• The cry, The command, The comeback.

• He allows the difficult things to happen so that we comeback to Him.

• Don’t have a problem with the humble path.

• Be thankful for the simple things.

• You may be by yourself but you never walk alone in life.

• Faith means walking together and not alone.

• Spiritual accompaniment.

• There is unity, solidarity, and hope to be found in each other and God.

• No distinction among the people of God

• THANK GOD OPENLY

• God knows how much he can put on our shoulders. You have so much responsibilities to handle because God knows you can handle it.

• God doesn’t want us to settle. We have to SET OUT.

• Don’t just look at the gift but look to the giver.

• Doubt is the greatest insult.

• Cry out to God in humility.

• Don’t walk away and be spiritually distant.

TASKS

• Choose a Jordon (river)

• Resolve to wash it (simple act of obedience might be a prayer, a call anything)

• Invite a servant

• Return with gratitude (speak your gratitude and openly give thanks)

Every sign points to a reality, and it is possible to get stuck with the sign and lose sight of the reality. Jesus is the reality of our Christian journey and it is of utmost importance that we focus on Him, the source and end of our faith. Jesus is certainly greater than Jonah and Solomon. If He is not the one we seek, then perhaps we are on the way to being led astray. But those who look to Him find help and strength and ultimately salvation.🙌🏾🕊️🙏🏽

We make judgments in life when we judge what is right and wrong, Paul says our judgment or condemnation of others is as though we were God! Scripture warns us: "Judge not, that vou may not be judged." In other words, "Condemn not, that you may not be condemned. We may correct our brothers and sisters when they go wrong, but we are to be mindful that we too have our limitations. Often we judge based on appearances, but God knows our inmost desires and sees the end even from the beginning. "God did not send His Son to condemn the world but so that through Him the world might be saved." Each time we are tempted to condemn someone, let us remind ourselves: "There go I, but for the grace of God."🙏🏽🙌🏾🕊️

Jesus asserts that He has come not to bring 'peace' but 'division'. All who choose to follow His way will find themselves at odds with others, even with family members. Following Him and walking in His way will often mean saying 'no' to others' demands. Discipleship can be costly. Yet because of the Lord's own faithfulness unto death His Spirit has been poured into our hearts. The fire of that Spirit at work in our lives helps us to remain faithful and courageous in our following of the Lord.🙏🏽🙌🏾🕊️

Our God saves (Psalm 68:21), frees and heals us always! He is not conditioned by time, day or place. Paul tells us we have received a Spirit that frees us from fear, infirmity and hypocrisy. Fear cripples our faith; infirmity cripples our bodies, and hypocrisy cripples our spirituality. Many of us Christians are hypocrites. We have different values and judgments for different situations and persons. We have mastered wicked measures that keep people oppressed and some others free at the same time. We misinterpret the truth to blind us from seeing good. We manipulate the truth to accuse and hurt people and ostracise them from the community of God's children. Like the ruler of the synagogue, we abandon the good and complain about irrelevant details, laws and procedures. Many of us have become so wicked that we rejoice at the sufferings of others. We bind heavy burdens and lay them on people's shoulders giving unnecessary discomfort and trouble. We are called to do good always. Like Jesus, we are to bring comfort, truth, freedom to those who are oppressed, sick or heavy-laden.🙏🏽🙌🏾🕊️

Will only a few be saved? The man was interested in discussing salvation, whereas Jesus was interested in his soul. Rather than discussing the number to be saved, he ought to have been concerned if he would be part of that number. Hence Jesus exhorts him to strive to enter by the narrow door rather than engage in mere discussion. It is what we do that will count in the end, and not what we discuss. We will be judged, not according to the insight of our theology, but according to the depth of our charity. The Lord will identify us on the last day by our good deeds and not just by our fine talk or big degrees.🙏🏽🙌🏾🕊️

The Pharisees warn Jesus to go away from Jerusalem because Herod wanted to kill him! Since Jesus stood for truth, justice and all that was right, he was surely a threat - not only to the political regime of his time (like Herod) but also to the religious authorities like the Pharisees and the Scribes. Jesus always took sides: but he was never with the oppressors the exploiters and those who put heavy burdens on others. So, in response to the warning that the Pharisees give him, he bluntly tells them to tell Herod the fox that he will continue doing good. He laments that Jerusalem has killed the prophets and stoned the messengers. He is not afraid of meeting the same fate! 🕊️🙌🏾🙏🏽

The third commandment calls for observance of the Sabbath. This is in keeping with the day of rest that Yahweh observed after the creation of the universe, a day to glorify the Creator God. As beautiful as this commandment is, the Pharisees corrupted it with their hypocrisy. They turned it upside down in such a way that it was no longer about God and the wonder of creation, but about them and their hypocritical display of righteousness. Jesus reminds them, and us as well, that all laws are made for man and not man for the laws. The highest law is the law of love. When we show love, we live higher than the law and reflect God's goodness to those around us.🙏🏽🙌🏾🕊️

Today's gospel reading teaches us that we are called to draw near to the poor, to encounter them, to embrace them and to let them feel the warmth of love that breaks through their solitude. Their outstretched hand is also an invitation to step out of our certainties and comfort zones and to acknowledge the value of poverty in itself. We are challenged to ensure a place in our heart for the less privileged ones. The Lord invites us today not be comfortable with the culture of 'give and take' but to go beyond. The culture of 'give and take' is nothing but a business relationship. There is a feeling of satisfaction in doing what is right, but it is in sharing what we have with others in need that we become enriched. Help us Lord, never to discriminate against or neglect the poor.🕊️🙌🏾🙏🏽

It looks strange that not a single one of those invited attended the banquet, and the participants in the banquet were only those who never expected to be there. The sad thing is that those who refused the invitation did not value it much. Other concerns like possessions, business or family were deemed more important. These were not anything bad in themselves. What keeps me from taking the place at the Lord's table are not bad things. They may be perfectly legitimate demands of daily life. But the trouble is, I can make the mistake of considering them more important than God's invitation and miss His banquet. It is very explicit for us, that only those who respond to the invitation of Christ will enjoy the privilege of the Kingdom of God.🙏🏽🙌🏾🕊️

To be the disciple of Jesus, we must love Him above all and everything else. To follow Him, we must carry our crosses. We always take this to mean that we have to accept the sufferings of life for the love of Christ. Today He reveals to us that carrying the cross after Him means much more. It means communion with Him; participation in His mission is the work of redemption. Jesus' talk of hating one's dear ones as a condition for following Him by sharing His mission baffle us for quite some time. Perhaps we are upset until we come to know that in the language He spoke, 'to hate means to love less'. We must love Him more than anyone else and anything else to be His disciple. Only He can harness our wayward heart. Do it for me, Lord, I pray.🕊️🙌🏾🙏🏽

Human wisdom would think it unprofitable to abandon 99 sheep in search of one that is lost; there is even a proverb that says: "Better one bird in the hand than one hundred flying around!" But the profound love of God moves in ways contrary to human wisdom; a love that does not want to see even a single soul lost. In other words, Jesus today is telling all those who feel rejected, abandoned or unforgivable: You are too valuable to God and He would do anything to save you, even if it means abandoning the other 99 in search of you; He loves you. And to those who, like the Pharisees and scribes, prefer to abandon the lost one, He says: Learn to accept and assist the fallen ones and do not push them deeper into misery.🙏🏽🙌🏾🕊️

In life, we eagerly wait for the coming of an event like the birth of a child, a sick person awaiting a miraculous cure or death to escape the suffering, formation of a new government. The Pharisees asked Jesus, 'When is the Kingdom of God coming?' Jesus asked them to look into themselves, as the Kingdom of God is already within each person. As a Christian, we already live in the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of God exists in us. When we become a caring and sharing 'neighbor' to others, the Kingdom of God is present there. To seek God, we need not run after learned orators, attend seminars or retreats. When we accept the hardships and struggles of life in good faith, constantly praying, we discover the Kingdom of God within us, and make it present for others through our life.🙏🏽🙌🏾🕊️

The underprivileged are always found at places of worship waiting for alms. Devotees drop coins in their begging bowls considering it as their act of charity. They only expect money or food, never expect healing, restoration of sight or hearing. Today's GOSPEL is a scene that transcends our thinking. On hearing the loud cry and the deep faith of the blind man at the entrance of Jericho city, Jesus even though he knew, asks him what he wants. Then the man was healed by Jesus. One might think, it was a natural response from the one who is blind. But, in a broader sense, the blind man is each one of us. We all need to see. It is our poor sight that prevents us from seeing and knowing Jesus and seeking where he wants us to go.🕊️🙌🏾🙏🏽

Today is the Feast of St Cecilia, a beautiful girl, who loved Christ so much as to give up her very life, in a horrible fashion. Even today her body is fresh with the mark of a wound on her neck. Today's GOSPEL teaches us that God's talents are given to us free, to be used for the greater glory of God. We have been called to use these talents. We can perhaps use a 3D formula in this regard: 1. Devotion to God, in all that you do and speak. God's blessings and grace will follow you. 2. Dedication. Live fully with total zeal and efforts; it will yield 100% results. 3. Discipline. Look at the sportspersons for their dedication which results in their daily progress. So is with us. With God's help we shall progress and reap success with a life of discipline You are God's Champion in the making, so be the best you are meant to be.🕊️🙌🏾🙏🏽

Jesus expresses deep sorrow that the people of Jerusalem did not heed his call to repent. They continuously ignored the call to return to Godly ways. Today we have to make a difference in the way we want our personal relationship with God. He is always waiting for us to understand that without Him we can do nothing. When we are so full of ourselves, we cannot see anything beyond ourselves, our family and friends. It is our own understanding of our hyper self-confidence that will usher in destruction, as the reading of the gospel indicates. It is time to reflect, repent and resolve to return to the basic principles: love God above everything else and love your neighbor. When we have such firm foundation, we cannot go wrong. Saints have done this before, now this is your time to become a saint. Be Good, Be Holy.🙏🏽🙌🏾🕊️

Jesus clears the temple premises and affirms that it was a House of Prayer. He teaches us that what is Holy should be Holy. HOLY means what belongs to God. Nothing should come in between God and oneself as each one is made in the image and likeness of God. In this, there can be no bargains, no matter what. God already knows what is brewing in our heart. He is always ready to give us, even before we pray for it. When we have such an understanding and loving God, why do we harbour distractions, worries and anxiety? We have an assurance that when we, who are the temples of the Holy One, will need nothing else. With God at our side, what harm can come to us? Be sure, when we pray, all things will work together for us.🕊️🙌🏾🙏🏽

1. Daily Spiritual Nourishment

• "I once lived as if I could feed myself only on Sundays, starving my spirit the rest of the week. Now I know God is daily bread, not a weekly meal."

2. Living a Fruitful Life

• "A fruitful life isn’t measured by what we say, but by the love our words plant and the grace our actions grow. Idle speech fades, but a life rooted in Christ uplifts everyone around us."

3. Eternal Perspective

• "We don’t just have one life to live—we have one eternity to fight for. So let every choice echo heaven."

4. Humility Over Arrogance

• "Arrogance whispers that we are enough without God, but humility remembers we are nothing without Him."

• "Arrogance divides, but humility invites the love of Christ to shine through."

5. Introspection & Heart Check

• "Before I look outward, I look inward—inviting God to reveal what needs renewing within me."

• "A quiet heart before God sees what pride tries to hide."

1. Unity in Christ

Christ is the Head of the Church, and true unity comes from keeping Him at the center of everything.

Our alignment with each other begins with our alignment to Jesus first.

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2. Priorities in the Christian Walk

Putting Jesus first shapes every decision, action, and relationship.

Prayer isn’t a substitute for obedience or intentional effort — it is the power source, not the replacement for action.

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3. Inherited Belief vs. Personal Understanding

Inherited Belief: What we absorb from our family, culture, or church background.

Adaptive Behaviour: Habits we fall into without questioning, simply because “that’s how we were raised.”

Personal Understanding: Comes from seeking God for ourselves through scripture, experience, and introspection.

Contrast:

Inherited belief is passive — personal understanding is deliberate.

As we grow, God calls us to move from tradition to conviction, from knowing about Him to knowing Him intimately.

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4. The Counter to Blind or Habitual Faith

These are the tools God gives us to deepen our relationship with Him:

Self-awareness & Introspection: Being honest with ourselves about our motives and actions.

Fear of God & Faith: Not fear as terror, but reverence — a respectful awareness of His holiness.

Recognition: Paying attention to details, acknowledging God’s work in our lives.

Shame: Not to condemn us, but to alert us when we’ve stepped outside His will.

Accountability: A desire not to disappoint God, and to live responsibly before Him and others.

Reverence: Wanting to fulfill God’s desires for our lives, not just our own.

“We deserved it”: Understanding consequences and the justice of God, yet appreciating His mercy.

In today's GOSPEL passage Jesus draws our attention towards God's kingdom. The disciples ask Jesus about the signs of the destruction of the temple. Jesus warns them that the temple which was adorned with beautiful stones will surely perish one day. The destruction will not be all of a sudden but step by step. But he encourages them and tells them not to be terrified. Jesus is more concerned about the spiritual temple - THE SOUL. He says not to go astray by the words of the false prophets, but to know and live by the convictions of our true and life-giving God. Let us strive today to recognise the one true living God, Jesus who is the Lord of our soul.🕊️🙌🏾🙏🏽

In the "Our Father" we pray: "Thy kingdom come." By this article of the Lord's Prayer, what we actually pray for is that the reign of God may come; that God may come and rule over us and the entire universe: for His everlasting reign of justice and peace, when the enemy will be crushed once and for all and that God's will may reign supreme. This is the same Kingdom about which Daniel in the first reading and Jesus in the GOSPEL speak. Notwithstanding the frightful-seeming imagery in which it is couched, this Kingdom means our redemption; thus we should hunger for it, we should pray for its coming, we should wait expectantly for it as children wait for their parents' return from a long journey.🕊️🙌🏾🙏🏽

Yesterday was tough ngl but ik with God everything will work out in the end. Plus I have the day off tdy so......usually don't add personal stuff to these but yk just felt it, we all go through those days.

A stump is the last part of a tree that is left in the ground which naturally dies when the tree is cut down. Yet Isaiah prophesies that from the stump of Jesse shall come forth a shoot that shall blossom and flourish. In the same way, in every seemingly hopeless situation that God's children pass through, God can lift them up and make them stand out as a sign of His glory for the nations. But they must be humble and innocent as little children and promote justice and unity by their way of life.🙌🏾🕊️🙏🏽

Spiritual maturity is not conceptual but practical. When we start to live out our faith, it slowly becomes a part of us. In Advent we prepare, not only for Christmas Day, but for something more lasting. We try to capture the Christmas spirit to make it our own. This has less to do with the atmosphere of the season and more to do with the communion we share. If we base our Christmas celebration on our experience of the Lord Jesus, it will have effects that flow into every phase of our life. Christmas is a way of life and putting its message into practice is like building on a rock; it lasts.🕊️🙌🏾🙏🏽

Some consequences of original sin are shame, alienation from God, enmity among humans and hostility between nature and humans. This situation was caused by the disobedience of Adam and Eve, our first parents. God however would not abandon humans in their state of alienation and shame. He would redeem them and restore their original status as holy and blameless children of God. In God's plan of redemption, the Son of God would become a human person to restore the human race. And for this to happen, God has prepared a woman who has found favour with Him, who will conceive and bear the "Son of the Most High". This woman is immaculate, holy, sinless, blameless, innocent, pure and full of grace. Her name is Mary. She receives this singular status through the merits of her Son, Jesus. Each of us has also regained this state of our soul at our baptism through the merits of the sufferings, death and resurrection of Christ. Is my life full of grace, holy, blameless and immaculate like that of Mary? Do I allow myself to be alienated from God through sin?🕊️🙌🏾🙏🏽

The Blessed Virgin Mary's role in the history of salvation is a decisive one that reminds us of her maternal love for the human race. As we honour our Lady of Guadalupe, we recall this loving Mother's unparalleled humility and spotlessness, who becomes the Mother of the Incarnate Word of God through cooperation and obedience to God's will. Today the Church calls us to imitate the holiness of Mary's life. Despite the high level of moral degradation in our society, Christians should strive to live in holiness, seeking perfection. With God on our side all things are possible. Like Mary, we should submit ourselves to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord has come to comfort His people. We must tell among the nations His glory and announce His wonders among all the peoples. God desires that none of His children perish. Hence we give thanks to God, for the light has come and our salvation has dawned. Save us, Saviour of the world, for by Your incarnation, cross and resurrection You have redeemed the world.🙏🏽🙌🏾🕊️

Accepting God's invitation is the basis for freedom from the imprisonment of sin and slavery. Redemption is the greatest reason for His Incarnation. Every time we profess in Nicene Creed, "For us men and for our salvation He came down," we are truly stating the obvious: that Christ came to set us free from sin, to show us the way to God's Kingdom. In today's GOSPEL He says, "Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden." We are to respond to this beautiful invitation by entrusting all our cares, worries and anxieties to Jesus. We have to allow Him to lead so that we may follow. His promises and plans for us are the best. Let us give Christ the chance to make our yoke easy and our burdens light. As a gentle and humble Saviour, He is ever ready to give a helping hand to those who call upon Him. Teach us, Lord, to follow You more nearly and love You more dearly.🕊️🙌🏾🙏🏽

Truly, I say to you: "Among those born of women there has arisen none greater than John the Baptist." No more awe-inspiring and magnificent tribute has ever been rendered to any human being on earth! This is remarkably beautiful, more so because it is said by none other than the Lord Jesus Himself to John the Baptist. How wonderful to be honoured by God! Indeed, there is no one who will not be caught up in joy beyond all telling, if such is said of him. Like the Blessed Virgin Mary, "most blessed of all women," John the Baptist contributes his quota to salvation history. Jesus at the same time, however, makes a sharp contrast between earthly honour and heavenly glory. For Jesus, "the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." This means that the highest earthly grandeur is nothing compared to the bliss of the beatific vision. In essence we can say that true greatness is attained not by our efforts but God confers it in the measure He uses to fulfil and bring to completion His saving plan. Like the ever glorious Virgin Mother, John remains a shining example of those God has honoured. May we also be blessed and favoured by You, O Lord.🙌🏾🕊️🙏🏽

Both sons were told to work in the father's field. One gave a fine display of obedience but

did nothing. The other hesitated, but proceeded to do everything the father asked. It is never

too late to change our mind, our attitude, our behaviour like the second son, and do what is right. We may have developed certain habits in our lifetime, such as drinking, gambling, gossiping, stealing, or cheating. Whatever unhealthy patterns we may have acquired, we have the power to change at any time and can decide to live our life more freely and lovingly

by God's grace.🙏🏽🙌🏾🕊️

At the threshold of a new year, the GOSPEL reading reflects a moment of new beginning through the arrival of the Light. It opens with the words, "In the beginning." The reading continues to speak of a light that shines in the darkness, a light that cannot be overcome by darkness, a true light that enlightens everyone. The light in question is the Light of the Word, who was with God in the beginning. That unsurpassable light has become accessible to us through the incarnation. Now, as the Light is in our midst, those who accept Him will no longer tread in darkness but in the radiance of His eternal light and life. Those who reject Him and refuse to share in His life will continue to grope in the dark; not knowing where to go and what to do. Only Jesus the eternal Light can guarantee a new beginning in the New Year with hearts and minds freed from darkness.🙏🏾🕊️🙌🏾

Still absorbed in the joy of Christ's birth, the Church, admonishing us to be careful about false doctrines, reminds us to keep our focus on His divinity and oneness with the Father. We must experience afresh the anointing we received at Baptism and Confirmation because it leads us to the truth. This is the truth John the Baptist proclaims in today's GOSPEL. Jesus is the One we look up to in humility. He is the greatest and none of us is even worthy to serve Him, but His grace qualifies us to do so. Sts Gregory and Basil lived out this truth and preached it.🙌🏾🕊️🙏🏾

Love is the definition of God. Everything of God is love. He created man to share in His love and man, not He, is the beneficiary of this love. This is why John said that God loved us first; it is manifest in the GOSPEL when Jesus out of compassion fed the hungry crowd following Him. He did not wait to be begged for it or to be shown love first. Rather, He took care of their needs and showed love super abundantly. To know God is to love others. We are challenged by Jesus to give others a hand of love in charity; to be the ones to show love first and not wait to receive.🙌🏾🕊️🙏🏾

The mystery of Christ is made known to all of us who come within the symbolism of Spirit, Water and Blood. This calls to mind the humanity of Christ that is signified by water and blood, as well as the divinity of Christ that is signified by the Spirit. We share in His twofold nature. This is the Jesus who has the ability to change our life. Since we are sharers in His divinity, we should get close to Him in all our difficulties. We cannot in faith ask Jesus if He can take away our problems; rather, we should bring them to Him begging Him in faith to heal our inadequacies. Surely our Jesus is always there for us and will do it promptly.🙌🏾🕊️🙏🏾

In the GOSPEL of today we have an account of the cure of a leper. He is a person of great faith. He believes in the power of Jesus to cure him. But, as the story unfolds, we see that his disobedience becomes an obstacle to Jesus' ministry. Faith and obedience are both very important. The 1ST READING: of today testifies to the connection between faith and obedience. The people of God have faith in the power and presence of God in the Ark of the Covenant, but they are disobedient to God. Their faith cannot save them in battle. Dear friends, it is not enough to say, "We have faith," or "We believe in the power of God." We must be willing to obey Him; then our faith will yield results.🙌🏾🕊️🙏🏾

God knows everything; nothing comes as a shock to Him. He works through everything to bring about the fulfilment of His plan. In the GOSPEL, Jesus demonstrates His divinity, not just by forgiving a paralytic and declaring the reality of the forgiveness through physical healing; He proves His divinity by exposing the undisclosed thoughts in the hearts of the scribes who are present. God knows all, He sees all, He can do all, He is in control of all situations. In the 1ST READING:, Samuel is sad that the people of Israel insist on a king, thereby rejecting the Kingship of God. God sees beyond this; He uses this sordid request to bring about an eternal purpose, to prepare the stage for the dynasty of the Messiah. What an awesome God; He is worthy of all our trust and worship.🙏🏾🕊️🙌🏾

With a large detachment of military forces, Saul had gone in pursuit of his rival David. Despite his three thousand armed men, God put Saul in David's hand. David saw the opportunity to strike Saul, but restrained himself. David would not even allow his men to attack Saul: "The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord's anointed." This action of David provides for us a model and a template of how to treat our enemies. Like David, if we ever get the opportunity to strike back, we should return it with a good deed instead. As Christians, we are chosen like the apostles in the GOSPEL reading to be generous to our perceived enemies, and allow the Lord to fight for us, as David did to Saul.🙌🏾🕊️🙏🏾

David, in today's first reading, was anointed king, and although he faced opposition soon after, he was able to overcome it with the strength of the anointing he had received. In the GOSPEL passage, Jesus went about in the strength of the anointing that was upon Him, doing good and delivering those who were possessed by the devil. The scribes falsely accused him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul. It can be very painful when you are doing something good only to hear people speaking calumny against you for your good deeds. Jesus experienced this pain. Do not allow the slandering tongues of others to bring you down. Rebuke them with prayer and your good works, and God will surely fight for you.🙏🏾🕊️🙌🏾

Biological ties and affinities are no doubt very important. In the GOSPEL reading today, Jesus speaks of a relationship that goes beyond the ties of family. Jesus does not renounce his natural kinship and the duty of love connected with it, but he radically subordinates it to a higher bond, the bond of brotherhood under God the Father. The Kingdom of God in us makes demands on commitment which sometimes must go above and beyond all natural bonds of family, nationality, race or tribe. Thus, every Christian is called to do the will of God, so as to become part of the household of Jesus - to become His brothers and sisters. Nothing else matters more than doing the Father's will (John 4:34, Hebrew 10:7,9).🙌🏾🕊️🙏🏾

David intends to build a place befitting God, but God has another plan. However, He blesses David for his thoughtfulness and love. Today David marvels at God's kindness and blessings on him and praises the goodness of God. David's love for God attracts divine blessing. Jesus reminds us in the GOSPEL that the amount we measure out is the amount we will receive and even more besides, just like David. Let us then be encouraged to give the fullness of our love to God and others so that we may experience God's love and goodness more in our lives.🙏🏾🕊️🙌🏾

The world in which we live is full of problems and difficulties. Christians are not insulated or immune from these problems as we are living in the world. But there are many Christians today who do not want to hear anything about suffering. They want a problem-free life without hassles. If we are true disciples of Christ, then we must know that suffering and trials are part and parcel of what it means to follow Jesus. He gave us the ultimate example and told us to take up our crosses and come after Him. St James tells us that trials are the pathways through which we reach the heights of Christian perfection. God tests us to purify our faith. When our faith is purified, it becomes incorruptible. 🙌🏾🕊️🙏🏾

Gaining the world but losing our soul is never worth it. No one wants to suffer eternally. However, it is not gaining things that is wrong; it is neglecting our soul that is destructive. This should lead to some critical self-examination. Are we making choices as though life here on earth is all we have, or do we see it as a pathway to the Lord and eternal life? Are we putting the GOSPEL on the back-burner or even in the freezer as we live our life? Lent is a time to realize again that following Jesus in our daily life is the only road to real life that lasts. The GOSPEL and the commandments give us directions to eternal glory. Keeping commandments is not slavery: it is true liberation; it is strength; it is life. Disobeying the commandments is not freedom but bondage, moral chaos and living death.🙌🏾🕊️🙏🏾

How often do we fast? Fast and abstinence are good for body and soul. Fasting is about the amount of food while abstinence is about the kind of food we consume. Abstinence means refraining from eating certain foods, such as meat. By fast and abstinence we regain control over our bodies and also our desires. If the point of fasting were only physical, it would hardly differ from dieting. The purpose of fasting is spiritual, to bring order to our interior life. During Lent our reluctance to give up certain foods shows our self-indulgence, our weak will and our need for the spiritual strengthening of God's grace. By faithfulness to our Lenten fast we come to Easter not just thinner and healthier, but also with an interior life more ordered, more at peace, more with Christ. Giving up something for Lent is not about the body. It's about the soul.🙏🏾🕊️🙌🏾

Jonah preached his message of repentance in a halfhearted way but, to his astonishment all the people repented. He wanted to see fire and brimstone come down from heaven, he was disappointed at this. But they repented! People change when God's grace works in their lives. In this story, who needed repentance? The people of Nineveh certainly did, buts did Jonah! He was also in need of a change of heart. It is very easy for us to miss the failure in our own life while pointing at the wrongdoing of others. The story of Jonah remind us that we all fall short of the glory of God and that we all are in need of the light and grace of repentance. Lent is a time to see the truth of who we are and what we want to become. 🙌🏾🕊️🙏🏾

Is there such a thing as unanswered prayer? It is said that all prayers are answered, even though that answer may be "no." Jesus tells us in today's GOSPEL that God, who is our Father, acts like a father. When the Lord does not answer our prayers as we would prefer, He always gives us the strength and grace to deal with the situation. That is the Father's wise and loving response to our petitions. There is also an untold story of the unseen strength, resilience and power God gives to anyone who turns to Him in their needs. Esther is our model as she prays for the strength to protect the Jewish people, which God does give her. We don't possess the wisdom to see the full and final effect of our prayers. We need to pray for the grace to accept the shape of God's answer when it come.🙌🏾🕊️🙏🏾

Jesus' practical advice to us is to nip animosity in the bud. Attitudes are not incidental. Long before there is an overt expression of animosity to others we should reconcile while it easy. The Lord uses an image from the legal system: it is usually easier to settle than to go to trial, because the jury award can be colossal. The same pattern applies to the human mind Resentment, anger and jealousy can linger on until they get out of hand. We are called to examine our inner life, our judgment, and our attitude towards others. The inner world of our love and hate is a domain that always needs to be controlled. Lent is an ideal time for that. 🙏🏾🕊️🙌🏾

We share our joys and dreams with those who are closest to us. But sometimes experience betrayal from the very same persons we share our dreams with. Betrayals come from those who are supposedly closest to us. This was the experience of Joseph, the dreamer, who shared his dream with his brothers, and the landowner who sent his heir the wicked servants. Nonetheless, with Christ, betrayal is not the end; God always rescue His children from all their terrors. He changes our situations of pain to situations of healing of sadness to joy; of sickness to health; and of death to life. He alone can write straight on crooked lines.🙏🏾🕊️🙌🏾

Truth hurts! But it also heals and redirects. The blessings of God are not exclusive to any particular group or race. All who believe in Christ have been given authority to become Sons and daughters of God (John 1:12) and are therefore worthy of receiving God's blessings and favours. For those who listened to Jesus in the synagogue, this was a hard truth. Those who actually benefitted from God's messengers were those who believed in God and not those who felt that by their race they had God in their pocket. We shouldn't be surprised when non-Catholics request prayers and blessings from us. There's a difference between Christian' in name and being really Christian.🙌🏾🕊️🙏🏾

Like the Pharisees in today's GOSPEL, our notion of Jesus and God is oftentimes distorting and cobwebbed. It beclouds our knowledge and experience of Jesus. Sometimes these misconceived God-notions make us hostile, arrogant and rude towards those who don't fit in. Jesus calls this the human way and not His way. He did not come to judge but to love and show compassion. It is only in the light of Jesus that the darkness of hostility, arrogance and rudeness gives way to love, compassion and calmness. May Jesus, the true Light of the world, dispel every darkness that hinders us from drawing close to Him.🙏🏾🙌🏾🕊️

Jesus in today's GOSPEL makes a striking revelation of Himself as I AM. Here He reveals Himself as truly divine in human form. He is both God and man. This is the same way God disclosed Himself to Moses at the burning bush in Ex 2:14. Hence the Jews listening to Jesus are very familiar with this Name. It is the Holy Name of God. It is the domain of the Divine. No human should claim it. Thus, hearing Jesus say, "Before Abraham, I am," is a scandal which for the Jews deserves stoning to death. Their entire life is couched in religion. Everything stems from their religious beliefs. In their religious minds they feel they have conquered God; they know everything about God. But they miss the mark by rejecting Jesus. We cannot cage God. Let us be open to Him, as He could come in ways unimaginable to us.🕊️🙏🏾🙌🏾

The breaking of the bread restores the sight of the two Emmaus disciples who are blinded by preconceived ideas. Like many today, they want a wealthy, prosperous Messiah, with no pain, no suffering and no death. They are scandalised and disappointed by the death of Jesus. Hope is lost. The One they thought would deliver them from their physical oppressors has Himself been oppressed and killed. The death of Jesus has blinded the sight they thought they had. Now they are left without sight. This is the fate of many Christians today, who become Christians hoping their lives will no more be with problems or suffering. But it seems that with Christianity come more problems, and now they are lost. Dear friends, dare to hold firm, the breaking of bread gave sight to the blind disciples. Jesus will restore your fortunes in His own time and in His own way. Do not give up.🙌🏾🙏🏾🕊️

The resurrection, as seen in the Person of Jesus, has never featured in human logic or knowledge. This accounts for the disciples' being so frightened at the appearance of the risen Jesus. Jesus takes His time to open their minds to understand the scriptures. Their ignorance of the scriptures has kept them in the dark as to what God can do. Therefore it is said that ignorance of scripture is ignorance of God. Knowledge of scripture opens us up to the manifold realities of God. God does not have a particular or fixed way of acting. He shows Himself in different ways, such that no one can predict His action. That is why we need to always open ourselves to God's plans. His ways are different from ours. May the Holy Spirit always assist us to discern the will of God!🕊️🙏🏾🙌🏾

Christ rightly points out that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Mt 4:4). While mortal men live on bread alone, immortal men live on both bread and the word but they are more delighted in the word because the word is for spiritual nourishment and man is a spiritual being. Today's GOSPEL reading teaches us that while we seek to make a living by seeking to satisfy our physical and material hunger, we must also seek to satisfy our hunger for spiritual food. "He has made us for Himself and our souls are restless until they rest in Him."🕊️🙏🏾🙌🏾

The Holy Spirit directs the early Christians' mission in Jerusalem, then in Samaria, and now to an African, a minister of an Ethiopian Queen. He is reading the scriptures on the way home from Jerusalem after his pilgrimage. The Holy Spirit who inspired his reading also inspires Philip to explain the reading to the Ethiopian, who listens, accepts the explanation, and is baptized. In the GOSPEL, Jesus repeats He is the Bread of Life. This truth can only be accepted by people who come to God, listen to Him, learn, and receive this bread of life in faith. We too are invited to seek proper understanding of the Bible; to live by what we have understood.🙌🏾🙏🏾🕊️

When Christ calls Himself the Shepherd, He knows there are godless sheep-stealers everywhere. In today's world we hear so many immoral and humanistic voices proclaim anti-Christian messages and they still claim to belong to Christ. Heresy is now a common phenomenon in our world, and people ignorantly follow these thieves who lead them through ways that seem right, but the end is doom (Prov 16:25). In Nigeria every "man of God" claims to speak in the name of God, but all they preach is wealth, prosperity and success. The "cross of Christ" is no longer proclaimed. Thieves are everywhere parading themselves as men of God. All that glitters is not gold. Be wise!🙌🏾🙏🏾🕊️