Tuesday of 2^nd Week of Easter: Reflection

THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION.

Reading: Acts 4:32-37

No one will hear the account in today's first reading without admiring what was stated about the first community of believers in Christ. They were reported to have embraced communal living, with members of the community willingly and wholeheartedly handing over whatever they owed to the apostles to be used to assist members who were in need.  

In that community, selfishness was eradicated, hatred was banished, jealousy was buried, and all vices were defeated. But what was the magic? How did those that were once vying for positions at the right and left hand of Jesus in His glory suddenly become changed to the extent that outsiders started admiring how they conducted themselves? The answer is that such was the power of Christ’s resurrection; a power that transformed fear-ridden men into courageous harbingers of the good news; it is a power that transforms whoever opens himself and embraces it. The disciples of Jesus allowed themselves to be transformed by the power of Christ’s resurrection and what we read in today’s first reading is a testimony of the fruits of their openness to such power. It enabled them to become the best they could be.  

Dear friends, there is a power that comes from the resurrection of Christ. It transforms whoever welcomes it, filling him with new life and bringing out the best in him. In today’s first reading, it enabled Barnabas, whose name means “son of encouragement”, to set a good example and, thus, became a real source of encouragement to all believers in the early Christian community.   

If you open your life to the power of Christ’s resurrection and allow it to transform you, the best in you will be unleashed; it will empower you to be the best you can be.

May your activities this Tuesday receive Divine empowerment. Amen.

Fr Isaac Chima

 

2^nd Sunday of Easter, Yr B: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: The Qualities of a Community whose Christ is risen.

Readings: Acts 4:32-35; 1Jn 5:1-6; Jn 20:19-31

Dear friends, the church invites us to learn the qualities of a community whose Christ has risen from the dead. She also challenges us to be transformed into a community that forgives, loves and cares for its members.

Before the death and resurrection of Christ, the disciples of Jesus lived like every other person, with their daily selfish passions and struggles for who will be the greatest among them and who will sit at the right and left hand of Jesus in His glory. But the resurrection of Christ made a positive impact on this community of disciples. It transformed them into a community that became a model of a good community, a community that was admired by other people. From the first reading of today, we learnt that the community of disciples began to live a communal life, a life characterized by peace, love, mutual help, and unselfishness. The reading said: “Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common… There was not a needy person among them, for those who owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.” We can say that they allowed themselves to be transformed by the power of the resurrection of Christ and by the gift of peace given them in the gospel of today.

Dear brothers and sister, our Christ has resurrected, and He has also blessed us with the gift of peace. However, taking a sincere look at our own Christian community of today, one would notice that it falls short of the qualities that the early Christian community possessed. What, then, is our problem? Why is our community still reflecting hatred, injustice, lack of help for the needy, and other unchristian behaviors? Why are our families, our relationships, and our individual lives yet to reflect the light of the resurrection of Christ? Why are we still lacking peace, love and forgiveness in our relationships with others even when our Christ has resurrected? Why do we still live as if our Christ has not risen from the dead?

Today, the church celebrates the Divine Mercy. As we recall the Mercy of our God, the church gives us one of the reasons why our communities, our families and our individual lives are not yet manifesting some qualities of a community whose Christ is risen. She tells us that the reason is because we are yet to emulate God’s pattern of mercy and justice. Without forgiveness and mercy, there will not be lasting peace and love. A community without peace and love cannot really be called Christian.

Our God is a merciful God, a God who loved us even while we were still sinners, a God who forgave us without conditions. He is a God who corrects with love and without condemning the offender. From every indication, many people are still finding it difficult to adopt God’s pattern of mercy and treating of offenders. They are rather comfortable with a pattern founded on revenge for wrongs committed against them, the type of treatment written in Genesis 4: 23-24 (I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me. If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times).

To experience the presence of peace of Christ in our communities, families and other relationships, we must love as our God loves, and forgive as our God forgives. The pattern of God’s mercy was shown by Christ in his teachings, especially in two of his parables. The first was in the parable of the prodigal son. In this parable, God was shown as a Father who went out to meet the son who offended him, to embrace him, to forgive him and to restore him to his lost glory. This challenges us to go out and encounter those who have offended us, to forgive them and take them back. Don’t sit in your comfort and wait for those who offended you to come and ask for forgiveness, and don’t let their offences fracture your relationship with them. Go out in search of them today. The second was in the parable of the unforgiving servant. This parable teaches us that God wants us to forgive offenders without giving conditions to them. Often, we demand conditions before forgiving offenders; this is not the pattern of God’s mercy towards us. God’s pattern is that He forgives without giving us conditions.

Dear friends, Peace cannot bear fruits where there is no forgiveness. Our community cannot be lovely and peaceful if we don’t forgive each other. The second reading tells us that we have conquered the world by our faith. Let us, therefore, witness to this victory through the way we love, help, and forgive one another; this is our faith. Let us teach the world how to love and how to forgive, beginning from our families and Christian communities. Let us make our Christian communities, families and relationships abodes of love, mercy, and mutual help. Let us make our Christian communities to testify to the power of the risen Christ. When our families, communities and relationships reflect peace, love, and mutual help, our lives will be able to attract the presence of Christ, just as the early Christians attracted the presence of the risen Christ in the gospel of today.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

PUSC, Roma

 

2^nd Sunday of Easter, Year B: Reflection by Fr Julian Ekeh

THEME: THE GOD OF ANOTHER CHANCE COMES FOR YOU (Divine Mercy Sunday)

(John 20:19-31)

Today, the second Sunday of Easter is the Sunday of Divine Mercy.

Today, being the eighth day after the resurrection of the Lord, we call to mind the great mercy of God even in our unbelief and sinfulness. We have a God who gives us chances, first, second, and more chances. Do we utilize these opportunities?

The Gospel of today shows us manifestations of the mercy of God on the universal Church, in the life of the disciples, of the apostles and even in the life of Thomas the doubter. Jesus comes for you again and again to meet you in your weakness. He comes with peace and the Holy Spirit. He comes with reconciliation.

RECONCILES WITH THE RECONCILERS

The disciples had lost their friendship with Christ on account of their betrayal at different levels, disappointments, ingratitude, denials, abandonments, etc. They were filled with guilt, sorrows, shame, fears, troubles, regrets, and feeling that they had failed. They lost their peace of mind. Jesus came in as they shut themselves because of fear of the Jews.

Jesus stood

Jesus stood and watched Peter, watched all the apostles, and remembered their involvements in breaking His heart. He watched and saw them feel very sorry. He saw what was lacking in them; peace. They never expected it, but Jesus surprised them with it in His merciful love. He said: Peace be with you. This means: "I have made peace with you on the cross", " I have forgiven you", "We are friends once again", "Let's forget about the past", "Let's move on" 'Udo ka mma' (peace is better). Jesus gave them yet another chance to experience His mercy and compassion.

JESUS MAKES THE APOSTLES RECONCILERS

Jesus did not only get reconciled with His apostles He went forward to make them reconcilers. He entrusted the message of reconciliation into their hands. He gives them His Spirit, the Spirit to bind and lose, the power to forgive sins, and even to retain them. He restored the 'God breathedness' lost in Adam once more. He breathed upon them and filled them. Thus, the community of the apostles present got both the forgiveness of Christ and the power to forgive.

MERCY FOR THE INDIVIDUAL- THOMAS

For some reasons, Thomas was absent when Jesus visited the community of the apostles. For that, he doubted and wouldn't believe that Jesus is risen, that He who had these wounds, pains, scars, who died such a shameful death could just come back to easily forgive and restore his betrayers.  He challenged God, and Jesus came just for him. He gave him another chance of seeing Him. He gave him another chance of being forgiven, He gave him another special opportunity of touching Him. And the mercy and love of Christ amazed Him that He concluded that no man can do these. His eyes opened to see the God in Christ, and He proclaimed: My Lord and my God!

JESUS COMES TO YOU WITH MERCY

You see, Jesus comes to us with mercy, true love, and compassion. He knows we can't do without it. He knows how weak we are. He knows that we can err. He knows we are human, that we are made from humus, that we are fallible. But He doesn't want us to perish in the dust of sin, of shame, of immorality, of corruption. He raises us in the sacrament of reconciliation, nourishes in communion, and wants us to confess our sins and receive His mercy whenever we fall. He wants to hear us call for mercy. He hears our cry for mercy and heals us when we ask for forgiveness.

LET'S BE MERCIFUL

The Lord Jesus wants us to be filled with His mercy and show mercy to others. He wants to live in love. He wants us to forgive one another. Jesus wants us to have mercy on people around us. Jesus wants us to feel with the poor and the needy; those in need of our spiritual gifts, our moral support, our forgiveness, our peace, and our reconciliation.

Let us be merciful like our heavenly Father.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

LET US PRAY

We ask for your mercy, Oh Lord. We can't do without it. Plunge us into the ocean of Your Mercy. Forgive us our sins, and help us to take the chances You offer us in the sacrament of reconciliation seriously. Pardon us, Lord, give us Your peace and fill us with Your Spirit, restore to us the joy of our salvation through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Happy Easter/ Divine Mercy Sunday (Yr B)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 

2ND SUNDAY OF EASTER, YR B: HOMILY BY FR. JUSTIN ADIELE

THEME: LIVING AND SHARING IN THE MERCY OF GOD

INTRODUCTION:

Today being the second Sunday of Easter, we celebrate the Feast of the Divine Mercy of God which we are all living in and sharing in. And as such, we cannot live in denial of his mercies. The whole commemoration of the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus, is a commemoration of what Jesus has shared with us; his self-donation (his life) and his merciful love, by which we are now adopted, sanctified, forgiven and redeemed children of God. Our command, mandate and simple challenge today is to also mercifully share ourselves, our life, our love, and our goods with everyone around us.

 

THE FIRST READING (ACTS. 4: 32 – 35)

In the first reading of today, we read about the first company of believers who adapted immediately to living and sharing in mercy of God, they learnt to possess and share everything in common and to live to share with others, their earthly goods. Jesus came that we may have a share in his divine nature and heavenly riches/possessions. What we do not possess before, we now possess and share through Jesus Christ; that is, eternal life. We must practically learn to share with others every good we possess which they do not yet possess; be it faith, the gospel message, or anything God has blessed us with.

 

THE SECOND READING (1 JN. 5: 1 – 7)

In the second reading, we are meant to understand that living and sharing in the mercy of God with others is not just an option for all believers in God, but a command and rule of life that they must obey. If we believe in God, love God, and are born of God, we must keep his commandments which center on “love of one another”. When you love one another, you would be merciful and charitable enough to let others have a share in your earthly goods and blessings.

 

THE GOSPEL READING (JN. 20: 19 – 31)

In the gospel reading after Jesus had earlier shared with his apostles his own life, time, gospel, office/mission, and all heavenly secrets as he has heard from the Father, He went ahead today to share with them his office or throne of mercy. He sent them, as the Father sent him, and gave them the authority to forgive sins at the sacrament of penance. What we call presidential pardon today, Jesus leveraged and made easily accessible for us through his bishops and priests. Simply put, he made mercy and pardon readily available to the most common of men, and we are all living and sharing in it.

 

CONCLUSION

Brethren, it is barbaric when we receive forgiveness, but cannot forgive others; when we receive mercy and cannot be merciful ourselves. We cannot be living by the mercy of God, living in the mercy of God and yet we cannot share that mercy with others. Whatever we are now or possess now, it is by the grace and mercy of God, says St. Paul. (cf. 1 Cor. 15: 10). Like the first believers today, we must learn to share those physical or spiritual goods which we have mercifully and graciously received from our heavenly Father. God allowed us to live and share in his mercy, we must also allow others to live and share in our mercy.

Happy Sunday!

Be Merciful and sharing like the Father!

Fr. Justin

 Thursday of Easter Octave: reflection

Theme: Not to us, but to your name be the glory, Lord

Reading: Acts 3:11-26

In today’s first reading, I wish to call your attention to Peter’s first response to the people gathered around him and John in Solomon’s Portico. After Peter and John had healed the lame man at the Beautiful gate, he clung to them, thereby drawing the attention and admiration of the people to them. Then, Peter told them: “men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk?” He simply went on to tell them that it was Jesus’ name and faith in His name that healed the man.

We didn’t see Peter claiming that the man was healed because his altar was more powerful than the altars of other apostles, or that the man was healed because he released a triple dose of ‘abido shaker’ power. Also, Peter didn’t tell the crowd that the man was healed because he had prepared himself in the desert by fasting for 100 days. Yet, for many people of our time, men who lay claims such as these as the reason why miracles are flowing in their churches are the real men of God. It is a pity.

The lesson we should learn today is that whoever refuses to acknowledge Jesus as the power behind any miracle recorded in ‘his or her church’ did not perform such miracle through the power of Jesus, because the devil also performs wonders. This does not mean that all who shout Jesus! Jesus!! are disciples of Jesus. However, whoever is an instrument in the hand of Jesus will always realize that glories and praises from miracles should go to Jesus and not to him or her, and that every miracle is an opportunity to draw people closer to Jesus, as Peter did in today’s first reading, rather than an opportunity to flex his or her muscles.

May God bless and protect you as you face the activities of this Thursday. Amen.

Fr Isaac Chima

 

Tuesday of Easter Octave: reflection

THEME: SAVE YOURSELF FROM THIS CROOKED GENERATION

Acts: 2:36-41

In today's first reading, Peter concluded his exhortation on the day of Pentecost by urging his listeners, who had realized their mistakes in the role they played in the betrayal of Jesus, to save themselves from this crooked generation. 

Is this call to save oneself from this crooked generation still relevant today? The answer is undoubtedly a resounding YES. These days, more than ever, the call to save ourselves from this corrupt and crooked generation is appropriate.

We live in a world where money can buy everything. Ours is a world where antilife programs are sponsored by global leaders and influential figures in the culture industries with funds that could have been used to better the lives of the impoverished masses. In this generation, taboos and evil in all its manifestations are marketed as normal lifestyle, choices or indications that there are alternative lifestyles, while the good is labelled as outdated and unprogressive. We might even say that we live in a society where many forms of evil are accepted as norms, masqueraded as a human right, and supported by funds intended for the general welfare of the underprivileged. Do we not live in a time where a great number of people are merrily and quickly making their way towards eternal damnation?

From the tomb of our Lord Jesus comes a new life full of hope, a force that can help those who embrace it in turning their lives around in order to save themselves from this generation that is rushing towards eternal damnation. The resurrection of Jesus equips those who allow themselves to be influenced by it with the power to do what their frail human nature normally would not allow them to do. Christ’s resurrection gives us the strength to break away from our old life of sin and embrace a new life of grace and hope.

I pray that the power of Christ's resurrection will free you from the bonds of the evil one. Amen

Fr Isaac Chima

 

Easter Vigil: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: Christ’s Resurrection: A guarantee of our ultimate victory

Dearest friends, we have arrived at that night when the power of light conquered the power of darkness, that night when the Most High didn’t allow the power of death to rejoice over us. But some questions keep ringing in my mind. They are begging for answers.

Dear friends, I would like you to reflect over these questions and, possibly, answer them in your heart. Have you ever imagined what the world would have looked like if Christ never resurrected from the dead? Have you ever thought of the values that would have been supreme in this world if Christ did not resurrect from the dead? Do you realize that it took God the Father many years to prepare humanity for the coming of His only begotten Son?

Right from the fall of man in Adam and Eve, God took the decision to restore man to his lost glories. To achieve this plan, God adopted the people of Israel, sent priests and prophets to teach them to obey Him and to prepare them for the coming of His Son. The readings of this night give us a beautiful storyline in this regard. The entire world waited in anticipation for the coming of this Son of God. But, unfortunately, when the Son of God finally came, the world did not recognize him. The devil locked the hearts of the Jews from recognizing Him. The same devil, who caused the failure of Adam, wanted to drag humanity to another failure. Instigated by the devil, the Jews seized the Son of God, judged him unjustly and crucified Him. They crucified the one who had come to save them from the power of the devil. What a historic disaster, an end to the long-awaited Messiah! In the plan of the devil, the death of Jesus was to be the second defeat of humanity: the first was in Adam, the second was to be in the elimination of Jesus.

So, dear friends, if Christ didn’t rise from the dead, the plan of saving us from the dominion of the devil would have received a heavy punch. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, all stories about him would have been reduced to mere curiosity, a forgettable footnote in the crowded history of lost courses. If Jesus had not risen from the dead, the values that support evil would have been supreme on earth, injustice would have been the order of the day. If Christ had not risen, darkness would have conquered light, evil would have conquered the good.

However, dear friends, death did not have the last laugh in the story of Jesus. God did not allow the story of His only begotten Son to end with His death on the Cross, rather, His story developed another chapter, the part which says, ‘He conquered death and rose from the dead’.

So, dear ones, we are victorious because of the victory of Christ. Relying on the victory of Christ, we can comfortably look at the cross and affirm that in our individual stories, in our life’s struggles, death, hardship, trials and tribulations will not have the final laugh or the final word. The resurrection of Christ has given us assurance of victory over our own problems.

The church wants us to raise our voices today, with eyes fixed on the cross of Christ, and affirm with faith that our own trials will also come to pass. Our childlessness will also come to pass. Joblessness will also come to pass. Hatred will also come to pass. Sickness will also come to pass. Hunger will also come to pass. The resurrection of Christ is our guarantee. Easter is a time of miracles for Christians, because St Paul assured us that if we suffer and die with Him, we shall live and reign with Him in glory.

Happy Easter.

Fr. Isaac Chima

 

EASTER SUNDAY: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: NO POWER CAN TAKE AWAY MY JESUS ALLELUIA!

(John 20:1-9)

Death could not do much. Death could not stop Jesus from doing anything. The great stones could not hold him. Death and the powers of darkness failed woefully. The Easter is indeed a celebration of joy, hope, and liberation. We have every reason to rejoice and be glad in the Lord:

 

LOVE REMAINS

By killing Jesus, the enemies thought it was going to be the end of his love and concern for the salvation of man and his relationship with man. They thought they had cut him off from the land of the living. It was not so. They gave him a flight ticket to enlarge His kingdom by preaching to the dead and taking them along with Him after a three days retreat. They couldn't even stop the love of those who really knew Jesus after all the deceptive ploys. Mary Magdalene came with love to the grave and thought they had taken away the Lord. May your joy never be taken away. May you never lose grip of what is yours. May the death of Christ reveal the depth of his love for you, and may you, by the power of his resurrection, be drawn to believe more in him. The world can take away everything from you but not the love of God just as they took everything away from Jesus but not the Father's love.

 

THE THIRD DAY REMAINS

The Apostles who went to the tomb confirmed that Jesus wasn't there anymore. They confirmed emptiness. But at this moment, they never understood anything about resurrection.

The third day is very important. When Jesus cried: "it is finished," maybe some of his mockers laughed and thought they had finished Him. Oh no. What finished was his pre-resurrection ministry, but the fruit of the sown seed will germinate that no force can terminate. He was buried to die, but he became a plant that bloomed after the third day.

What are the circumstances burying you? What are the situations putting you down in shame? Jesus cried your cry. Weep not! He died your death, fear not! But on the third day he gives you assurance that it doesn't end in sorrows. He tells you that Good Friday is necessary but can never take away the Easter reality. He tells you that your toils will bring you joy. He tells you that your own tomb will also be emptied of the devil's plan. In fact, the tomb is never your place. Jesus insists that after the rains, there must be sunshine. Jesus promises that there may be tears in the night, but there must be laughter in the morning.

Child of God, look towards the third day and be radiant.

 

JESUS IS ALIVE ALLELUIA

That Jesus MUST RISE from the dead was a teaching the Apostles found as a hard nut to crack. The Easter message is that the grave is not His abode. He belongs to a kingdom. He came to open the kingdom for those held bound by the power of the grave. Since Jesus has risen, what are we still looking for in the tomb? Oh, let us rise! He lives, and because He lives, I can face tomorrow. He is alive forever Alleluia. You cannot die again. You shall live to sing of the Lord's goodness. He took your mortality to give you immortality.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

LET US PRAY

 We thank You, Lord, for restoring our joy and giving us reasons to move on proudly as children of the light by the power of Your Son's resurrection. May we live and reign with the risen Christ in the glory of His light to the shame of the overthrown enemy of salvation through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Easter to you and your loved ones. Alleluia!!!

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh