or Holy Order? Have you been washed in the blood of the Lamb; Holy Communion? Do you frequent the fountain of God’s mercy; Confession? Are you living with a spouse without the proper blessing of Holy Matrimony? Many Christians do not know that each of these sacraments carries specific blessings capable of dealing with the devil.

6. The SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is the WORD OF GOD. The word of God is a sword you use not just to defend yourself but to fight in the spiritual realm. Pray the Bible. Speak God’s word over whatever situation or condition you are going through and you will come out victorious.

7. PRAY IN THE SPIRIT AT ALL TIMES. Prayer is a weapon that makes other weapons effective. Sure, a prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, by your almighty power, grant us victory over the enemy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Thursday of week 30 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Ephesians 6:10-20, Ps. 144:1-2,9-10, Luke 13:31-35)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

Narrow is the Way that Leads to Salvation

Wednesday 26th October 2022. Read: Ephesians 6:1-9, Ps. 145:10-14, Luke 13:22-30

“Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” (Luke 13:24)

Jesus was asked if there would only be a few to attain eternal life. He did not answer that question rather he tells us what we must do to achieve it. Heaven is not for a selected few, it is for all those and anyone who makes effort to enter by the narrow door.

The narrow door represents sincere and genuine worshippers of God who will never indulge in iniquity even in secret, Christians who walk the talk; Christians who know how to forgive; Christians whose lives (more than their words), proclaim God loudly to the world; Christians who remain steadfast even in the face of difficulty.

Ironically, rather than following the narrow path with all its difficulties, we keep praying to God to widen the path, that is, to make the road easier and less stressful. The good news is that the narrow door is not restricted to Christians. In fact, while many Christians miss it, “many will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit at the table in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 13:29).

Think about this. There are some persons you have judged already and condemned in your heart that they cannot enter heaven. Wouldn’t it be a shame that these persons would eventually enter paradise while you are sent away? It is better not to be a Christian at all than to be a bad one.

It is not surprising that many are openly rejecting the faith today and even burning the Bible. Many are disappointed with the Christian faith not because they hate Christ but because they cannot stand the hypocrisy of persons who claim to be followers of Christ. Stop being a disgrace to the faith. Let your light shine.

St. Paul in today’s first reading reminds us of the fourth commandment saying that it comes with a promise: “that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:3). Honouring your parents (elders) is not only cultural, it is also spiritual. If you don’t respect old age, you might not live even to experience it. The manner you treat older people is the same way you will be treated in old age.

Surely, even our elders can make it very hard for us to honour them in old age. They may become difficult, proud, stingy or heartless. No wonder St. Paul was quick to add: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger… masters, act with forbearance, show no partiality.” Respect begets respect. Love your children. Avoid cursing them in anger lest your curses backfire; that is, prevent your children from making it in life and thereby make them unable to help you in old age.

No matter how difficult it may be to love and honour your parents (and elders), bear in mind that it is part of what it means to follow the narrow door that leads to eternal salvation. Are you a slave (servant, apprentice, student, employee etc.), honour your elders and bosses even if they don’t deserve it. Someday, people will bow for you. 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, help us be good children and good parents. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Wednesday of week 30 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Ephesians 6:1-9, Ps. 145:10-14, Luke 13:22-30)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

The Power of Love and Respect

Tuesday 25th October 2022. Read: Ephesians 5:21-33, Ps. 128:1-5, Luke 13:18-21

“Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church… Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5:22-25)

In St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians today, we get to see two vital ingredients in marriage; love and respect. Love and respect are not two separate entities entirely; just as love is not complete without respect, respect is nothing without love. The kind of words we use with our spouses determines the direction of their lives. Are you the wife or the husband who never stops insulting their spouse? Repent!

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a grain of mustard seed which starts very small but soon grows to become a thousand times bigger than the seed. Quarrels and fights in marriage are like grains of mustard seed. When these fights are not forgiven, they become like pieces of debris that we fail to take off.

Little quarrels pile up in our memories little by little and before we know it, they affect the quality of our love for our spouse. The person we once trusted with all our hearts becomes someone else in our eyes. Once that trust is gone, little mistakes become magnified; we become blind to the good aspects of our spouse and what was once love becomes hate.

Love is a fire, if it is not properly fed with fuel, it quenches. Rather than trying to win that fight or that argument, focus more on pouring fuel into the fire of your love. One lesson the story of “Beauty and the Beast” teaches us is that love brings out the best in people. Every “Beast” needs “Beauty”. Love your spouse not because they deserve it but because you are Beauty.

Whenever you consciously do something to hurt your spouse deliberately, it always backfires. On the day of your marriage, you were no longer two people, but one person. Treat your spouse with all the love and respect you can muster just as you would treat your leg or hand that is wounded. You don’t cut off a hand or leg because it is injured, you treat it.

Surely, it might not heal immediately (humans are naturally difficult), but you have to apply patience as Jesus explains in today’s Gospel passage, little drops of love on a daily basis would grow into a big tree (a changed person). 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we commit our marriages and families to you. Restore love and respect in our homes. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Tuesday of week 30 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Ephesians 5:21-33, Ps. 128:1-5, Luke 13:18-21)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

You Too Are a Child of Light

Monday 24th October 2022. Read: Ephesians 4:32-5:8, Ps. 1:1-4,6, Luke 13:10-17

“… all his adversaries were put to shame; and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.” (Luke 13:17)

Today, St. Paul reveals to us the essence of letting our light shine as Children of God. 1. Be kind to one another and tender-hearted. 2. Forgive one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. 3. Be imitators of God, as beloved children. 4. Shun fornication and impurity of any kind such as obscene, silly, and vulgar talk. 5. Live a life of thanksgiving; be grateful always.

The key to walking as a child of light is first realizing who you are. You are not just anybody. The fact that you are reading or listening to this message right now already marks you out from the rest of the world. You are special; you are a child of Abraham. Satan has no right to hold you in captivity or in the bondage of sin.

In the Gospel passage, Jesus was in a synagogue, and there was a woman there who was completely bent over. She had been under this bondage for eighteen years. As soon as Jesus saw her, He immediately reached out to her – laid his hands on her, and cured her. Jesus cured this woman not minding that it was a Sabbath day because according to Jesus, she was a daughter of Abraham and did not deserve such a condition.

This woman was in this condition for so many years even though she was always going to the Synagogue. Some of us have been Christians for more than 18 years yet we are still bent over spiritually. Darkness (sin and evil) still rules in our lives. It is not about how often we attend Church; it is about whether we worship God in spirit and in truth. Let us pray today for Divine healing from whatever is preventing us from standing upright before God.

For eighteen years, the Pharisees watched the woman come in and out of the temple, and never for once did they feel any concern about her. Even when Jesus cured her, instead of rejoicing and thanking God for her, they took offense at Jesus and were plotting out how to kill Jesus. As a leader in the church, have I become a Pharisee of sorts? Am I sincerely interested in the welfare of my flock or am I only concerned about what to gain from them?

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, release me from captivity of any sort preventing my light from shining. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Monday of week 30 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Ephesians 4:32-5:8, Ps. 1:1-4,6, Luke 13:10-17)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

The Prayer of the Humble Pierces the Clouds

Saturday 22nd October 2022. Read: Eccles. 35:12-14, 16-19, Ps. 34:2-3,17-19,23, 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18, Luke 18:9-14) 

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14)

Last Sunday, we read about the battle between Israel and the Amalekites. Moses stood on the mountain with his hands raised in prayer. Israel prevailed only when Moses’ hands were raised thereby showing us the power of persistent and consistent prayer. Jesus also gave us the parable of the widow and the unjust judge to teach us that we must continue praying and never lose heart even when our prayers are not answered. Today, our readings teach us some important dimensions of effective prayer. 

1. God Never Ignores the Prayer of the Poor and Oppressed.

As the book of Sirach says: “He (God) will not show partiality in the case of a poor man, and he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged. He will not ignore the supplication of the fatherless, nor the widow when she pours out her story.” (Sirach 35:13-14).

No matter what you may be going through right now, remember that God cares and He always listens to the cries of the poor and oppressed. When you cannot fight with your hands, call on God with all your heart. As our Psalmist sings today: “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; those whose spirit is crushed he will save.” (Psalm 34:18) 

2. Prayer Demands an Attitude of Humility: Avoid Commanding God.

Again, from our first reading, we learn that: “He whose service is pleasing to the Lord will be accepted… The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds…” (Sirach 35:16-17). When we pray, we must always assume the attitude of servants begging, not as masters giving orders.

As the book of Proverbs teaches us: “The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but maintains the widow's boundaries.” (Proverbs 15:25). In Mary’s Magnificat, she explains how God works saying: “He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree.” (Luke 1:51-52).

3. Prayer Demands Examination of Conscience.

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus gave us a parable of two men who went to the temple to pray. The Pharisee’s prayer was not only an exercise in self-praise, but it was also vindictive of others. As Jesus explains, this Pharisee ended up “praying with himself.” In other words, for his pride and vindictiveness, his prayers did not go up to heaven.

When the tax collector approached the Temple, he stood far off (like the prodigal Son at the gate of the Father sacred of entering the house), he couldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven but beat his breast (as we do during the “I Confess” at Mass), saying “God, be merciful to me a sinner.” Jesus tells us that this man went home justified. The time of prayer is not the time to boast, it is rather a time to look inwards, a time to search deep and beg for God’s mercy.

4. The Christian Life is a Fight and a Race: Prayer Keeps us Going.

Our final lesson today comes from our second reading. We hear St. Paul saying: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” In other words, the Christian life is not an easy one. Jesus himself says “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:14). The Christian life is a real battle, a battle against the forces of darkness, principalities, powers and the devil who comes to steal, kill and destroy.

The Christian life is also a race, one that requires constant training, and constant self-discipline as Paul would say: “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things…. I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:25-27). St. Paul went on to say that his success did not come from his own strength but from the help of God. He says: “the Lord stood by me and gave me the strength to proclaim the word fully…”

Prayer is our direct connection to God. It is our source of grace and power. Without prayer, we cannot fight and we cannot run the race before us. As the saying goes, a prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian.

World Mission Sunday.

As we celebrate World Mission Sunday today, we are reminded that missionary work is not the exclusive reserve of the ordained but something to which we all are called. In his message for world mission Sunday 2022, Pope Francis tells us: “The essence of the mission is to bear witness to Christ, that is, to his life, passion, death, and resurrection for the love of the Father and of humanity.” (para. 5).

Francis reflects on “the three foundations of the life and mission of every disciple:” 1. “You shall be my witnesses”, 2. “to the ends of the earth” and 3. “you shall receive the power of the Holy Spirit”. Each of us is a witness to Christ, our witness is not limited to any geographical location and our success in witnessing for Christ depends on the power of the Holy Spirit at work within us.

What does it mean to witness for Christ? It is living just like Christ. Pope Francis reminds of the words of Pope Paul VI: “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.” (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 41). Preaching is important but it must be accompanied by doing; by walking in the light and even ultimately choosing martyrdom for the sake of the Gospel.

Our witness to Christ should not be restricted. Pope Francis mentions the fact that “for all the benefits of modern travel, there are still geographical areas in which missionary witnesses of Christ have not arrived to bring the Good News of his love.” (para. 11). Never assume everyone has heard about Christ already. Keep “pressing on”.

Pope Francis reminds us that without the Holy Spirit, there can be no evangelization. “Just as no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’, except by the Holy Spirit, (1 Cor 12:3), so no Christian is able to bear full and genuine witness to Christ the Lord without the Spirit’s inspiration and assistance.” (para 13). We must recognize the essential importance of the Holy Spirit even from the experience of the early church, it wasn’t until the Holy Spirit descended on the Pentecost day that the work of evangelization started.

Let us pray: Come Holy Spirit and enkindle in me the fire of your love. Fill me more and more with your living unction that I may not fail in my missionary task to proclaim Christ by my words and deeds. Amen. 

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (30th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Eccles. 35:12-14, 16-19, Ps. 34:2-3,17-19,23, 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18, Luke 18:9-14)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu

The Gravity of Sin

Saturday 22nd October 2022. Read: Ephesians 4:7-16, Ps. 122:1-5, Luke 13:1-9

“Unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:5)

There is nothing as bad as trivializing our sins, not to mention even bragging about our sinfulness. Sin, any sin at all be it mortal or venial should never be taken lightly. The word “sin” literally translates as “missing the mark”. It is going out of line and there is no way we can justify it or escape its consequences.

A report came to Jesus about how Pilate murdered some Galileans and mixed their blood with the sacrifices. The popular opinion in the minds of many at that time was that God allowed them to suffer because of their sins. And this was the impression Jesus wanted to correct.

God does not use calamity to punish us for our sins rather, He gives us ample opportunities to repent. Jesus asks, “Do you suppose they were worse sinners? I tell you, No!...” Calamity in our lives is not calculated according to the degree of our sins. Calamity can happen at any time to anyone. Think about this. If all suffering in our lives is a result of our sins, what is the sin of those babies in the womb who are aborted by their parents?

However, Jesus added: “… But, unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” This simply means that what these Galileans suffered is nothing compared to the suffering of hell; the punishment we would all face if we fail to repent.

Recently, I was watching a football match, and I noticed a player who had the chance of scoring a goal. He wasn’t offside but had succeeded in dribbling the goalkeeper. There he was with the ball and a wide empty goal post but he “missed the mark.” He kicked the ball so high; it went above the goalpost. The match ended one goal to nothing. His team lost the game and I saw him crying furiously at the end of the match.

Jesus wants us to perceive the smell of sin, to see it for what it really is. We do not avoid sin just to please God, or because we are afraid of the consequences, we avoid sin because we want to enjoy the best of everything God has put in place for us. If that player had scored that goal, imagine the joy that would have enveloped him and his teammates. Perhaps that would have given them the morale to win the game.

God wants us to win in the game of life; to bear fruits, and to fulfill our calling. A football player who doesn’t play well, who continues to pass the ball to the opponent, who even scores his own side will soon be removed and replaced. A cook who consistently misses the mark in the kitchen will produce food that he cannot even eat. If we cannot afford to miss the mark in every other aspect of our lives, we should definitely avoid missing the mark when it comes to our relationship with our creator.

St. Paul explains in our first reading today: Some are called to be “apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors, and some teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry.” The question is: Am I fulfilling my calling? As an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, etc., am I scoring goals for God? Or am I missing the mark; that is, pushing people further away from God? 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, open my eyes to see the gravity of sin that I may avoid all occasions of it. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday of week 29 in Ordinary Time, Bible Study: Ephesians 4:7-16, Ps. 122:1-5, Luke 13:1-9)

© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu