18^TH SUNDAY, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: IN HIS RICHES MAN LACKS WISDOM

(Luke 12:13-21)

The accumulation madness has really dealt us a grievous blow all round. The madness has eaten up the better part of our people on every side. It has eaten our time that we no longer think of any other thing except having and having and how to have all the more. Man no longer thinks of what happens after having. Does it begin and end with having? After having what next? Who is the source of all we wish to have? What are we to do with what we want to have? Man lacks wisdom indeed in his riches. Little wonder the Psalmist added: "he is like the beasts that are destroyed." Sad enough, man dares too to take this attachment to riches to be of greater value even in the very before of God. Thus, in the Gospel of today, the man was not concerned about Jesus and His teaching but on what he wanted. Between Jesus and mammon, he made his choice and even told Jesus about it.

DIVIDED BY RICHES

There remains a number of good values that wealth and riches can't afford. In the real sense of it, wealth should enhance development, peace, harmony, order, and understanding. But what do we see?  Division, court cases, fighting, lifetime enmity, and killings. The person that asked Jesus to bid his brother divide the inheritance with him shows the truism in what we are talking about.  Brothers can no longer live in peace because of inheritance and riches. People of the same country no longer act as one because of national cake that must be divided.  In fact, Jesus warned against covetousness. Because in most of the cases, what is being sought after is what really belongs to the other. Yes, to the other. The farmland of others for grazing cattle, the oil at another man's backyard, the business of others, the life of others, etc. It is indeed disheartening how wealth has divided a lot of communities. Check out all the communities with mineral resources and see how they slaughter each other for what should serve their common good. Look well and see how divided our country is because we rush after money bags during elections and rig in evil leaders into power. We are indeed dissected and divided by what should be the dividends of riches.

WHO AND WHAT ARE WE ACCUMULATING FOR

If only those who accumulate riches excessively and wickedly are to live to see how they are wasted, they should appreciate better the preacher of 'vanity upon vanity'. Is it possible for the governors to see how the investments they built for themselves with pensioners' money will be mismanaged? They will pray for the opportunity to correct their mistakes. If the former governors and contractors should come back to see how the cornered contracts are announcing their failures and monumental foolishness, they will seek an appointment to right their wrongs. If all we are struggling for is not the good of all and glory of God, then we have failed. Let's stop the greed. Let's stop being obsessed by possession. 

WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE FOR US AND WHAT WE HAVE IN STALL FOR OURSELVES

Man wants to get it all here. Acquisition, possession, wealth, and riches are the languages in his dictionary. How to destroy and build better houses, how to do away with banks here to bank abroad, how to invest here, and there are all that matters to man. He no longer considers anything to be better than these. He doesn't care again about who he is and who he is called to be. Man reduces himself and his enterprise rather to materials. Man is not just material but spiritual. And because man is storing for his material needs without considering his spiritual needs, God makes a demand of his soul. What then shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul? Let's have a rethink.

RESOLVE/ BENEDICTION

God created us to be wise and use the things He has blessed us with wisely to glorify Him. Let us not use them to cause death, thereby turning the blessings of God to a curse. Let our eyes be on things of heaven. Let us always have recourse to God so as not to attract the name 'fool!'

Let us store up treasures for ourselves in heaven where it shall never be destroyed. May we thank God for the abundant blessings He has lavished upon our world. May divine wisdom save us from the foolishness of greed, covetousness, and undue attachment to riches. May God rain down upon us the abundance of His heavenly blessings.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

LET US PRAY

Oh, merciful God, we have failed You by the foolish choices we make on a daily basis. We choose earthly riches, leaving the heavenly. Look down and see where Your people are. Because of lack of wisdom, our sense of values is being distorted, leading to anarchy, terrorism, backwardness, and divisions. Bring us together to think and act as one. Grant that our choices from today will be to the greater glory of Your Holy Name and the salvation of humanity from economic, spiritual, moral, and political crises. Hear us and bless us in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Happy Sunday to you. (18th Sunday. Ordinary Time, Yr C)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 17^TH SUNDAY, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

TRUE PRAYER: A DIALOGUE WITH GOD

(Luke 11:1-13)

The word of God today takes our mind to something very special and inescapable in our relationship with God, namely, prayer. This is one thing that has become so common and yet commonly misunderstood. What many seem to know about prayer is actually what it is not. What myriads take to be prayer in reality is misconception. What we have believed prayer to be is indeed not what the author of Christian prayer has defined it to be.

 

WHAT IS PRAYER?

Prayer has been variously defined. It is understood as the raising up of mind and heart to God. It is seen as communication with God. It is taken to be a form of dialogue with God. This is true. Hence, the Igbo Catechism calls it "nkariuka anyi na Nna anyi Chineke, iji too Ya gozie Ya, kelee ya maka ihe oma Ọ na emere anyi biakwa riọ ya ọgọ maka ihe ndi na-akpa anyi na ibe anyi". The above implies that prayer has to do with dialogue with God in order to worship and glorify Him, appreciating Him for His goodness and requesting for our needs and those of others. We saw this in the intercessory prayer of Abraham to God for Sodom and Gomorrah.

Today, prayer is not just presented to us as a practice, as a show, or as fun. No! Prayer is seen as a life.

 

THE LIFE OF JESUS: A REFLECTION OF PRAYER

Jesus is indeed the Man of Prayer. A good number of times, the apostles saw Him at prayers. The disciples were not novices in prayers. The Jews were known to pray a good number of times in a day. Their synagogues and temple were designated places of prayer. They must have been praying. Also, some of His followers were formally disciples of John the Baptist. So they knew what prayer is. But in Jesus, they saw a different type of prayer. They saw a life punctuated with prayers. They saw a life synonymous with prayers. They saw a unique way of praying they had never witnessed. They asked the Lord to teach them how to pray.

Do you have the desire to pray? Do you actually pray like Christ since you are a Christian? Do you think that those things that you feel make your prayer a prayer is actually what makes it one? What's special about Jesus' way of praying?

 

 LEARNING FROM THE SCHOOL OF JESUS, THE MASTER OF PRAYER

Jesus communicates always in an intimate way with God. Yes, God is high above, but in Jesus' prayer, God is brought very close. The conversation becomes a heart to heart one, a friend with friend talk, an interesting one indeed. The fact remains that when one is in   conversation with his beloved, hours spent is like a minute. Seeing all these, the apostles couldn't help but ask:  "Lord, teach us to pray." They have really seen Jesus as master in the matter of prayers. Jesus begins the teaching.  Prayer is communal and personal. As individuals, we should know how to pray to God as Father of us all. Prayer is a relationship with God and with one another.

 

WORDS OF PRAYER

Jesus gave them the words they should use in praying.  He taught them how to pray like Himself. He made them understand that they are sons of the same Father. That God is their one and only loving Father. Thus, they should relate to God, like friends do. It is a relationship of love. It is an invitation to dialogue with God like Jesus. This is what we do when we pray.

 

WAYS OF PRAYERS

How to pray is the question. A lot of people pray following "a man of God's way." Jesus is the way to the Father. He has shown us the way. Let us follow Him and recognize too that prayer is not only the words we say. What we do and our silent recognition of the Almighty power is part of prayers. Let us not emulate the self-acclaimed prayer warriors.  Let us live prayers. Let us not think that it is how loud we shout that make our prayers heard. Let us see prayers as talk and listen affairs. Not just talking. May we give God the opportunity to talk to us when we are at prayers. Let us be docile to His will. Let us humble ourselves before Him just like His children that we are.

Many people are suffering from spiritual low self-esteem. They think they must speak in tongues before they are heard. They believe they must use special forms of diction. They think they must sing and jump up before being convinced they have prayed.

 

PRAY PERSISTENTLY AND WITH CONFIDENCE

The persistence with which friends talk to each other is interesting. It is a trusting type of persistence. Jesus gives us the confidence to call God our Father. To pray to him in our unique way. No two sons approach their parents the same way. Each son develops his special way of approaching his father.

TIME FOR PRAYERS

Always is the time. Pray always and never lose heart is the instruction.

 

 WHAT TO DO WITH PRAYERS: ASK- SEEK- KNOCK

ASK

In confusion about which way to go, what to do, and so on and forth, prayer is the only way. God has the final answer to all our problems.

SEEK

The face of God is the only source of our joy. The psalmist would say it is your face, oh Lord, that I seek. Hide not your face. What have you lost?  Your joy, your peace, Divine mercy? Prayer is the only true way of finding.

KNOCK

The Lord gives us access to His Sacred Heart. His heart is never locked. He's not like the man who would not open the door because it is night. He opens new opportunities to us, and he opens the door to us to enter into a deep relationship with Him. He never keeps us outside his mercy. When we knock, He opens.

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND OUR PRAYERS

The jump to the Holy Spirit in the Gospel is worthy of note. Through prayers and asking, God gives us the greatest of all our desires. He even knows that we may not know how best to pray. Our prayers may have some limitations. The Holy Spirit prays in us with sighs deeper than words. Prayer here in the Spirit is something more than lips service. Jesus would say that true worshippers will worship in spirit and in truth.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

Oh God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, you taught us how to pray. Answer our prayers, wipe our tears, and grant all our petitions with favour. Let each day of our life open to us a dialogue with You. May our daily conversation with You bring us true conversion, forgiveness of our sins, and true peace with You who lives and reigns with Jesus Christ in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen

Happy Sunday to you (17th Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr. C)

May your prayer be acceptable in God's sight.

Rev Fr. Julian O Ekeh

 16^TH SUNDAY, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: SEIZE THE MOMENT

(Luke 10:38-42)

What matters to Martha while Mary makes merry

Seizing the moment is an important message for today. Choice making and decision taking are a never do without in our everyday day life. What mattered most to Martha was cooking and the house chores while Mary found her peace and joy at the feet of Jesus. Our choices and decision determine our happiness or unhappiness. Our ability to relate with God and allow him enter in our lives means more than we can think of.

Jesus wants to enter into relationship with us, to be with us and commune with us as individuals and as community. It pleases Him when we welcome Him and also enter into holy and loving romance with Him.

 

WELCOME JESUS

It is not accidental that the writer of the Gospel of today pointed out at the beginning of this episode that Jesus entered. He entered a village. He wants to enter, He stays at the door and knocks, anyone that opens He enters and dines with him. Jesus doesn't want to stop at the village square or just at the parish centre. He wants to follow you home. He is open for an invitation. He wants friendship. He expects to be welcomed. Where have you kept Jesus? At the city gate? At the door? Who is inside with you preventing you from letting Him in? Why have you decided to keep him under the hot sun and the heavy rain? Do you take Him into your life' s boat? When He makes His way in, which position do you keep for Him?

 

MARTHA RECEIVES HIM INTO THE HOUSE

When no other person in the village received Jesus, a woman named Martha went and received Him. Were there no men in the village? It is true that Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were from this same family, he was not mentioned here. This must be to describe the exceptional role played by the woman Martha in bringing Jesus to the house.

 

MARY FILLS AN IMPORTANT GAP

Martha did well to bring Jesus into the house, but that was not enough. Something was missing.

Mary was immediately introduced to fill in the blank space. Martha took Jesus into the house, but Mary made a home for Jesus. A home is not the same as a house. You can live in a mansion, eat the best of meals, enjoy every good amenity, but still remain lonely. Jesus was left in the big house by Martha, but Mary came and kept Him company. The importance of communication cannot be overemphasized. A marriage without communication, a family without it, a person without it shatters. Jesus was left without communication except that Mary took that special part.

 

Have we left Jesus in our magnificent Church edifices?

Giving Jesus a house can means receiving Him during baptism and answering a Christian. Making Him a home can mean living so intimately with Him that people start seeing Christ in us. This has to do with holding Jesus firm, making Him number one in our everything. It means total surrender of oneself at Jesus' feet.

 

MARY AT THE LORD'S FEET

An Igbo joker says that "ndi no na-aka Chineke akariala, agam ano ya n' ukwu" (that he prefers to be at the feet of Jesus because many have taken hold of His hand)

What's the implication of being at the feet of Jesus?

The feet of Jesus is the place of instruction, of communication, of information, of conversion, of radical decision making and a place to seek solutions in confusion, a place of deep affection and true expression of love, it is a place to wipe away tears. It is the true position of true disciples. At the feet of the cross, we also saw the beloved disciples of Jesus.

It is a place of master- disciple relationship. In Acts 22:3, Paul boasts of being educated at the feet of Gamaliel.

At the feet of Jesus, Mary must have been contemplating, reflecting and meditating on Isaiah 52:7 "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring the good news, publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness. Mary was busy making sure that the sands of the evangelization brought by Jesus were not carried away. She was lost in pondering on the goodness of the Lord and wished to remain there. She recognises Jesus not as an ordinary visitor to be given food but to be given attention and the spiritual food of doing the will of God.

 

MARTHA AND HER MATTERS

Martha came up with her Matters, which she thought really mattered. She came to complain to Him. We may not blame her. Attention suddenly shifted from her, who it was that brought in Jesus. She must have been really jealous why Jesus pays attention to one who never invited Him. After moments of alone disturbances, she dared to approach Jesus and complained bitterly about what she called   "unfair" behaviour of her sister.

To work is to pray. But in the case of Martha, there was work with grudge.

Martha represents the many people who claim to be too busy that making out time for God becomes a problem.

Martha here represents those who do a lot of things for the Church, but they are not interested in communing with God. The Marthas can be those who do not understand the reason behind constant confession, daily morning Mass, 'nkuzi nke okwukwe,' or visit to the Blessed Sacrament.

Marthas are those who do not stay put in the Church without being distracted by looking at others, by pressing phones, chatting away, and being absent-minded.

Marthas are those who are so troubled by the cares and worries of life that they keep christ aside for a while.

 

THE BETTER PART CHOSEN BY MARY

Just like Martha, Mary must have had a lot of troubles, but she poured them there at the feet of Jesus. Martha kept pushing without Christ, and thus, she entered into the crisis of impatience and anger.

The better part chosen by Mary was to waste no time. She immediately seized the opportunity in their house to be with Jesus, be open to Him, and make Him Lord and master. Mary got the better part through listening, paying heed to instructions and allowing the word to bring her peace and transformation of life.

Can we embrace the word of God, build Him an altar in our families, pray together, attend the Holy Mass, receive the Holy Communion, meditate, and pray ? Try to know the will of God and do it?

May God bless His word in our hearts.

LET US PRAY

We pray You Oh God to bless our resolve to follow You, to welcome You and listen to You. Give us the best of the things we need most in this life.

Deliver us from the troubles and problems that hinder us from truly worshipping You as our personal Lord and loving master. May we find peace in our loving relationship with You in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Happy Sunday to you, dear friends in Christ. (16th Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr C)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 15^TH SUNDAY, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: THE DANGER OF PASSING BY

(Luke 10:25-37)

The Gospel of today continued from where that of last Sunday stopped. Last Sunday, Jesus told His disciples how fortunate they were to have heard the many things they heard and to have seen what they saw for many longed to but couldn't. As if the lawyer of today's Gospel was among those who wished to have heard, he stepped forward to Jesus with a question. He became interested in the new teacher. He wanted to test Jesus.

What do I do?

This is a question asked by someone in confusion who wants to know the right or best way to follow. Jesus could have overlooked this young man because he really knew the answer to his question. But Jesus, knowing the danger of passing by, didn't overlook him. Unlike the other places in the Bible where this question was genuinely asked, today's case is a different scenario altogether. After the preaching of John the Baptist, the question came up. Following the teaching of st Peter on Pentecost, the question was asked by his audience. The same question was still asked in the Philippian jail. These others asked to know, to be shown, to be better and to change. They were not asking to justify themselves or to be given reasons to pass by.

This lawyer's intent was not what it should be, but Jesus paid attention to him.

 

The lawyer and the lawgiver

Having put the question to Him, Jesus, the lawgiver, replies by putting it back to him. What is written in the law?

He answered by reciting part of the shema:

"Hear, oh Israel... you must love the Lord your God (Deut 6:5), Love of neighbour as oneself (Lev. 19:18)."

From the caveat " Your neighbour" he asks: who is my neighbour?

He was not asking to know what he didn't know, but to find reasons of limiting his neighbours. He needed more reasons to pass by. Jesus led him through a story, leaving him to find the correct information he needed by himself.

 

Those who passed by

We sing in Igbo "agabialamo mgbe I na-eje, mgbe I na ala", "Mgbe I na agaghari na eme mma", and in English: pass me not, oh gentle Saviour.

We fail daily to respond to those in need of our stopping over. But we make God stop for us. We don't seem to care about doing for those around us what we will like the God above us do for us. The priest passed by, followed by the levite. They may have done what they did for some ritualistic reasons. They considered the danger of not performing their rites as priests than the danger of seeing the only neighbour they had along that dangerous route who needed their help. They considered being attacked, being blackmailed for touching, being accused of killing the man, and not enjoying their rest. For these, they passed by. Passing by is passing away from the love of God. Do not pass by anyone in danger.

 

Our excuses to pass by

We've got excuses not to be helpful. In the villages, we do not want them to kill us and we allow the poor widow to die of malaria, we do not want our fuel tank to run dry against tomorrow's work we leave the pregnant poor woman to die of labour. 'It doesn't concern me' is a dangerous attitude to life. (I don't care 'wu onye oruberela'). We should have feelings for our neighbours.

 

Am I involved?

Odumegwu Ojukwu, the leader of Biafra, is known for the dictum: "because I am involved." Being involved or not has become the measure of many things in our society today. Because our leaders are not involved, our poor masses are passed by unnoticed. Our schools are passed by dilapidated because our leaders' wards are not in them. Our hospitals are left because our leaders have foreign health insurance abroad. Our roads are abandoned because our leaders use helicopters. The poor man's child languishes in jail after committing the same crime with the freed governor's child. The Christians suffer because a Christian is not the president. People are massacred daily, and a leader of a nation pretends not to be aware. Indifference is all we get from political officers, while the poor masses suffer as a result of terrorism and insecurity.

But when an epidemic that knows no great or small comes like the Ebola or Covid19, everyone gets involved. It is unfortunate!

 

Then the Samaritan came by

Here is the answer to the question: Who is my neighbour? The one who did not pass by is the true neighbour. The Samaritan did not pass by. His good deeds can not be passed by not even by the lawyer in his prejudice. He at least admitted, even though he avoided mentioning his Samaritan origin.

Take a look at what the Samaritan did:

He came to where he was

(He did not stay far away to take pictures for Facebook upload)

He felt compassion for him

(Did not just stop at saying eiyaaa and continue typing on WhatsApp)

Bound up his wounds and carried him to an inn, took care of him, and spent on him without reservation. This is inspirational!

 

Go and do the same

The argument winner stood dumbfounded. And Jesus charged him to go. Go and don't pass by again.

You're given to give. You're alive to make others live. You're standing that others may rise. Help them up.

You may be next in same situation tomorrow. Do as you would want done to you.

 

BLESSINGS

May you be blessed with good caring neighbours as you endeavour to be a good neighbour yourself.

May God not pass you by as you stop by for others.

Happy Sunday to you.

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 14^TH SUNDAY, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: THE BEST REASON/WAYS TO REJOICE

(Luke 10:1-12.17-20)

In a world where people eat their cake and expect to have it, Jesus tells us the secret to joy. In a society where no one wants to take instructions, Jesus instructs us to heed in order to rejoice. In a world where peace is seen as outdated, Jesus gives the mandate to preach peace. In a society where fulfilment is no longer the issue but monetary achievement, God tells us to go beyond the here and now, but use our momentary joy to visualise what the eternal joy is like.

 

INSIGHT FROM THE GOSPEL

 

YOU'RE APPOINTED

To whom much is given much is expected. Yes, Jesus, in the appointment of the 70 disciples, announced that the harvest is indeed plentiful but the labourers few. For sure, well-meaning workers are few. In that your own area there are a lot of soils to cultivate. With that of your talent, there are a lot of achievements. "Onye a na- akpo nwere ihe O na eme." The Lord is not appointing you to disappoint Him. The Lord Jesus calls us in various capacities. He appoints us for a mission. He appoints to send us. He sends us as His ambassadors. He sends us to represent the values He has deposited in us wherever life catapults us to. Do you have a missionary spirit? Do you feel humbled by the fact that among all your peers, you're chosen for a specific task? Do you see your call in whatever sector as an opportunity to be responsible? How responsible are you as a father, mother, student, public, or private worker? Is there any remarkable positive difference between you as a Christian performing your tasks? Appointed as a governor, do you allow your Christian values to influence your policies? As a Christian police officer, what do you do to stand out from corruption? Just name your profession and attach the question about how far you have seen yourself as an appointed representative of God.

 

FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS

'Nti wu nka' is a popular Igbo adage, meaning that listening is a sure way to living long. In this context, it involves being obedient to instructions. To succeed in life, certain ordinances must have to be followed. Following instructions demands discipline.  A disciple is ready to learn. He is open to take in the good ideas that will lead him to actualise his life goal. Jesus today tells his disciples the "dos" and "don'ts" of the call He has given to them. To be happy, we must do the right things, follow the right directions, and shun the wrong ones. We must avoid those on our way who are enemies of our joy in the Lord. Our joy and salvation come undoubtedly from how we are able to be on the right track without being distracted.

 

ACCEPT PEACE AND GIVE PEACE

A life without peace is a disaster. In His word to the 70, Jesus made them understand the central message they are to carry to the world, namely, peace. Our world has failed in this great mission because we have all around us men who use their opportunities to create walls of hatred.  We have leaders who do not care about coexistence. We have citizens who see the language of peace as weakness. Jesus tells us today that if we go with this message into the world, the wars boiling because of the walls created would be demolished. But whereby people fail to hear it, let's not forget in our wisdom as the lambs in the midst of wolves to be awake and alert in self-defence.

 

REJOICE FOR YOUR NAME IS WRITTEN IN HEAVEN

God doesn't give a political appointment without an appointment letter. He has written your name in the book of life except if in your carelessness you choose to remove your name.  There's no anonymity before God. He knows you by name and has appointed you with that name. Jesus is of the position that it is a great cause for joy that our names are written in heaven. Are you living out here on earth what the heavens have written concerning you? Or have you decided to play the character and role of another? Thereby misrepresenting God.

At their return from the missions, the 70 were happy for the paraphernalia associated with their mission instead of the fact that they followed the instructions of their master and that it has been recorded for eternity in their honour. What are the things that give you joy? Are they really worth it? Do you also think of the joy of the Lord? The joy of the Lord should be your strength. St Paul would say: rejoice in the Lord, I repeat, rejoice. Let nothing steal your joy.

May God bless His word in your hearts.

BLESSINGS

 May you never toil in vain. May you follow faithfully along the path of your call and find peace in Christ. May you find fulfilment in your marriage, in your ministry, in your work, in your relationship, in your family, in everything you do. May you find good and a thousand reasons to rejoice all the days of your life and find peace in Christ who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen

Happy Sunday to you (the 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 SOLEMNITY OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: THE APOSTLES: REVEALERS OF CHRIST

(Matthew 16:13-19)

Today, the two princes of the Church are celebrated in a solemn manner: Peter and Paul. One was called to be an Apostle during the earthly ministry of Christ; the other was called after the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ. One was called from fishing fish to fishing men for the kingdom, the other was called on his way to fish men of God to end the word of God and he was assigned the mission of fishing souls for the Christ he persecuted. One stands for the authority and sacred tradition of the Church, and the other was a missionary.

 

SOME THINGS THEY SHARED IN COMMON: LESSONS FOR US

The two sinned against the Lord and betrayed Him. The two were touched by the forgiving hand of Christ after His resurrection. The two confessed Jesus as their Lord. The two respected each other. They corrected themselves and rebuked each other’s wrongs when necessary. The two had great passion for the kingdom of God. The two followed the footsteps of Christ and gave their lives for the preaching of the word of God (they died in Rome, Peter by crucifixion, Paul was beheaded).

Yes! Peter and Paul preached. Peter preached more to the Jews and Paul became Apostle of the Gentiles.

In the two, we saw people who were conscious of answering the question: 'Who do people say I am?' 

They carried the Good News to the ends of the earth, clearing the misunderstandings about Christ and Christians. On Pentecost, Peter ensured that he cleared the world's prejudice about Christ. He only excused them based on their ignorance: "You never knew or you wouldn't have crucified the Lord of glory". Paul's mission from place to place was to teach people about the person of Jesus Christ and His resurrection power.

Thus, something common in the apostles we celebrate is that they came in contact with Christ, came to know Him personally and convincingly, fearlessly preached to the world about Him. Can the world know Jesus better through you?

Do you even know Jesus beyond what people know about Him? Have you developed any personal touch with him as your Lord and master? Are you ready to do anything special for God outside what every other person does?

In these two preachers, let us learn to combine the two tasks of proclamation of the word within and outside our environment, within our lives, and outside our lives to touch others.

God uses us in different ways. There is unity in diversity. No matter the gift we have, let it not lead us into the temptation of breaking away from the cornerstone.  Paul remained humble even though his gift was blooming everywhere.

The Church of Christ is not only founded on the scriptures (sola scriptura) but also on the traditions. Peter represented and preserved the tradition. Paul held to it firmly and would write in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26: "The tradition I received is what I deliver to you..."

Let us not break away from the traditional teachings of the Church in our attachment to the new systems of evangelization.

We have our different roles. We should respect each other’s' roles and contribute to the edification of the Church. We are called to be ambassadors and missionaries of Christ to wherever we find ourselves.  Let us not make a show of ourselves but allow Christ to shine in and through us.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

LET US PRAY

We thank You, Lord, for the Apostles Peter and Paul. Help us through their prayers to be worthy instruments of the message of salvation to our world today and always through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Happy Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.

Happy Sunday to you.

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (CORPUS CHRISTI), YR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: THE EUCHARIST: POWER OF TRANSFORMATION

(Luke 9:11b - 17)

Today, the Church invites us to stop and ponder on the meaning of the Eucharist, its healing, nourishing and transforming power, and the challenge of living a Eucharistic life.

The Corpus et Sanguinis Christi celebration is a liturgical way of celebrating the Real Presence of the Body and Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ in the elements of the Eucharist. It was St Thomas Aquinas, the composer of the famous 'pange lingua gloriosi' that made the proposition for the celebration of this Solemnity to Pope Urban IV. The procession of the Blessed Sacrament is supposed to be held today, but due to Pastoral reasons, it is moved here in Nigeria to be celebrated on Christ the King Sunday. Meanwhile, we celebrate today within the Mass the Great Mystery of the Body and Blood of the Second Person of the Trinity. Good a thing this celebration comes Thursday following the Trinity Sunday or Sunday after the Trinity Sunday.

Let us with the aid of today's Gospel Reading delve into some aspects of this Holy mystery.

 

 INSIGHTS FROM THE GOSPEL

From today's Gospel, a lot of messages can be drawn concerning the Eucharist discuss. Let's limit ourselves to talk on the transforming elements of the Eucharist. The Eucharist is a great miracle. It is a wondrous act. It is a divine manifestation. It is God's involvement in human life. It is a celebration of Thanksgiving for Divine self-giving. Hence, in the Gospel, Jesus gives us a foretaste and foreknowledge of the meaning and message of the Holy Eucharist. Let's consider the transforming power of the Eucharist as testified to today. The Eucharist is efficacious in bringing about the following transformations:

 

EARTH TO HEAVEN

The Eucharist is called food from heaven, food of angels (panis angelicus). It is a link between heaven and earth. It is the ladder that takes us up to heaven and brings God to us. Hence, Today's Gospel Reading was an event that took place within the context of teaching about the kingdom of God. Jesus came from heaven to take us from our earthiness to make us heavenly. To take us from our sinfulness to lead us to holiness. To bring about a communion (mmekorita, oriko, mbikoma) and reconciliation or re-embracing of human and Divine at the table of love. He did this through taking our flesh. Oh, what a Divine exchange! Yes, divine exchange. Jesus took our flesh, purified it, deified it, and handed it to us.

 

SICKNESS TO HEALTH

Jesus didn't just teach, but He healed the sick. The Holy Eucharist is the source of heavenly therapy. It is never accidental that healing was incorporated in this discourse. The Eucharist is a 'medicine for the soul.''

It heals us of venial sins and helps us purify ourselves of every form of mortal sin ahead of receiving it. May our participation in this celebration today bring us healing of body and soul.

 

WORD TO FLESH

We see the harmony between the word and the flesh. Jesus was in the beginning, the Word. The Word took flesh and dwelt among us. Today, He started with the Word, and having nourished the crowd with the Word, He links the Word with bread. His flesh is indeed food.

 

NOTHINGNESS TO SOMETHING GREAT

Jesus is indeed God. It is in the nature of God to create out of nothing (ex nihilo). Just as the people were fed in the barren desert with manna, Jesus gives us His Body. From their nothingness, Jesus used His apostles to feed the crowd with food they themselves never knew how it came about, only that they believed Him and followed His instructions. This power of transformation has never ceased in the Church. It is the powerful force that transforms a man into a priest, making Him Alter Christus. Thus made another Christ, He is empowered by Christ with the authority of 'transubstantiation'. This is the transformation that takes place when the priest imposes His hands on the bread and wine, making it change from ordinary to Real Body and Blood of Christ. Great transformation; of the bread and wine and of the minister too.

As you partake in this sacred mystery, may you be transformed from nothingness to greatness.

 

 SCATTERING TO GATHERING

The Eucharist carries the mark of making us one in Christ. Today, Jesus didn't want to leave the crowd to scatter. He never listened to the twelve who asked Him to send them away. Let us learn from this and remain in union with Christ. Let us learn from this and live well with others. Let us not be like wandering Cain. God has settled us in Christ. let's not be gallivanting, looking for food where there is no food. Let us sit at the table with Jesus and be fed by Him. May God arrest every situation, making us feel like moving away from Him.

 

LONELINESS TO LOVELINESS

Jesus is able to transform your loneliness into loveliness. We are celebrating His real presence, His ever-abiding presence, His Emmanuel nature. The apostles said that the place was lonely, but Jesus taught them to be lovely, that He is lovely, and that in His love, He will never leave us alone nor abandon us to hunger and thirst. He fills the emptiness of your life.

Are you lonely? Do you feel deserted? Are you hungry and weak? Receive Jesus in your heart, visit Him in the Blessed Sacrament. Taste and see that He is good. You will experience a deep sense of love, yes! you will feel Him taking you deeper in love with Him.

 

LESSON: BE TRANSFORMED

Let this celebration help us to live as transformed children of God. Let us be transformed from sinfulness to godliness, from selfishness to selfless charity, from ingratitude to gratitude since Eucharist means thanksgiving. Let's learn to always give thanks. May we be transformed from doubt to faith and from dying to living forever and ever.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

EUCHARISTIC BLESSINGS

May the Soul of our Saviour sanctify our breast,

May the Body of Christ be our saving guest

May the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bathe us in His tide.

May this celebration bring us to the reality of experiencing God on earth in communion and dwelling in union with Him in heaven. Amen.

 

Happy Solemnity of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

HOLY TRINITY SUNDAY, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: DIVINE COMMUNION AND THE CALL FOR HUMAN RELATIONALITY

(John16:12-15)

Today, being the Sunday following the Pentecost celebration, the Church celebrates a great Solemnity. The Church celebrates a great mystery. The Catechism of the Catholic Church calls the mystery of the Trinity "the mystery of God in himself... The source of all the other mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them. "

The doctrine of the Holy Trinity underscores the fact that there are Three Persons in One God, namely, The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. They are coequal Persons, undivided and consubstantial.

Today, we are called to ponder on this great mystery. We are invited to appreciate the revealed realities of the Triune God. Let us praise The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit:

 

Oh eternal Trinity

Oh undivided Unity

Oh love everlasting

Oh truth surpassing total understanding

 

You are One You are Three

What a mystery in human history

What a misery of language

To get involved in this oceanic plunge

 

What a perfect harmony

A harmony expressed in relationality

Between the Trinue persons

In lovely rapport without acrimony

 

The father's love is made manifest in the Son

The Son's gift from the father is the Holy Spirit

What an amorous exchange

A gifting that calls for receptivity

 

The love of the Trinity breaths order upon creation

The expressive love, which gave birth to salvation

And so we have the Church, the emissary of the Trinitarian mission

 

In the Trinity, our meaninglessness acquires meaningfulness

Our disunity translates into unity

And our different roles channel us to our goal, peace in eternity

 

INSIGHT FROM THE GOSPEL

The Trinity is not a mystery based on the fact that nothing is known about it at all. No. The scripture has revealed to us who the Trinity is, but we cannot totally comprehend it all. But the revealed is truly the truth about the Trinity.

In today's gospel, Jesus shows us the relationality and communion that exists between the Trinitarian Persons. The operation of the Blessed Trinity and their undivided bond is laid bare.  The Spirit whom the Father sends in the name of Jesus, when He comes, would not speak of His own authority. He will glorify the Son with the glory of the Father. This is an amazing oneness! From the Trinity, we are called to learn some values.

 

LESSONS FROM THE TRINITY:

UNITY

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are one. Their unity is expressed in the harmony that exists between them ad intra. This is true because love is the bond between them. Theirs is the love so ancient and so New as St Augustine would say.

Can we learn from the Trinitarian unity? Can we endeavour not to put knife on the things that hold us together in order not to fall apart? Can we pay heed to the saying: united we stand, so as not to be divided and fall? Can we as a people look more for things that unite us than things that divide? Unity indeed is strength. May God bring unity among us, in our families and communities. Blessed be the Holy and undivided Trinity now and forever. Amen!

 

COMMUNICATION

The Trinity never jokes with "let us". Communication involves speaking and listening. The Trinity carries each other along so perfectly that differentiation becomes a difficult nut to crack. The power of communication cannot be underestimated. Lack of communication has been the bane of many marital relationships, friendships, institutions, unions and organizations.

Dialogue is indeed a value we can't joke with. It sustains relationship. May God help us in our communication with each and respect for one other.

 

READINESS FOR MISSION

Each of the Persons of the Triune God helped in revealing the goodness of one another. The Son is the missionary of the Father, The Holy Spirit is the missionary of the Father and The Son. They are ever ready to go out. Can we put a stop to locking up ourselves? Can we decide to carry out our mission on earth with Trinitarian Spirit? Can we like the Trinity move out for the good of the other? Take up the task of making the other better? It was really this idea that made the Trinity to want to express the Trinitarian love ad extra. May we be passionate to move out of ourselves to encounter people with the love of God.

 

TRINITARIAN GENEROSITY

The Trinitarian generosity is a prodigal type, a type of kenosis; self-emptying. Jesus expressed it in today's gospel: "All that the Father has is mine; therefore, He will take what is mine and declare it to you" Imagine that! He gives us, he lavishes upon us what is His.

In the Trinity we saw the Divine generosity made manifest in the intention to make man live forever. When this was terminated by sin, God continued giving and gave His only begotten Son. He came and not only revealed the face of God but also died to save and restore.

At Ascension He promises and actually fulfils by sending the Holy Spirit to be with us till the end of time so as to make us live forever. The life that was His, He has given to us.

What a gifting! Having received so much from God, what stops us from being generous with one another. We can share what we have, our time, talent and treasure. May God help us to be generous and not selfish.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

 Almighty and ever living God through this celebration help us to relate well with each other. May we remember the Trinitarian stamp we have received at baptism and fashion our life according to the Most Holy Trinity.

May the blessings of God the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit come down upon us and remain with us both now and forever. Amen

Happy Solemnity of the Trinity.

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 PENTECOST SUNDAY, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: THE HOLY SPIRIT IS HERE FOR GOOD

(John 14:15-16.23b-26)

Today the Church celebrates the fulfilment of a promise. The Church celebrates her life day and birthday. The Church rejoices for her hope that was not made hopeless.

Since the Ascension, the body of Christ in obedience to her Lord has fixed all her hope above, has directed all her gaze in the heavens, has been on invocation for the power from above, has been in wait, crying out 'venite' and putting aside vanities.

Alas, here He comes. He comes to us as He came upon the Apostles on the Pentecost Day.

 

PENTECOST DEFINED

Pentecost in the Church is a celebration in commemoration of the decent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and other followers of Christ who gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of weeks.

The term Pentecost comes from the Greek 'Pentecoste' meaning fiftieth. It was originally a harvest festival. The festival was celebrated on 50th day after Passover. Taking its Old Testament origin, it was referred to as the feast of first fruits (Numbers 28:26).

Today, we celebrate not the agricultural harvest in Pentecost but the harvest of the Father's gift to us. It is a Thanksgiving celebration of God's abiding presence.

It is the 50th day after the Passover celebrated not with bulls but with the Son of God. We have a lot of reasons to celebrate as we welcome in our midst the Holy Spirit of God.

 

GOD LOVES US

Jesus in His love for us calls us to love Him in return. The Holy Spirit is the love of the Father and the Son. Jesus wants us to be plunged into His Divine love. He intercedes to His Father on our behalf. He tells the Father what is lacking in us. He sees the empty areas that need divine filling. He knows our openness to have Him in us. And He pronounced the solemn promise. The Father in love sent Jesus to us, in love too, the Son prays the Father to send the Holy Spirit after his Ascension.

 

HE SENDS THE COUNSELLOR

The counsellor promised by Jesus is the Holy Spirit. He is God. He is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity. He comes to live with us. His mission is to be with us. He comes to dwell within us as temples. He comes to make us abodes of divinity. He comes to lead us away from error into the truth. He is not a Spirit of confusion and as such comes to break every barrier. He comes with gifts of wisdom, knowledge, understanding, counsels, fortitude, piety and fear of the Lord. He is not coming as a visitor that goes after. He comes in to stay.

Let us make Him a home today within us. Let us listen to the spiritual directives He gives us and be open to receive the gifts He has in stall for us.

 

THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL TEACH US THE SECRETS OF FRUITFULNESS

Having received the gifts of the Holy Spirit as promised in baptism, confirmation and other Sacraments, the Holy Spirit teaches us how best to be fruitful with the gifts. That has to do with bearing fruit. Jesus will challenge His followers to bear fruits that would last.

The Holy Spirit nourishes through our cooperation the gifts bestowed upon us. He teaches us and reminds us of the will of God for us. The will of God for us is that we bear fruit. In Genesis, God's command to man was to be fruitful and multiply. Jesus teaches that for one to bear much fruit he must remain one with Him. Jesus maintained: "cut of from me, you can do nothing". Jesus curses a fig tree for fruitlessness. O yes, even outside the season of fruiting. Jesus insists that we bear fruit in season and out of season.

The Holy Spirit teaches us the right things to do and reminds us of the wrong things we ought not to do.

To bear good fruits we are to remain good students of the Holy Spirit. This teaching of the Holy Spirit is so necessary because it is through the fruits that God's people are known.

May you produce the fruits of charity, joy, patience, peace, kindness, goodness, longanimity, mildness, faith, modesty, self-control and chastity.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

As we celebrate the Holy Spirit today, may He enkindle in us the fire of His love, may He blow away whatever that doesn't glorify God in us, may He put to flight spiritual laziness of any sort, May He take possession of our souls and make us all His. May He be a tower of strength to us.

May the Spirit be a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day.

May He empower us to preach the Good News with our words and deeds. May He keep us always connected to God in holiness through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Pentecost Sunday to you (Yr C)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 7^TH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: JESUS' PRAYER FOR US

(John 17:20-26)

It is wonderful to know that Jesus offers prayers and entreaties for us. He lifts us and our shortcomings and weaknesses to His Father. He takes us up. From above, He came to give us the heavenly attributes. It is interesting to see how Jesus gazes into heaven on our behalf. May we take a look at the content and intent of Jesus' prayers for those who believe in Him through the word they have heard.

ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN

The Gospel began with the following words: "Lifting up His eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed...that they may all be one."

Why did Jesus look up to heaven? Was this act a careless or meaningless gesture? Did He just look up purposelessly? He may have looked up for a transplantation. Yes, I choose to call it transplantation. He wished to replicate what happens in heaven here on earth to transfer the seed of heavenly unity to the earth. He may have been praying, " Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" in another way.

Jesus may have remembered the effect of an attempted disunity in heaven and its effect on Lucifer, the author of such disharmony.

Jesus must have remembered the Divine effort at bringing about a lasting union with Man in paradise, which failed when Satan came in.

He remembers His mission and preaching: "The kingdom of God is at hand."

He has seen the Church as that kingdom on earth and wishes that it be One just as He is One with the Father. Jesus wants the unity for which He prayed to flow from the Trinity.

PERFECTLY ONE

Jesus knew how imperfect man was and prayed for Him.  He is not ready to settle with anything less than perfection. He prayed for perfect unity among His family the Church. But what has happened down the ages is nothing to write home about. Why do you render Christ's prayers unanswered? Every Father wishes that His children live in peace. It is usually the joy of dying parents who really loved their children and rooted them in unity to see that they remain one. They usually pray that no knife may be put on what hold their family together, that they may not fall apart. It is usually an encouraging word they resound in them 'united you stand'. With this, they are warned against the danger of disintegration.

 

WHAT CAUSES DISUNITY?

A lot of things may bring about disunity. Some of them include disobedience and selfishness.

Disobedience led Lucifer out of the unity of mind and heart he shared in heaven. And he said "non serviam" (I shall not serve). It is connected with the desire to lord it over others and expect to be served instead. Here, selfishness is also implied. He tries to take the glory due to God.

Adam, in disobedience, ate the forbidden fruit and lost the kingdom as well as the peaceful union he enjoyed with God. Judas left the bond, and we saw his end.

DISUNITY TODAY

Today, thousands and thousands of Christian denominations exist. The blind eye they pay to this portion of the scripture is quite surprising. The misinterpretation they give this passage is scandalous. Their intention to keep splitting up more and more can make Christ to weep. The recklessness of establishing and overseeing churches is unspeakably alarming.

Did Jesus establish a body in history? Yes.

Did he empower people to start establishing churches here and there? No.

Paul saw Christ. Did he start up his own church? No. He was rather directed to Ananias and the apostles.

There was a problem too in the early Church. Did it bring about a tear? No. The apostles met and ironed them out.

Let us pay heed to the call of Christ for unity in the Church, unity and love in our world, unity and love in our country, in our states, harmony in our families and the various organizations and institutions we find ourselves in.  When we live united by the right purpose, common good, passion for progress, and respect for one another, we help in bringing to realization the prayer and wish of Christ. This will save our world from crisis. Religious, moral, political, economic, etc.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

LET US PRAY

Oh God, give us the spirit to be one in faith. Lead back to the fold all who have strayed.

May we be strengthened in communion and union with each other in God. Help us to live in tolerance and respect for the Higher Good in the name of The Father and of The Son and of The Holy Spirit. Amen

Happy Sunday (Easter, 7th Week, Yr C)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh